Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, right, gets ready to shoot the underhand shot against the Portland Trail Blazers forward Trendon Watford in Portland on Thu Feb 24, 2022 (AP News photo)
Warriors Open Second Half With Dominating Win: Golden State 132-Portland 95
By Barbara Mason
Thursday night the Golden State Warriors (43-17) took on the Portland Trail Blazers (25-35). Going into the All-Star break the Warriors had lost four of five games and badly needed this time off to re-group heading into the second half of the season.
Hopefully Stephen Curry will go into the remainder of the season the same way that he went into the All-Star game. It was raining three’s in the All-Star game for Curry and that’s exactly what they need to see in tonight’s game.
The rest that the team got in this break will undoubtedly benefit the Warriors as they look ahead to the post season. The Warriors will have their work cut out for them in this game. While the Trail Blazers are short-handed without Damian Lilliard and the trade of CJ McCollum they are still a dangerous team with Anfernee Simons the 2018 first round pick.
In the first quarter the Warriors began to pile up the personal fouls. They were having trouble containing Anfernee Simons and Josh Hart. The Trail Blazers took a 22-14 lead mid-way through the quarter which was cut short when the Warriors started to heat up.
Even though Portland was short-handed they did not look at all like the underdogs. The Trail Blazers were shooting at 72% looking very good offensively. It was not a great start for Golden State although they did make up a ten point deficit to trail by a single point after shooting 42%. Portland led after twelve minutes 32-31.
Going into the second quarter, the Warriors had turned a corner and gotten into a good rhythm. After a slow start the Warriors had taken the lead 40-35 in the opening minutes of the quarter. The Warriors had completely flipped this game leading by double digits 52-38 at 7:22.
The Trail Blazers were shooting at one point in this game at 72% but were having some real offensive trouble in the second quarter. Portland made a push at the end of the first half trailing 70-57 cutting a twenty point deficit to thirteen.
Curry had 18 points and ten assists in the first half. The Warriors were very aggressive in the second quarter. Jonathan Kuminga got to the free throw line ten times. The Blazers Anfernee Simons finished the half with 21 points.
The Warriors only had six turnovers and were playing some great defense. After shooting at 72 % in the first quarter, Portland finished the second half shooting 43%. The Warriors had taken control of this game at the half.
Portland is coming off a four game winning streak and they would be coming after the Warriors in the second half of this game. With 4:17 left in the third quarter the Warriors took their largest lead of the game 91-68.
After a very slow start, Andrew Wiggins came to the party with ten points in the quarter. The Splash brothers had 18 points apiece, leading after three 100-73. Off the bench Jonathan Kuminga had 15 points. Curry was right in the middle of every possession with 14 assists.
It was all Warriors in the second half. You could not have asked for more offensively and defensively from Golden State. They had 18 players in double digits. The final was 132-95.
Curry and Klay Thompson finished with 18 points each. Kevon Looney and Wiggins finished with ten points apiece. Another great game for the Warriors bench. Kuminga had 17 and Jordan Poole with 15 points.
This was a great way for the Warriors to start the second part of the season. They have a very challenging upcoming schedule and need to take it one game at a time.
Sunday afternoon the Warriors will be taking on the Dallas Mavericks. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 PM.