The Warriors continue their homestand against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.
Warriors vs. Trail BlazersSaturday, Dec. 177:30 p.m.Oracle Arena
TV: CSN Bay Area, NBA TV
RADIO: 95.7 The Game, Warriors Radio Network
HOMESTAND CONTINUES ON SLATE NIGHT
Fresh off a win over the Knicks on Thursday, the Warriors continue their homestand against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. This will be the second of four matchups between the two teams this season, and Portland’s first visit back to Oracle Arena since the Warriors dispatched the Trail Blazers in Game 5 of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series last postseason. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Watch on CSN Bay area and NBA TV, or listen to the call on 95.7 The Game and the Warriors Radio Network.
LAST TIME OUT
The Warriors became the first team in 20 years with three 40-assist games in a season in their 103-90 win over the Knicks on Thursday night. Full Recap
MATCHUP AT A GLANCE
GSW
23-4
1st in West
117.3 PPG (1st)
44.8 RPG (8th)
31.4 APG (1st)
POR
13-15
8th in West
110.1 PPG (4th)
42.5 RPG (23rd)
22.3 APG (11th)
PROJECTED STARTERS
GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Zaza Pachulia
POR: Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, Al-Farouq Aminu, Maurice Harkless and Mason Plumlee
INJURY & ROSTER NOTES
GSW: Zaza Pachulia (right wrist contusion) is doubtful. Team Notes
POR: Al-Farouq Aminu (back contusion) is doubtful. Fesuts Ezeli (left knee) is out. Team Notes
LOB ELEMENT
When JaVale McGee made the team out of training camp, the Warriors had hoped he would eventually become a contributing member of Golden State’s big man rotation. But after McGee’s performance against the Knicks on Thursday, including a season-high 17 points in just 16 minutes, it’s safe to say he’s already surpassed those expectations. McGee’s skill set, most notably his supreme length, is unique among all the players on the roster, and his ability to stretch the defense vertically had added another dimension to an already-dominant Warriors’ offensive attack. “He’s such a threat with that lob,” said Steve Kerr about McGee in his postgame press conference. “With the shooting that we have we get that extra spacing that he adds that defenders have to come down and honor that. I thought he did an excellent job tonight. It was fun to watch.” Given how McGee performed in his second-straight start, it wouldn’t come as a shock at all to see him get more of an opportunity moving forward, particularly while Zaza Pachulia remains sidelined with a wrist injury.
TEAM LEADERS
GSW
PTS: Durant (25.5)
REB: Green (8.5)
AST: Green (7.1)
POR
PTS: Lillard (27.7)
REB: Plumlee (7.2)
AST: Lillard (6.0)
PORTLAND SCOUTING REPORT
The Trail Blazers have had a streaky start to the season, but have not been playing their best basketball as of late. Portland has lost five of their last six games, including a road loss in Denver on Thursday, and now sits at 13-15 on the season. That’s a record good enough for the eighth spot in the Western Conference, which makes Saturday’s matchup with Golden State a potential playoff preview. The Warriors have dominated the series over the last few seasons, having won three in a row and 12 of the last 15 meetings between the two teams, which includes a 4-1 series win in last year’s Western Conference Quarterfinals. Golden State and Portland rank first and fourth in the league, respectively, in points scored per game, so expect another high scoring affair when the two sides meet again on Saturday night.