After a high-scoring and exciting showing from the Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors in game one of the 2017 NBA Playoffs, game two followed up with a one-sided affair. The highly-favored Warriors were able to assert their dominance and rout the Blazers in a 110-81 victory and now head to Portland with a controlling 2-0 series lead after defending their home court. Furthermore, they put forth this impressive effort with a large chunk of their offense missing in Kevin Durant who was sidelined with a strained left calf he suffered in the second half of their game one victory.
Nonetheless, the Warriors were able to take care of business, thanks in large part to their hot start in the first quarter. Golden State was able to stifle Portland’s potent backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum right from the jump and kept the two in check for the majority of this game.
After going off for a combined 75 points in the game one loss, Lillard and McCollum never found their footing in this one, shooting a paltry 9-34 from the field and putting up 23 points as a duo. Offensively, the Warriors wasted no time getting in a groove, as the three-pointers flowed freely including from two-time MVP Stephen Curry.
Steph with the steal then splash#DubNation
(Via @clippittv)pic.twitter.com/TIk3DKdmVR— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) April 20, 2017
However, in a game missing some key pieces for the Warriors, it wasn’t Curry or Klay Thompson who had stellar performances, but it was their role players off the bench such as Ian Clark and specifically JaVale McGee who made the difference in this one. It was McGee’s first half performance finishing around the rim when given the chance that was the x-factor in the Warriors victory. On the night, he finished with 15 points and 5 rebounds on 7/7 shooting in just 13 minutes of playing time while Clark chipped in 13 of his own.
JaVale McGee flying high for the oop!#DubNation
(Via @clippittv)pic.twitter.com/BBdBiX7Soj— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) April 20, 2017
MCGEE THROWING DOWN ALL THE ALLEY-OOP'S #DubNation
(Via @clippittv)pic.twitter.com/hvFXvFOAOy— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) April 20, 2017
While the Blazers were able to begin finding a little bit of life in the second quarter and even cut the Golden State lead down to just one, the Warriors were able to stretch it out and really put the game away early in the third period. Curry and Thompson were able to catch fire as the lead continued to swell, but their stellar defense was the story of the third, as they held Portland to only 12 points in the quarter. The Blazers rough night could be summed up by this one sequence that ensued midway through the period:
Curry showing up Lillard ?#DubNation
(Via @clippittv)pic.twitter.com/aY0vTt4604— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) April 20, 2017
After the dominating third stanza, Golden State was able to cruise their way to the 110-81 victory with their reserves in for most of the fourth quarter.
Curry finished the game with 19 points to go with 6 rebounds and 6 assists and Klay Thompson added 16, while Moe Harkless led the way for Portland with 15 . After a game one in which the Blazers had a legitimate shot of sneaking away with a victory until the very end, their lackluster game 2 performance won’t sit well, especially considering the confidence they had coming into tonight.
For the Golden State Warriors, tonight’s blowout is just another stepping stone towards their ultimate goal of returning to the NBA Finals and avenging their loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers from last season.
With the Warriors taking the two first games in Oakland, the series will now shift over to Portland where game 3 will be held Saturday at 10:30 PM.
