Coming off a surprisingly competitive Game 1 win, the Golden State Warriors are looking to take a commanding 2-0 lead over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 2 of their Western Conference first round series on Wednesday. The Warriors may be without star forward Kevin Durant, who is questionable to play with a strained calf muscle, but Golden State is still heavily favored. Here's our preview and prediction for tonight's game.
Game Info:
When: 10:30 PM EST
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
TV: TNT
Spread: Warriors (-12.5)
O/U: 219
What They're Saying About The Golden State Warriors:
Kevin Durant unlikely for Game 2, but not yet ruled out by Warriors
Draymond Green delves into defense on Westbrook, Harden, LeBron
Klay Thompson has big opportunity in Game 2
What They're Saying About The Portland Trail Blazers:
Damian Lillard and C.J McCollum Need Help… Fast
Jusuf Nurkic 'would like to play,' but is 'not ready' for Game 2
Late Season Confidence Breeds Playoff Minutes for Connaughton, Napier
Key To The Game: Will anyone else on the Trail Blazers step up?
With as well as Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum played in Game 1, Portland really should have won the game. They combined for 48 points in the first half and finished with 75 points between the two of them, but got virtually no contributions from their supporting cast, who combined to shoot just 12-38 from the field for 34 points.
If you're keeping score at home, that's 41 points for McCollum, 34 points for Lillard and 34 points for everyone else. That is nowhere near good enough - and McCollum and Lillard are likely not going to both play at that high of a level again.
Obviously, not having starting center Jusuf Nurkic hurts in that regard, but no one else on Portland's roster looked capable of making an impact. Even without Durant, the Warriors are an unstoppable offensive team. Another player or two is going to have to step up and help McCollum and Lillard shoulder the load offensively if they're going to have any chance in this game.
Prediction: Warriors win 117-104
The Warriors simply have way too much firepower for an undermanned Trail Blazers squad. Lillard and McCollum played out of their minds in Game 1, but Golden State took their game to another level in the fourth quarter and Portland simply couldn't keep up. Playing at home, the Warriors will have a similar run in Game 2 and win another game rather convincingly.