Golden State (2-1) at Portland (2-1)
When: Tuesday, November 1st 2016
Where: Moda Center, Portland, OR
Time: 10:05 ET | TV: NBA TV
The Portland Trail Blazers will look for a little revenge when they host the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night at the Moda Center. The Blazers were eliminated from last year’s Western Conference Playoffs in five games by the Warriors, but gave Golden State one of their nine regular season losses on February 19th, 137-105. Preseason MVP candidate Damian Lillard scored 51 points in that game and averaged 31.8 points and 7.6 assists in the playoff series. Lillard is averaging 35 points and 5.3 assists so far this season for a Portland offense averaging 111.3 points (2nd best in NBA). Mason Plumlee is stepping up his game, totaling 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting in the last two games after a quiet opener against the Utah Jazz last week. C.J. McCollum continues to be Portland’s second best scoring option with an average of 21.3 points per contest. Center and former Warrior Festus Ezeli (knee) has yet to make his debut and is questionable for Tuesday. Portland will hit the road for three straight after tonight.
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The Warriors have rebounded from an embarrassing opening night loss (129-100) by winning their last two on the road in New Orleans and Phoenix. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry are putting up big numbers, but Golden State at times looks out of sync on both ends of the floor in the early part of the season. “It’s frustrating for everybody, but that’s a part of it,” All-Star forward Draymond Green told the San Francisco Chronicle. “That’s to be expected. It’ll all come together. … It’s a process. I’d much rather be here now and start peaking when it’s the right time.” Durant and Curry combined to bury 7-of-12 3-pointers in the 106-100 win at Phoenix but the rest of the team went 1-of-17 from beyond the arc, including a 0-of-6 effort from sharp-shooter Klay Thompson. Draymond Green grabbed double-figure rebounds in each of the first three games and is averaging 10.3 points, 12 rebounds and 7.3 assists.
Portland plays this Golden State team pretty tough especially at home. The Warriors are still working on the chemistry with Durant and that might cause them to lose a few games early. I think Portland can pick up a win here tonight, so I’ll take the points.
Pick: Blazers +5
