New Faces Help Golden State Warriors Take Down Portland Trailblazers In Season Opener
The Golden State Warriors went on the road to Portland last night and took care of the Trailblazers 140-104 in the season opener. It was the definition of a team win, as every single player on the roster touched the floor and made an impact. The Dubs starting lineup is sure to change throughout the season, but last night it was Steph, Kuminga, Wiggins, Dray and TJD. As for injuries, they had the good fortune of opening the season with none, as everyone was available last night. The Trailblazers, who are in the midst of a massive rebuild and have no means of contending in the near future, started Toumani Camara, Deandre Ayton, Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons and Deni Avdija. They were missing three solid pieces as Shaedon Sharpe, Matisse Thybulle and Robert Williams continue to work back from injuries.
The Warriors came out of the gates relatively slow, falling into a 12-3 hole midway through the first quarter. But after a pair of GP2 buckets and Hield’s first trey ball with his new team, it was knotted up at 18 a piece. Hield came down and buried another from distance, but UConn standout Donovan Clingan got an easy look at the rim to make it a 21-21 ball game after one. Golden State picked it up in the second quarter, dropping an astonishing 41 points. New addition De'Anthony Melton nailed two long balls early, but with five minutes on the clock, the Blazers took a one point lead 37-36 on a Deni Avdija floater. From that point on it was all Golden State, as they ripped off a 26-13 run to end the half. Buddy Hield and Andrew Wiggins were lethal from distance, cashing in on two threes each. While Draymond Green and Steph played their roles, running the offense and getting stops defensively. With the first half of the 2024-2025 season in the books, the Dubs boasted a 62-50 lead.
Golden State continued to pour it on in the third, winning the quarter 37-22. Steph started the scoring off with a three pointer, but Grant quickly responded with one of his own on the next possession. A few minutes later the Blazers came as close as they would all game to cutting the lead to single digits, making it a 70-60 game on a pair of Grant free throws. But Kuminga and Dray got easy looks at the rim while Steph, Wiggins and Hield sprayed four treys to help the Dubs go on a 19-3 run and take a commanding 89-63 lead. Portland found a little bit of rhythm to close out the quarter, but still trailed by 17 entering the fourth and final period. The Warriors made a bad habit of squandering leads last season, so it was great to see them keep the energy and intensity up in the fourth, keeping the Blazers from making any sort of run. Wiggins continued his efficient shooting night with another one from long range, while TJD was active in the scoring column putting up eight points in the fourth. A minute past the midway point of the fourth, both coaches emptied their benches and garbage time commenced. Moody and Lindy Waters made the most of these minutes drilling a pair of threes each. At the final buzzer, the score read 140-104, giving the Dubs their first win of the new season.
Newcomer Buddy Hield led the team in scoring with 22 points off the bench on an impressive 8-12 clip including 5-7 from downtown. Wiggins played great as well, racking up 20 points including 4 treys. Steph was right behind him with 17 of his own while also recording 10 assists and 9 boards, just shy of a triple double. TJD had 14 on 5-5 shooting, Kuminga had a pedestrian 10, while Dray did Dray things, showing up all over the stat sheet. He put up 6 boards, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal, but was the only starter not in double figures as he had just 8 points. He also managed to pick up a technical foul, something we have grown accustomed to seeing him do. Had it not been for a timely Steve Kerr timeout, it seemed as if he might have been ejected. He will need to keep his emotions in check moving forward. As for the bench, everyone got in the scoring column except Podziemski despite him playing the most minutes. Moody led the way with 15 while Melton chipped in with 10 of his own. For Portland, sophomore Scoot Henderson came off the bench and poured in 22 points but shot 0-5 from beyond the arc, which has been the biggest criticism of his game to this point in his young career. Grant had 16 while Simons and Avdija had 15 apiece.
After going 6-0 in the preseason, some people were quick to say it didn’t matter as the preseason is meaningless. But there is no denying that this team has looked great so far. They are moving the ball well, playing good scrappy defense, and the new faces are performing and playing their role. If Buddy Hield can continue to be a lights out shooter, Wiggins finds his game again, and the young players continue to make significant strides, it is not out of the question for the Warriors to turn some heads this year. Granted, it was the Trailblazers, who project to be a bottom five team in the league. But then again, the Warriors handled business and did what they were supposed to do, you can’t knock them for that.
Their next test will come Friday as they head to Salt Lake City and take on another seller-dweller team in the Utah Jazz. I’ve got the Dubs moving to 2-0 and taking down the Jazz in another high scoring affair, 126-118.