Washington, Houston and Golden State all think they'll be better in Game 2.
As Steve Kerr called it the "no-brainer" move.
While Durant played in the Warriors' Game 1 opener, he is listed as questionable today for Game 2.
Hours before tip off between the Portland Trailblazers and the Golden State Warriors, the most important question for Blazer fans was answered: will Jusuf Nurkić play in Game 1? The Wizards don't get to the line a ton, but if they put themselves in that sort of predicament again they'll be asking for trouble.
This is smart. This is not a big deal, even though it is now causing a buzz on social media.
The Warriors have become accustomed to playing without their top player in big games ever since a year ago. Stephen Curry injured himself in the first game of the playoffs against Houston, tweaking his right ankle and leaving twice to have it re-taped and returning to the game. He sprained the MCL in his right knee slipping on a wet spot during Game 4 of the first round past year at Houston and missed the first three games against the Blazers in the Western Conference semifinals before coming off the bench in the fourth. The first is that these two teams are going to score a lot of points when they take the court during the series.
In reality, Curry was never quite the same the rest of the way. Here's part of the column I wrote Tuesday on why the Warriors should play this injury safe.
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The lead did not last long, however, as man-of-the-match Isco danced away from two defenders before curling into the top corner. Isco's fine individual effort and a towering header from Alvaro Morata ensured neither lead lasted more than a few minutes.
Kevin Durant had 32 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists and Draymond Green had 19 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists to give the Golden State Warriors a 109-121 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in the first game of Round 1. "We need everybody. Guys have to be ready to make shots".
Kerr described his star free agent as "day to day". Durant will have five days to recover before Game 3, which takes place Saturday in Portland.
Golden State Warriors guard Shaun Livingston will miss Wednesday's Game 2 matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers with finger and hand injuries.
The Warriors held an advantage in just about every statistical category in Game 1, even turnovers. The 33-21 scoring differential by the Warriors over the Trailblazers in the fourth showed that the Warriors can bend in the NBA Playoffs, but at least after one game, they didn't break. They absolutely want him back as soon as possible, but the Warriors didn't just survive him being out - they thrived. And he's been excellent.
"Hopefully they don't get 75 points between them in Game 2, but they might", Kerr said, "that's how good they are".
But the Warriors weren't giving in.
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