Blazers vs Warriors Preview: Golden State Trying To Avoid Giving That 5th Seed To Portland (Photo: Steve Dykes / USA Today)
Golden State Warriors (49-30) vs Portland Trailblazers(52-28)
Tip-off: Sunday, April 13th, 2014 – 6:00PM PDT
Location: Moda Center, Portland, OR
Spread: Portland (-3) meaning Trailblazers are 3-point favorites
TV: CSN Bay Area / NBA TV | Radio: KNBR 680 AM
Livetweet: @LetsGoWarriors (by @samesfandiari)
Last Game / Streak:
POR – Won 111-99 vs UTAH in Salt Lake City, Won 3 games in a row
GSW – Won 112-95 vs LAL in Los Angeles, Won 1 game in a row
Probable Starting Lineups:
Warriors:
PG: Stephen Curry (23.5 PPG, 8.5 APG, 4.2 RPG)
SG: Klay Thompson (18.4 PPG, 2.2 APG, 3.1 RPG)
SF: Andre Iguodala (9.3 PPG, 1.4 APG, 3.9 RPG)
PF: David Lee (18.3 PPG, 2.1 APG, 9.4 RPG)
C: Andrew Bogut (7.5 PPG, 1.6 APG, 10.0 RPG)
HEAD COACH: Mark Jackson (227-118)
Trailblazers:
PG: Damian Lillard (20.9 ppg, 5.6 apg, 3.6 rpg)
SG: Wesley Matthews (16.6 PPG, 1.8 APG, 2.6 RPG)
SF: Nicolas Batum (13.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 5.1 apg)
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge (23.3 PPG, 2.5 APG, 11.5 RPG)
C: Robin Lopez (11.3 PPG, 0.7 APG, 8.3 RPG)
HEAD COACH: Terry Scotts (200-245)
We’re going to be stubborn like a preacher about this and guess that Lee will start after coming off the bench last game. At the pregame presser at Moda Center in Portland, Warriors Coach Jackson said this:
Mark Jackson said he will talk to David Lee and see how he's feeling before deciding if he will start or come off the bench again.
— LetsGoWarriors (@LetsGoWarriors) April 13, 2014
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After clinching for the first time in back-to-back season since 1991-92, the Dubs are looking to keep hope alive for moving up to that 5th seed, holding a season series lead 2-1 against Portland.
Portland faces the Los Angeles Clippers next while the Warriors go back home for the Minnesota Timberwolves tomorrow and on the road against the Denver Nuggets to close out the season on Wednesday:
#Blazers 52-28, 2.5 games ahead of #Warriors at 49-30. Portland closes out w/ GSW then LAC, so w/ win tonite, Dubs can still catch 5th seed.
— LetsGoWarriors (@LetsGoWarriors) April 13, 2014
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The Trail Blazers, who have won seven of their last eight games, have a chance to clinch the 5th seed tonight with a win against the Warriors.
“I think Coach Stotts has done an excellent job all season long,” Jackson said, “You talk about Aldridge, Lillard: two guys that carry the offense that you’ve got to match up against and then they do a great job, the supporting cast. Those guys are aggressive offensively, they fulfill their roles, they’ve upgraded their bench, those guys play big.”
[NOTE: Poor Man’s Commish contributed to this report.]
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