Warriors Outlast the Blazers in Game One

By Yousef HattarNBA

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in game one in round one of the 2017 NBA Playoffs. In a tight game, both teams played hard and showed the world what playoff basketball looks like.

The backcourt duo of CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard fought hard against the Warriors but couldn’t get it done alone. They both started the game off hot, combining for 24 of the team’s 27 points in the first quarter. McCollum was shooting exceptionally well in the first half. He scored 27 points which tied a franchise record for the most points in a half in a playoff game. Dame finished with 21 at the half.

The scoring ability of Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry couldn’t be stopped by the Blazers. KD finished the game with a team-high of 32 points and also snagged 10 boards. Steph poured in 29 while playing his role efficiently.

Draymond Green played a huge role in this game as he did just about everything. He made his presence known, especially on the defensive side of the ball. His all-around game helped guide the Warriors to the win. He finished the game with 19 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, five steals, and three blocks.

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The game went back and forth as McCollum and Lillard tried to outscore KD and Curry. It came down to which duo had more help. The fourth quarter is where the Warriors did the most damage, they outscored the Blazers 33-21 in that quarter.

If the Blazers want to win any games in this series, McCollum and Lillard must play the way they played in game one every single game. McCollum finished with a playoff career-high of 41 points and eight rebounds while Dame added 34 points. If they can stay hot, with the addition of other role players filling in efficiently, they have a chance to win a few games against this tough Warriors team.

 

Yousef Hattar