Golden State Warriors began the 2019-20 NBA season on an impressive note, scoring an emphatic 139-104 victory against Portland Trail Blazers. Stephen Curry led all scorers by recording 17 points, 10 assists, and coming just short of triple-doubling with nine rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter due to injury.
Key Performance by Buddy Hield
Buddy Hield was instrumental to the Warriors victory on Tuesday, scoring 22 points off of the bench to contribute 22 to their scoreboard and leading their comeback from an initial nine point deficit to lead 62-50 at halftime. It’s worth highlighting his impact given their absence from playoff contention last season and subsequent dominating win against Indiana last night.
Curry’s Three-Point Showcase Extends Lead
Starting the second half with a three-pointer, Curry demonstrated why he’s one of the best shooters, extending the Warriors’ lead to as much as 37 points at one point. Scoot Henderson provided some resistance for the Blazers with 22 points off the bench, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap significantly.
Blazers Miss Sharpe’s Presence
Shaedon Sharpe, a crucial player for the Blazers, was sidelined with a shoulder injury, missing the game. In a show of respect, former Blazers’ head coach Terry Stotts, now an assistant coach with the Warriors, was acknowledged during a tribute in the first quarter.
Stotts’ Impact Acknowledged by Kerr
Steve Kerr praised Terry Stotts for his contribution to the team’s organized play early in the season, crediting him with bringing new ideas and improvements to the Warriors’ setup.
Draymond Green’s Technical Foul
An intense moment occurred when Draymond Green received his season’s inaugural technical foul after disagreeing with a foul call, while Stephen Curry made history, passing Clyde Drexler on the NBA all-time career assist leaderboard with his assist contributions following his gold medal win at Paris Olympics in the first quarter.
What’s Next for Both Teams
On Friday night, the Trail Blazers look to continue their winning ways during their three-game home stand against Pelicans and Warriors are scheduled to face Jazz; their impressive first game sent an indication of intent for what lies ahead in season 2018.