San Francisco -Stephen Curry is just two three-pointers away from reaching 4,000 in his career. Meanwhile, Gary Payton II delivered a career-high 26 points, leading the Warriors to a 130-120 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Golden State’s five-game winning streak marks a strong start to March.
“Nobody’s going to guard him at the three-point line,” said Steve Kerr. “So he’s going to be open every game and he works hard on his three-point shot, and tonight obviously it was falling. He had a great game at both ends. Gary’s–he’s been playing at a really high level for weeks now and it’s exciting to see.”
Payton opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back buckets, finishing the game with four threes and making an impact on both ends of the floor. Jimmy Butler contributed 15 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds, proving to be a crucial addition to the Warriors as they continue to strengthen their roster.
“You can’t get a triple-double without your teammates, that is for damn sure,” Butler said. “Whether they miss the shot and you get the rebounds or they make the shot whenever you pass it to them. That is just a word. I am just happy that we won. A triple-double or not, I will take these wins as they come.
“I think that is our advantage, that we are faster than a lot of teams. We have a lot of high-level IQ guys, but we do not use anything as an excuse, we are expected to win. No matter who is in the lineup, no matter how tall anyone is, we are expected to win. We have been doing that lately and I have a feeling that we will continue to do it.”
Payton is typically known for his fierce defense, but tonight, he showcased his offensive skills. The team knocked down 21 threes and dished out 36 assists, an impressive display of ball movement. Since returning from the All-Star break, sharing the ball has been a major accomplishment. The chemistry has finally taken a turn for the better, and it’s showing on the court.
The Trail Blazers stayed aggressive, hitting shots with nothing to lose. Curry drained a much-needed three to push the lead to 83-74. Payton added a bucket, followed by threes from Buddy Hield and Curry—then another from Curry. He now needs just two more to reach 4,000 career three-pointers. Despite once leading by 10, the Warriors find themselves down by four. Hield responded with a three, making it 97-90. Moody added another triple, and Looney finished the period with an easy dunk, giving Golden State a 102-92 lead.
Photo by GSW/X
