OAKLAND – Stephen Curry returned to the lineup after a two-game absence and played fairly well, but it was not enough to prevent the Warriors from taking a 113-101 loss to Portland at Oracle Arena on Saturday night.
Curry finished with 22 points and 11 assists but also committed five turnovers. Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 30 points before fouling out in 27 minutes. David Lee added 15 points 13 rebounds, with Harrison Barnes putting in 13.
The Warriors led by as much as 13 points in the third quarter before the Blazers, perhaps energized by a brief altercation, summoned a surge of energy that carried them through. Portland was led by power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, scored 30 points and grabbed 21 rebounds.
The game was briefly marred by a skirmish with 3:42 left in the third quarter, after Bogut and Blazers backup center Joel Freeland got tangled up, with Bogut throwing a forearm as they separated. Aldridge and guard Mo Williams jumped into the fray, followed by guard Wesley Matthews and Warriors forward Draymond Green. Williams, Matthews and Green were ejected.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCE
Though Thompson was the best shooter on the floor (10-of-13 from the field), Curry was the Warriors' best player. After a slow start, he connected on back-to-back 3-pointers that forged a 68-56, forcing the Blazers to call timeout.
Center Andrew Bogut was a beast on the boards, grabbing 12 rebounds in 35 minutes, his fifth consecutive double-digit rebounding game.
TURNING POINT
After Curry hit a runner for a 92-90 lead with 8:45 to play, the Warriors turned cold and sloppy, missing their next eight shots and committing six turnovers over the next six minutes. Portland used that spell to go on a 14-0 run that was snapped when Lee hit a layup with 2:48 to go.
INJURY REPORT
Small forward Andre Iguodala (strained left hamstring sustained Friday night) did not play and is out indefinitely. Backup center Jermaine O'Neal (bruised right knee, right groin strain) did not suit up but is listed as day-to-day. Backup point guard Toney Douglas (stress reaction, left tibia) continues to suit up but remains out until next week at the soonest.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Warriors go on a four-game road trip during Thanksgiving Week, the first test coming on Tuesday at New Orleans. The Pelicans, led by second-year center Anthony Davis, retooled in the offseason, adding guards Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans.
