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Winning streak on the line for Trail Blazers as battered Warriors come to town

By Matt George Moore

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 6: Shabazz Napier
PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 6: Shabazz Napier /
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The Trail Blazers have won eight in a row and nine of their last 10. Can they continue their fabulous play against a Curry-less Golden State Warriors team?

The Trail Blazers’ eight-game winning streak began with a Valentine’s Day win against the Golden State Warriors. That was right before the All-Star break. The Blazers have played their best basketball of the season since that win.

Can they beat the Warriors again and keep the winning streak alive?

Warriors vs. Trail Blazers

I suppose the first thing we should discuss is the injury situation.

For the Trail Blazers, Maurice Harkless is listed as probable with a left patellar tendon strain that’s caused him to miss the last three games.

For Golden State, the list is much longer. Not only will Steph Curry not play – he’s not even in Portland. Curry hurt his right ankle (again) against the San Antonio Spurs and is expected to miss at least two games. Other injured Warriors: Jordan Bell, Andre Iguodala, Patrick McCaw and David West.

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But this is the Warriors we’re talking about, yeah? Even without a host of excellent players, they still have a whole host of other excellent players.

Yeah, Curry ain’t gonna be at the Moda Center Friday, but Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson will be. Among others.

It’s pretty irritating, to be honest. Which is why it will be especially sweet if the Blazers can spank them around a little bit. Or a lotta bit.

How to Beat the Warriors

We all know the Trail Blazers (39-26; third in the Western Conference) have won eight straight and nine of their last 10. But if we stretch the sample size, we find that Portland is 17-5 since Jan. 16. And they’ve won 14 of their last 15 at home. These numbers alone are good enough to suggest that Portland has a better-than-average chance to topple the Warriors Friday. If Portland wins, they’ll take the season series 2-1 over Golden State.

If Damian Lillard continues to play like he’s been touched by the basketball deities, then it matters less what the rest of the team does. But if the law of averages catches up to Dame Friday, then others are going to have to step up. Who might that be?

Players Gotta Play

I’d look for a strong performance from Jusuf Nurkic. He’s played well of late, although he hasn’t been spectacular. Thing is, the Trail Blazers don’t necessarily need Nurk to be spectacular; they just need him to tally a not-too-showy double-double – say 12 points and 10 boards – and limit his turnovers. A couple of blocks here and there would also help.

Other than that, the Blazers will need small but vital contributions from everybody else. Something like eight points and 12 boards from Ed Davis; 10 points from Al-Farouq Aminu (plus his typically excellent defense); and maybe a handful of three-pointers from Shabazz Napier, Pat Connaughton and Zach Collins.

The Blazers have shown they can beat the Warriors, even when they play all their big-name stars – and even when Durant goes for 50.

Not saying it will be easy. The Warriors (51-14; second in the West) have won seven straight and nine of their last 10.

Next: Portland Trail Blazers biggest threat for 3rd seed in West

One of these teams will watch their winning streak crumble to the Moda Center floor on Friday night.

Whose will it be?

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. PST.

I can’t wait.

Get loud, Rip City.

And go Blazers.