Game ID: 22301214
Portland Trail Blazers @ Golden State Warriors
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
GSW 22 26 34 28 110POR 26 29 31 20 106
GSW vs POR ScoutingGSW vs POR Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
GSW availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 4 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Payton II missed 3 since 11/18, returns tonight: 18 min (119% of 16)
OUT Quinones missed 3 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Curry back 11/18 after 2, 34 min since (105% of 33)
BACK Joseph back 11/22 after 2, 16 min since (142% of 11)
NEW Šarić 17 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Looney 16 to 25 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 11/28 · 3 days' restOUT Green missed 5 since 11/16, returns tonight: 33 min (123% of 27)
OUT Quinones missed 4 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Curry back 11/18 after 2, 34 min since (105% of 33)
BACK Payton II back 11/24 after 3, 18 min since (119% of 16)
BACK Joseph back 11/22 after 2, 16 min since (142% of 11)
NEW Šarić 17 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Looney 16 to 23 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 11/30 · 1 day's restOUT Quinones missed 5 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Curry back 11/18 after 2, 35 min since (107% of 33)
BACK Green back 11/28 after 5, 33 min since (123% of 27)
BACK Payton II back 11/24 after 3, 18 min since (113% of 16)
BACK Joseph back 11/22 after 2, 12 min since (106% of 11)
NEW Looney 16 to 25 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 12/02 · 1 day's restOUT Jackson-Davis missed 2 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 6 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Green back 11/28 after 5, 31 min since (115% of 27)
BACK Payton II back 11/24 after 3, 18 min since (113% of 16)
BACK Joseph back 11/22 after 2, 15 min since (135% of 11)
NEW Šarić 17 to 24 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Wiggins missed 2 since 11/30, returns tonight: 27 min (101% of 27)
OUT Paul missed 2 since 11/30, returns tonight: 20 min (78% of 26)
OUT Jackson-Davis missed 3 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Payton II missed 2 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 7 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Green back 11/28 after 5, 32 min since (116% of 27)
BACK Joseph back 11/22 after 2, 15 min since (135% of 11)
NEW Šarić 17 to 22 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Jackson-Davis missed 4 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Payton II missed 3 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 8 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Green back 11/28 after 5, 31 min since (115% of 27)
BACK Wiggins back 12/06 after 2, 27 min since (101% of 27)
BACK Paul back 12/06 after 2, 20 min since (78% of 26)
NEW Moody 18 to 23 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 12/12 · 3 days' restOUT Jackson-Davis missed 5 since 11/28, returns tonight: 7 min (41% of 17)
OUT Payton II missed 4 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 9 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Green back 11/28 after 5, 32 min since (118% of 27)
BACK Wiggins back 12/06 after 2, 30 min since (111% of 27)
BACK Paul back 12/06 after 2, 20 min since (78% of 26)
NEW Moody 18 to 23 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restOUT Payton II missed 5 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 10 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 12/06 after 2, 25 min since (92% of 27)
BACK Paul back 12/06 after 2, 25 min since (96% of 26)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 12/12 after 5, 7 min since (41% of 17)
NEW Moody 18 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Joseph 11 to 17 min over the last 3
GSW availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restOUT Payton II missed 6 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Joseph missed 2 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 11 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 12/06 after 2, 24 min since (89% of 27)
BACK Paul back 12/06 after 2, 26 min since (100% of 26)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 12/12 after 5, 6 min since (36% of 17)
NEW Moody 18 to 23 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 11/26 · 3 days' restOUT Simons missed 14 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 2 since 11/21, out tonight
BACK Brogdon back 11/21 after 5, 24 min since (85% of 29)
BACK Henderson back 11/22 after 9, 17 min since (59% of 28)
POR availability going into 11/27 · back-to-backOUT Simons missed 15 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 3 since 11/21, out tonight
BACK Brogdon back 11/21 after 5, 28 min since (96% of 29)
BACK Henderson back 11/22 after 9, 22 min since (77% of 28)
POR availability going into 11/30 · 2 days' restOUT Simons missed 16 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Mays missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 4 since 11/21, out tonight
BACK Brogdon back 11/21 after 5, 30 min since (103% of 29)
BACK Henderson back 11/22 after 9, 22 min since (77% of 28)
POR availability going into 12/02 · 1 day's restOUT Simons missed 17 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Mays missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 5 since 11/21, out tonight
BACK Brogdon back 11/21 after 5, 30 min since (104% of 29)
BACK Henderson back 11/22 after 9, 22 min since (77% of 28)
POR availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Simons missed 18 since 10/27, returns tonight: 37 min (109% of 34)
OUT Murray missed 4 since 11/26, returns tonight: 21 min (97% of 22)
OUT Mays missed 4 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 4 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 6 since 11/21, out tonight
BACK Henderson back 11/22 after 9, 22 min since (76% of 28)
NEW Thybulle 23 to 29 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Mays missed 5 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 5 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 7 since 11/21, returns tonight: 8 min (71% of 11)
BACK Simons back 12/06 after 18, 37 min since (109% of 34)
BACK Murray back 12/06 after 4, 21 min since (97% of 22)
NEW Sharpe 33 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Thybulle 23 to 28 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Grant missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Mays missed 6 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 6 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Badji missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Simons back 12/06 after 18, 37 min since (106% of 34)
BACK Murray back 12/06 after 4, 20 min since (91% of 22)
BACK Minaya back 12/08 after 7, 8 min since (71% of 11)
NEW Sharpe 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Thybulle 23 to 30 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 12/14 · 2 days' restOUT Grant missed 3 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 3 since 12/06, returns tonight: 21 min (64% of 32)
OUT Brogdon missed 2 since 12/08, returns tonight: 14 min (49% of 29)
OUT Mays missed 7 since 11/26, returns tonight: 17 min (98% of 17)
OUT Rupert missed 7 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Badji missed 3 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Simons back 12/06 after 18, 37 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Murray back 12/06 after 4, 20 min since (91% of 22)
BACK Minaya back 12/08 after 7, 8 min since (71% of 11)
NEW Sharpe 33 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Camara 25 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Thybulle 23 to 31 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restOUT Grant missed 4 since 12/06, returns tonight: 38 min (114% of 34)
OUT Rupert missed 8 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 2 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Badji missed 4 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Simons back 12/06 after 18, 33 min since (97% of 34)
BACK Ayton back 12/14 after 3, 21 min since (64% of 32)
BACK Brogdon back 12/14 after 2, 14 min since (49% of 29)
BACK Murray back 12/06 after 4, 19 min since (86% of 22)
BACK Mays back 12/14 after 7, 17 min since (98% of 17)
NEW Camara 25 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Thybulle 23 to 30 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; Curry at 26 and Thompson at 19 a game. Without Wiggins (2 straight), Paul (2 straight), Jackson-Davis (3 straight). 3 days' rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Grant at 22 and Brogdon at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Simons (18 straight), Murray (4 straight), Mays (4 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-1 a night and Portland minus-7 and the defense, Portland allowing 107 a night to Golden State's 117. Call it Golden State 114, Portland 111, Portland keeping it close.
11/24 vs SAS 118-112 — GSW notes
GSW won 118-112. GSW shot 49% (40 of 81) to SAS's 45%, 19 of 42 from three, and went to the line 24 times to SAS's 12 — 19 points from the stripe to their 10. GSW turned it over 24 times to SAS's 19, and SAS turned those into 10 steals. Curry led with 35 (11 of 20, 7 of 14 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Šarić added 20, Thompson 15. The hinge was Q2, 27-20: GSW came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 4, and the lead reached 18. Paul was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
11/28 @ SAC 123-124 — GSW notes
GSW lost 123-124. GSW shot 48% (40 of 83) to SAC's 45%, 17 of 41 from three, and got to the line 30 times to SAC's 42. GSW turned it over 18 times to SAC's 10, and SAC turned those into 8 steals. Curry led with 29 (8 of 20, 4 of 12 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Wiggins added 29, Thompson 20. Q2 was theirs, 35-26, but the other 3 periods went 98-88 against them. They led by as many as 24.
11/30 vs LAC 120-114 — GSW notes
GSW won 120-114. GSW shot 50% (41 of 82) to LAC's 44%, 15 of 39 from three, and went to the line 31 times to LAC's 24 — 23 points from the stripe to their 18. Curry led with 26 (8 of 15, 3 of 9 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Thompson added 22, Kuminga 17. The hinge was Q1, 31-24: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Šarić was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
12/02 @ LAC 112-113 — GSW notes
GSW lost 112-113. GSW shot 44% (38 of 86) to LAC's 49%, 17 of 43 from three, and went to the line 24 times to LAC's 14 — 19 points from the stripe to their 12. Curry led with 22 (7 of 18, 4 of 9 from three); Green added 21, Moody 21. Q1 was theirs, 33-22, but the other 3 periods went 91-79 against them. They led by as many as 22.
12/06 vs POR 110-106 — GSW notes
GSW won 110-106. GSW shot 42% (36 of 86) to POR's 41%, 10 of 34 from three, and went to the line 33 times to POR's 16 — 28 points from the stripe to their 12. GSW turned it over 17 times to POR's 10, and POR turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 50-40 for them. Curry led with 31 (8 of 18, 5 of 13 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Šarić added 13, Kuminga 13. The hinge was Q4, 28-20: GSW came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 4. GSW trailed 48-55 at the half and won the second half 62-51. Kuminga was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
12/08 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 29 and Jal. Williams at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 28 free throws a game; Curry at 29 and Thompson at 17 a game. Without Jackson-Davis (4 straight), Payton II (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-3 a night and OKC minus-8 and the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 16 times a game to OKC's 8. Call it OKC 117, Golden State 113, Golden State keeping it close.
12/12 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 27 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Booker at 23 a game. Without Beal (12 straight). 3 days' rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 28 free throws a game; Curry at 28 and Thompson at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Jackson-Davis (5 straight), Payton II (4 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-9 a night and Phoenix plus-0 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 112 a night to Golden State's 119. Call it Phoenix 116, Golden State 114, Golden State keeping it close.
12/14 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and George at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Tucker (7 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; Curry at 27 and Thompson at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Payton II (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-9 a night and the Clippers plus-3 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to Golden State's 118. Call it the Clippers 118, Golden State 112.
12/16 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Curry at 26 and Thompson at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Payton II (6 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Bridges at 21 and Thomas at 16 a game. Without Simmons (17 straight), Smith Jr. (4 straight), Walker IV (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-9 a night and Brooklyn plus-0 and the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 17 times a game to Brooklyn's 12. Call it Golden State 117, Brooklyn 115, Brooklyn keeping it close.
11/26 @ MIL 102-108 — POR notes
POR lost 102-108. POR shot 41% (37 of 91) to MIL's 39%, 13 of 32 from three, and got to the line 20 times to MIL's 32. The glass went 40-52 against them. Grant led with 22 (7 of 18, 3 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Brogdon added 18, Sharpe 17. Q2 was theirs, 37-26, but the other 3 periods went 82-65 against them. They led by as many as 26. Sharpe's -19 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/27 @ IND 114-110 — POR notes
POR won 114-110. POR shot 47% (40 of 85) to IND's 48%, 9 of 18 from three, and went to the line 31 times to IND's 24 — 25 points from the stripe to their 18. Grant led with 34 (12 of 18, 3 of 3 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Brogdon added 24, Ayton 22. The hinge was Q2, 35-26: POR came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 5. Thybulle was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
11/30 @ CLE 103-95 — POR notes
POR won 103-95. POR shot 51% (39 of 77) to CLE's 43%, 14 of 35 from three. POR turned it over 22 times to CLE's 17, and CLE turned those into 12 steals. Sharpe led with 29 (11 of 15, 4 of 7 from three); Grant added 13, Reath 13. The hinge was Q4, 29-20: POR came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 8. POR trailed 40-46 at the half and won the second half 63-49. Reath was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/02 @ UTA 113-118 — POR notes
POR lost 113-118 in 1 overtime. POR shot 40% (38 of 95) to UTA's 49%, 13 of 40 from three. POR turned it over 9 times to UTA's 17. The glass went 40-56 against them. Sharpe led with 25 (9 of 20, 3 of 8 from three); Brogdon added 25, Henderson 17. Q4 was theirs, 32-22, the deficit cut from 10 to 0, but the other 4 periods went 96-81 against them. Grant's -12 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/06 @ GSW 106-110 — POR notes
POR lost 106-110. POR took 9 more shots (95 to 86), fed by 11 offensive rebounds, but shot 41% to GSW's 42%, 16 of 46 from three, and got to the line 16 times to GSW's 33. POR turned it over 10 times to GSW's 17. The glass went 40-50 against them. Simons led with 28 (10 of 27, 6 of 13 from three); Sharpe added 26, Walker 12. Q1 was theirs, 26-22, but the other 3 periods went 88-80 against them. They led by as many as 11. Henderson's -15 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sharpe at 22 and Grant at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Mays (5 straight), Rupert (5 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 37 and Irving at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Green (2 straight), Kleber (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 15 times a game to Dallas's 10. Call it Dallas 112, Portland 111, Portland keeping it close.
12/11 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and George at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Coffey (3 straight), Tucker (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sharpe at 23 and Grant at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Grant (2 straight), Ayton (2 straight), Mays (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 14 times a game to the Clippers' 9 and the arc, the Clippers at 41 percent from three to Portland's 36. Call it the Clippers 115, Portland 107.
12/14 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 116, shooting 43 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Simons at 32 and Sharpe at 26 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Grant (3 straight), Ayton (3 straight), Brogdon (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 125, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sexton at 18 and Collins at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Collins (2 straight), Juzang (6 straight), Sensabaugh (23 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-4 a night and Portland minus-3 and the arc, Portland at 37 percent from three to Utah's 31. Call it Portland 118, Utah 111.
12/16 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 41 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Simons at 26 and Sharpe at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Grant (4 straight), Rupert (8 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 113, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Dončić at 36 and Hardaway Jr. at 20 a game. Without Irving (3 straight), Green (6 straight), Kleber (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Dallas allowing 113 a night to Portland's 121. Call it Dallas 118, Portland 114, Portland keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
GSWAW A. Wiggins
BP B. Podziemski
CP C. Paul
DG D. Green
DŠ D. Šarić
JK J. Kuminga
KL K. Looney
KT K. Thompson
MM M. Moody
SC S. Curry
PORAS A. Simons
DR D. Reath
JW J. Walker
KM K. Murray
MB M. Brogdon
MT M. Thybulle
SH S. Henderson
SS S. Sharpe
TC T. Camara
GSW/POR the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Stephen Curry scores 31 points, Warriors rally to beat Trail Blazers 110-106
SAN FRANCISCO -- — Jonathan Kuminga finally checked into the game for the first time with 4:45 left in the third quarter. He hadn’t even been in coach Steve Kerr’s pregame plans against Portland, not expected to be part of the rotation given how hard it is for Kerr balancing all the minutes on a deep roster.
The Golden State Warriors needed everything they got from the high-flying Kuminga down the stretch to combat the Trail Blazers' athleticism and youth. Kerr's decision paid off.
Stephen Curry overcame a slow start to score 31 points while Kuminga dazzled for 13 points as the Warriors rallied to beat Portland 110-106 on Wednesday night.
“I’m always ready,” Kuminga said.
Kuminga dunked on a pretty alley-oop from Draymond Green with 1:03 left and made all six of his field goals. Kuminga also stole the ball from Toumani Camara with 29 seconds to go and his team ahead 105-104, leading to a 3 by Curry.
“He was great, he was the key to the game, he stayed ready. He was out of the rotation just because it's hard to play 10 guys," Kerr said about Kuminga. “... We obviously needed him. The game called for JK, just with Portland’s youth and athleticism we needed to be able to match that.”
Anfernee Simons scored 28 points to lead the Trail Blazers. Shaedon Sharpe added 26 points, six rebounds and five assists, but missed a free throw with 1:18 remaining.
The Warriors were just 10 for 34 from long range, five of those by Curry. His Splash Brother, Klay Thompson , was limited to 11 points on 3-for-13 shooting — including 1 of 8 on 3s. He missed a chance to tie it from behind the arc with 4:49 left but converted a key layup at the 1:59 mark.
Golden State’s 17 turnovers led to 23 Portland points on a night the Warriors welcomed back Andrew Wiggins and Chris Paul from injuries. Paul had miss the previous two games with a lower left leg nerve contusion, while Wiggins also sat out the same pair of games against the Clippers with right finger soreness.
Kuminga's steal and transition dunk with 3:37 left in the third pulled the Warriors to 77-74. Dario Saric 's layup with 10:31 left in the game tied it at 86 then he added a 3 at the 9:26 mark.
“Doing whatever I just did out there, that's our job as young guys,” Kuminga said. “We're the young guys, we're supposed to help our team, bring energy.”
Camara grabbed 13 rebounds as the Blazers wrapped up a five-game road trip with their first matchup against the Warriors this season. This game was added to the schedule when the teams were eliminated from the In-Season Tournament.
Green, who had made two or more 3s in three straight games but wound up 0 for 2 from deep, just missed a triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
Portland rookie Scoot Henderson picked up his third foul early in the first quarter facing the Warriors for the first time and Curry, who served as a mentor offering guidance to Henderson and his family last spring leading up to the NBA draft.
Golden State has won the last three meetings overall and six in a row at home against Portland.
With his 214th straight regular-season game, Kevon Looney tied Thompson for 10th place on the franchise list for consecutive contests.
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: Host Dallas on Friday night.
Warriors: At Oklahoma City on Saturday night in a recently scheduled game after elimination from the In-Season Tournament followed by a Tuesday game in Phoenix that will give the team three days in the desert.