Warriors Beat Blazers 128-118 Behind Curry and Green in Preseason Finale

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green delivered a stat line of 7 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 interceptions with a plus-18 differential as the Warriors defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 128-118 in their final preseason contest.

Green and Warriors Starters Play Extended Minutes in Preseason Finale

For their final tune-up before the regular season, Golden State used its primary players for extended stretches and tested a new starting lineup. Charles Bassey joined Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Yaxel Lendeborg, and Draymond Green in the opening five, while Portland countered by pairing Damian Lillard and Ja Morant together. The Blazers claimed the early momentum, using three-pointers from Toumani Camara and Damian Lillard to ignite a 10-2 run after seven consecutive misses by the Warriors. Morant subsequently stretched the Portland advantage to eleven points at 15-4.

Georges Niang Sparks a First-Quarter Turnaround off the Bench

Stephen Curry broke his scoreless drought with a cut behind the defense, but reserve veteran Georges Niang completely altered the trajectory of the period. Niang scored 11 points for Golden State during a stretch that featured a conventional three-point play followed by back-to-back deep shots. Boosted by Green’s passing and defensive stops, the Warriors strung together a 23-4 surge to seize control. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg also contributed heavily on both ends of the floor during the reversal, helping Golden State close the opening frame ahead 35-26 after Niang poured in 13 points in just five minutes of action.

Third-Quarter Defense and Yaxel Lendeborg Expand the Lead

Damian Lillard kept Portland within striking distance during the second quarter, finishing with 23 points in under 26 minutes behind a perfect 13-of-13 performance from the free-throw line. Even so, the Warriors tightened their defensive rotations before intermission to maintain a 67-58 cushion. Coming out of the locker room, Golden State relied on its trademark third-quarter intensity. Crisp ball movement, aggressive cutting, and stifling defense stretched the advantage to 20 points. Lendeborg capitalized on the offensive flow to record 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, alongside 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. Veteran Al Horford also benefited from the rookie’s distribution, scoring all 15 of his points from beyond the arc.

Fourth-Quarter Push Falls Short as Warriors Close Preseason at 4-2

Scoot Henderson attacked the rim more aggressively after a scoreless first half to finish with 17 points, though an 1-of-8 night from three-point range highlighted Portland’s shooting struggles on an evening where the team shot 35 percent from deep despite generating open looks. The Blazers sliced the deficit below ten points at the start of the final frame before Green reasserted control. His defense and playmaking reestablished a 16-point gap, allowing the starters to exit for the bench. Stephen Curry added 20 points and Brandin Podziemski chipped in 17 as Golden State wrapped up its exhibition schedule with a 4-2 record. Portland finished its preparation slate at 3-1, leaving the team to correct its defensive errors before opening night.

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