Warriors End Series of Four Consecutive Defeats with Blazers Win

OAKLAND – The right fist stayed tight. Then Kevin Durant swayed wildly and looked into the crowd.

The Star of the Warriors had just thrown a dunk in one hand and made a mistake. Thus, after a week of frustration over his dispute with Draymond Green, the persistent defeat and his incoherent shot, Durant finally releases some emotions. Durant punched the air and shouted to the fans to cheer.
All this perfectly captured the joy and excitement that characterized the Warriors' 125-97 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, leading to a four-game losing streak.

"Finally, it's a good piece for us," Durant said, "and a good dynamic for us that put us on the dashboard."

Durant put a lot of things on the dashboard. He finished with a 32-point lead in his team's scoring 13 times out of 21, 2 of 5 to 3 and 4 of 5 in the free throw line. Durant also added eight rebounds, seven assists and three blocks. And he played what Warrior coach Steve Kerr called "brilliant game" despite two first-quarter faults.

During is accustomed to his. He has already scored at least 30 points in eight games this season. However, Durant's last performance provided a different context. Durant was less than two weeks under his dispute with Draymond Green. Durant had beaten more than 50% for two consecutive games after spending the previous four games under this mark. Durant had lacked defensive intensity and averaged less than one block per game. The Warriors also played in their first four consecutive losing streaks since Kerr became the team's head coach four years ago.

Yet Durant downplayed whether a burden was lifted for himself or for the team.

"I do not think it will be over. In the NBA, I do not believe in fairy tales and the emotions that flow from them, "Durant said. "It's not over if we do not impose our will on the basketball court as we did tonight. That will not happen for us tomorrow. We must play with the same passion and energy with which we played tonight. I never thought it would happen or you won a game. "

To win a game, the Warriors were not content with Durant.

Warrior guard Klay Thompson added 31 points in 12 points over 21 and 4 of 9 to 8 points with eight rebounds. It was the first time in five games that Thompson was shooting more than 50% of the field. Warrior guard Quinn Cook played aggressive enough to score 19 points on a 7-by-16 clip. Jonas Jerebko improved his three-point accuracy (seven points, two shots on four and seven rebounds) after scoring a draw in four. of the perimeter Wednesday against Oklahoma City.

Shaun Livingston (11 points) and Damion Lee (five) added some recess. Kevon Looney provided his usual energy (six points, four assists, two rebounds). And Kerr considered that Jordan Bell, in his second year, was "the story of the game" after posting five points, five rebounds, seven assists, two interceptions and two blocks in 21 minutes of the bench.
The Warriors defeated the Blazers by 40.9 percent, despite double-digit efforts by Damian Lillard (23 points), Jusuf Nurkic (22), McCollum (19) and Al-Faroug Aminu (12).

But many of the Warriors' successes date back to Durant. The Warriors not only needed Durant to score to make up for Stephen Curry's seven-game absence after a left groin injury. During the defense, Draymond Green did not only need Durant to defend himself. He had seven feet on the last nine games and had a pain in his right foot. They needed Durant to do everything.

When Durant had two fouls while only 7:54 left in the first quarter, Kerr waited four minutes later to get him out. In this way, Kerr reversed Thompson's second quarter minutes with the team's second unit to Durant. With a group consisting of Durant, Shaun Livingston, Damion Lee, Jonas Jerebko and Jordan Bell, the Warriors opened the second quarter on a 22-5 record. During this sequence, Durant made a 20-foot fadeaway, blocked a shot, sank a 27-foot 3-pointer and set up Bell for an inverted tablecloth pose.

"I do not think it's dramatic," Kerr said. "I just think Kevin played so well that he was going to be good in every unit he was in."

It was already pretty dramatic for Kerr to consider pairing Durant in the second unit for Saturday's game against the Sacramento Kings at Oracle Arena. It was also quite dramatic for Durant, who claimed to have scored 14 points on six out of 10 shots in the second quarter, in part because he had played 12 minutes in the second quarter with a reserve unit that was thriving under the shock.

"I have plenty of time to score and be effective," Durant said. "The energy of the bench, it has given me more energy and the crowd. That's what we're lacking, it's energy. "

The Warriors also lacked defense.

In the last 10 games, the Warriors have ranked 28th out of 30 NBA teams in terms of defensive score (111.4). Kerr became more troubled by these numbers than by the way the Warriors scored without Curry's shooting skill and gravity. So, as much as the Warriors have benefited from Durant's rating, his defense has become a bigger factor.

"In my opinion, that's what makes it so great," said Warrior guard Quinn Cook. "Challenges and wants to keep the best diapers. It blocks the shots and can block the big shots. He can challenge and block everyone's shot. We are obviously a great team because he can do both. "

Can he ever. Moments after Durant threw a lob alley-oop of Cook, Durant pivoted to prevent McCollum from entering the painting. Durant hit the ball at the edge. This energy led to another defensive stop that set up Durant's powerful dunk.

"Once you have stops, it allows you to relax. Do not relax, but play in the flow of the offensive when you play a good defense, "Durant said. "When you do not play a good defense, you press."

During it was more urgent. Instead, he dominated.

The warriors might know soon.

The Warriors plan to re-evaluate Curry shortly before Saturday's game against Sacramento. Kerr said that Curry would not play then since he has not yet trained. The Warriors will be absent Sunday following a consecutive clash. Curry could miss Monday's game against Orlando as well. That would make Curry back for Thursday's game in Toronto after Tuesday's practice and Wednesday's trip. Warriors will have clearer answers in 24 hours.

It's less clear whether the Warriors will have a schedule on Green and will book Alfonzo McKinnie, who has missed the last four games due to a left foot injury. Kerr ranked Green and McKinnie as "day-to-day" after completing the conditioning exercises and riding a bicycle.
The Warriors also plan to re-evaluate DeMarcus Cousins ​​next week after spending the last few months completing conditioning and noncontacting exercises.

"I do not know when he could play. He continues to strengthen his rehabilitation program, "Kerr said. "It has to go with conditioning. The conditioning must come with more time on the field and scrum. We have so many games. We did not have the chance to put DeMarcus in a melee situation. It will be coming soon. "