NBA Playoffs 2019: Recap from Golden State Warriors' thrilling Game 2 win over Portland Trail Blazers

Gilbert McGregor and James McKern
and others
• 5 min read
#Curry

The Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers dueled in a thrilling Game 2, but it was the reigning NBA champion's who emerged victorious with the 114-111 win.

Despite being down for the majority of the contest, Golden State hit the front when it mattered most and held off the Blazers.

Andre Igoudala came up with the biggest steal of the game when he stripped Damian Lillard and didn't let him get a shot off in the dying seconds.

Missed any of the Game 2 action, here are the biggest takeaways from the game...

Warriors' third-quarter push

In front of their home fans, the Golden State Warriors were comprehensively run off the floor in the opening half of Game 2.

Portland could do no wrong as they stretched the lead out to 15 as the first half came to an end. But the game was flipped on its head in the third quarter.

The Blazers extended their lead to 69-53, then the Warriors clicked.

A 19-4 run from the Warriors brought the margin all the way back to a single point as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson caught fire.




Then moments later on the back of another Thompson three, the Warriors hit the front before the Blazers settled.

A 39-24 quarter saw the teams head into the final term all tied up, but the momentum was behind the Warriors.

Curry vs. Curry

"It was like back in Charlotte"

Prior to the Western Conference Finals, much was made of the historical implications of two brothers facing off this late in the postseason for the first time.

In Game 2, we got a glimpse of just how special such a matchup can be.

With each of their parents in the crowd wearing split Warriors and Trail Blazers jerseys, Stephen and Seth Curry both put forth huge performances for their respective teams.

Stephen Curry picked up right where he left off in Game 1, scoring 37 points (on 11-for-22 shooting) to go along with eight rebounds and eight assists. Seth Curry, on the other hand, bounced back from a three-point performance in Game 1 to score 16 points (on 5-for-9 shooting) in addition to four steals on the night. 

The two were often matched up against one another down the stretch, inspiring the above quote from Stephen.



While each brother took turns hitting big shots and making game-winning plays, Stephen would emerge victorious as the Warriors had a bit more than the Blazers in the final minutes. 

First half fire sale from three

Portland's 15-point halftime lead was on the back of an all around effort from the team, but well and truly highlighted by their lights out shooting from beyond the arc.

Against one of the greatest shooting teams, the Blazers showed they had no fear by burying a franchise-record 11 threes in the first half.




Damian Lillard struggled until late in the second, but it was CJ McCollum who led the way for the traveling Blazers as they silenced the crowd.

Portland's backcourt struggles

In the opening round, it was Damian Lillard.

In the second round, it was CJ McCollum.

In the Western Conference Finals, neither of Portland's prolific guards have quite looked like themselves, at least by the numbers.

Lillard's Game 2 struggles were encapsulated by the final possession on which he was stripped by Andre Iguodala as he had an opportunity to tie the game.


He would finish the game with a team-high 23 points but was 6-for-16 (37.5%) from the field.

McCollum wasn't too far behind with 22 points but shot 9-for-23 (39.1%) from the field.

Through the first two games of the series, the duo has combined to shoot 26-for-70 (37.1%) from the field and scored 81 points as a tandem.

The Blazers can be encouraged given they had a chance to win Game 2 despite these struggles and entered the fourth quarter of Game 1 down just six points before the Warriors put the game out of reach.

With the series shifting to Portland, these stars can be expected to turn it around and increase their efficiency on the offensive end.

Author(s)
Gilbert McGregor and James McKern