PORTLAND, Oregon – Stephen Curry had 22 points and the Golden State Warriors rallied down the stretch for a 100-92 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Jonathan Kuminga added 19 points for the Warriors, who had a 16-1 run in the final quarter for their third straight win and ninth in the last 10 games, AP reported.
Golden State has already clinched a play-in spot but can potentially improve its playoff seeding in the final two games.
“You know they´re going to play hard and with a lot of energy and for the most part it worked for about 42 minutes, but we just got really disciplined down the stretch, had great point of attack defense,” Curry said.
“We just competed and that last six minutes was hard-nosed basketball. That´s what it took to win.”
Deandre Ayton led Portland with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Scoot Henderson had 18 points and 12 assists. It was his eighth game this season with at least 10 assists, which leads all rookies.
The Trail Blazers, sitting in second-to-last in the Western Conference, have won just two of their last 15 games.
Neither team was able to lead by more than single digits through the first three quarters.
Kris Murray made a 3-pointer that gave the Blazers an 85-79 lead with just more than nine minutes left. Curry’s 3 narrowed it for the Warriors.
Curry’s pullup jumper tied it at 86. Kevon Looney added a free throw before Curry made another 3 to make it 90-86 with 4:42 to go, and the Warriors led the rest of the way.
“Steph’s done that a million times so it never surprises you. Obviously, wasn´t his best shooting night but he made some big ones down the stretch,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “We played him more than we wanted but we got it done.”
