Warriors-Trail Blazers Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Apr 10 2012 3:45PM

Coming off their most lopsided defeat in five seasons, the deflated Golden State Warriors seem to have hit rock bottom.

While the Portland Trail Blazers' recent efforts also have left much to be desired, they don't appear ready to throw in the towel just yet.

The visiting Warriors try to avoid a ninth loss in 11 games Wednesday night and a third consecutive defeat to the Trail Blazers, who could be missing LaMarcus Aldridge.

The All-Star forward flew to Colorado to have his sore right hip examined, leaving his status for this game questionable. Aldridge had an MRI on the hip last month, but the results were negative.

Golden State (22-34) also was in Colorado on Monday, losing 123-84 to Denver two nights after winning 112-97 at Oakland in the front end of that home-and-home set. The Warriors were outscored 37-13 in the opening quarter Monday, outrebounded 60-27 and outscored 70-18 in the paint.

"(Monday) was about as bad as we could play as a team," said David Lee, who shot 4 of 15 and scored 10 points after averaging 25.1 in his previous eight games.

"... It was just one of those days where when you play an 82, or in this case a 66-game season, it's going to happen. It's the unfortunate part of being in the NBA is nights like this. It's one of the worst feelings in the world."

Klay Thompson had 17 points while Nate Robinson scored 16 for the Warriors, who shot 36.9 percent en route to their worst loss since falling 129-89 at San Antonio on Dec. 4, 2006.

"It's terrible. This one should really hurt us and motivate us to finish strong," Thompson said.

Sitting in 11th place in the Western Conference, Portland (27-31) is coming off Monday's 94-89 loss to Houston.

Aldridge had 20 points and former Warrior Jamal Crawford scored 18 for the Trail Blazers, whose 9-15 record since the All-Star break is eighth-worst in the NBA.

"It's getting closer and closer," Aldridge said of the point when the Blazers can rule out the postseason. "But we've got to keep working, keep getting better and continue to build."

Portland won 11 of its first 12 home games while allowing an average of 89.3 points, but has since given up 98.7 per contest while dropping 10 of 18 at the Rose Garden.

"We have to get it done on the defensive end of the floor, not the offensive end of the floor," interim coach Kaleb Canales told the team's official website.

The Blazers had dropped four straight to Golden State before taking the two most recent matchups by a combined five points, including a 90-87 home win March 25 behind 24 points from Raymond Felton.

The Warriors have lost six of eight in Portland.

While Golden State continues to play without Stephen Curry (sprained right ankle), Portland could be short-handed again with Nicolas Batum's status uncertain. Batum (left quad) was held out Monday and is listed as day-to-day.

Aldridge is averaging 15.6 points lifetime against the Warriors - his third-lowest mark against any opponent.

Crawford, Matthews help Blazers beat Warriors

Posted Apr 12 2012 2:14AM

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) With LaMarcus Aldridge out, Jamal Crawford saw an opportunity to fill the void for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Crawford scored a season-high 34 points, Wesley Matthews had two baskets in the final minute and the Blazers beat the Golden State Warriors 118-110 on Wednesday night.

An explosive 11th-year combo guard, Crawford joined the Blazers as a free agent before the season but has struggled to find his role in Portland.

"I envisioned more nights like this when I first came here, but everything happens for a reason and better late than never," Crawford said.

J.J. Hickson added 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Matthews finished with 18 points for Portland. Raymond Felton had 16 points and 10 assists.

David Lee had 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Warriors (22-35), while Nate Robinson added 19 points and eight assists. Golden State trailed by as many as 15 in the third quarter but fought back to tie the game at 95.

Portland led 109-106 after Klay Thompson made a 3-pointer for the Warriors, but Matthews knocked down a mid-range jumper and then a 3-pointer to put away the game.

An examination of Aldridge's hip done Tuesday in Vail, Colo., showed an "abnormality," according to interim general manager Chad Buchanan. That could cause Portland to shut him down for the rest of the season and effectively end its faint playoff hopes. The Blazers are 4 1/2 games back of Denver for the eighth playoff spot in the West.

"Finally, we are playing with a sense of urgency," Matthews said. "I wish we could have done that two months ago."

Aldridge is averaging 21.7 points and 8.0 rebounds and was named to the All-Star team this season for the first time. Hickson, who has scored in double digits in eight of 12 games since Portland picked him up off waivers from Sacramento, replaced him in the starting lineup.

The Warriors were coming off a 123-84 loss to Denver on Monday. They have dropped 11 of 15 games since trading Monta Ellis in February and are out of the playoff race.

"That may be an excuse for other teams, but for us that's unacceptable," Golden State coach Mark Jackson said. "The last two games we haven't been ourselves."

Portland went up 56-48 in the second quarter after back-to-back 3-pointers from Nicolas Batum and Luke Babbitt. Portland was up 85-75 after the third quarter, but the Warriors opened up the fourth on a 10-0 run to tie the score. But they didn't get stops at the end, allowing Portland to tally its second-highest scoring total of the season.

"For the most part, our team played hard," Robinson said. "We just gave up a lot of baskets that were uncalled for."

NOTES: Crawford has made 26 straight free throws. ... Batum returned after missing a game with tendinitis in his left quad. ... Adam Richman from the Food Network show "Man vs. Food" was in the crowd. ... Portland C Joel Przybilla had 14 rebounds, his most since April 11, 2009.

Notebook: Blazers 118, Warriors 110

Posted Thursday April 12, 2012 2:10AM

By Kerry Eggers, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Jamal Crawford came off the bench to pour in a season-high 34 points as Portland topped Golden State 118-110 Wednesday night at the Rose Garden.

J.J. Hickson -- stepping in for the injured LaMarcus Aldridge -- collected 23 points and matched his season high with 13 rebounds for the Blazers (28-31).

David Lee collected 21 points, 14 rebounds and six assists for the Warriors (22-35).

QUOTABLE: "I just felt comfortable. I knew coming into this game we were missing our top player, LaMarcus, and everybody had to step his game up. I envisioned more nights when I first came here, but everybody happens for a reason. Better late than never."
-- Jamal Crawford.

THE STAT: Golden State shot .522 from the field, becoming the first Portland opponent to shot 50 percent or better and lose. In such games, the Blazers are 1-12 this season.

TURNING POINT: Golden State was within 109-107 inside the final minute, but Wesley Matthews hit a pair of clutch shots -- a 17-footer with 42.9 seconds left and a 3-pointer with 15.4 seconds to go -- to cinch things for the Blazers.

HOT: Crawford made seven of his first nine shots and finished 10-for-18 from the field. He was 13-for-13 from the foul line, improving his percentage to an NBA-best .933 this season.

NOT: Luke Babbitt's shooting touch has been torrid of late, but not Wednesday night. Portland's second-year forward was 2-for-7 from the field, including 1-for-3 from 3-point range.

QUOTABLE II: "We lost this game on the defensive end. You give up 118 points and allow them to get into a rhythm ... that's not the brand of defense we've been preaching all year long."
-- Golden State coach Mark Jackson.

INSIDE THE ARENA: Adam Richman, host of "Food vs. Man" on the Travel Channel, was in the house.

GOOD MOVE: After a third-quarter scramble, Portland's Raymond Felton wound up with the ball at the 3-point line with three seconds left on the shot clock. He launched a bullet at the rim, where Nicolas Batum packed it down as the shot clock expired.

BAD MOVE: Twice the Warriors fouled Crawford on 3-point attempts. He turned it into six points.

QUOTABLE III: "We gave up two 30-point quarters, but our game-winning habits came into play offensively. We executed down the stretch. A lot of guys in that locker room made a lot of big-time shots."
-- Portland coach Kaleb Canales.

NOTABLE: Aldridge is "game to game" following a Tuesday MRI that revealed an "abnormality" with his right hip.

UP NEXT: Dallas Friday, at Sacramento Sunday, at Phoenix Monday. For the Warriors, Dallas Thursday, at L.A. Clippers Saturday, San Antonio Monday.

• Warriors: Bogut, Curry, Wright
• Trail Blazers: Williams, Williams

• Warriors: --
• Trail Blazers: --

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 9

• Arena: Rose Garden, Portland, OR
• Officials: #41 Ken Mauer, #56 Mark Ayotte, #60 James Williams
• Attendance: 20502
• Duration: 2:15