The Trail Blazers are no strangers to being down 0-2 to start a series. They were in that same position against the Clippers in the first round and they rallied at home to take Game 3. They need to do the same against the Warriors, or they could face elimination before the series returns to Golden State.
Warriors vs. Blazers 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch Game 3 online
The series moves to Portland, where the Blazers will look for their first win.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The good news for the Blazers is that they were close to winning at Oracle Arena, something only a handful of teams pulled off this season. They led with 5:21 to go in the fourth quarter after leading by as many as 17 points in Game 2. They simply failed to close out the game well and, like many others before them, found themselves in the wrong end of a late Golden State run. The Warriors outscored them 16-4 the rest of the way and got the second win in a row against them.
Stephen Curry remains out with injury and now the series moves to Portland so the Blazers need to seize the opportunity to get on the board. They simply can't afford to squander any more chances to beat Golden State while the reigning MVP is out. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, who combined for 47 points in Game 2, will need to continue to lead the team in scoring while Mason Plumlee will need to bounce back from a poor performance to provide an inside presence.
The Warriors looked especially vulnerable on Tuesday but they always seem to find a way to complete comebacks. Klay Thompson carried them on offense in Curry's absence, with 27 points in 20 shots, while Draymond Green took care of distributing the ball, finishing with seven assists. Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala also came up huge when needed. Golden State is so deep that when someone struggles,deep bench guys like Ian Clark and Festus Ezeli come in and make a difference.
The Blazers might be fighting a losing battle. Their opponent is elite. They will need to up their game at home or all hope for one of biggest upsets in league history will be lost.
How to watch Warriors vs. Trail Blazers Game 3
Place: Moda Center
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Streaming: ABC Live
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