Blazers finally beat the Warriors in Oakland

The Blazers finally beat the Warriors in Golden State! Damian Lillard and Portland had not won a game in Oakland since the Warriors’ title era began in 2014-15, losing 12 straight at Oracle in the regular season and playoffs. You can’t dream of beating the Warriors in the playoffs if you can’t win at Oracle, so this was a major issue. Last year, the Blazers split the season series with Golden State, with each team winning both at home. Portland also has home wins over the Warriors in the 2016 regular season and the 2016 playoffs. But never in Oakland.

Until Thursday. In a weird, sloppy game with lots of bricks and almost as much Seth Curry as Steph Curry, the Blazers won on a Dame go-ahead in overtime and a Kevin Durant brick. If there was any lesson here it was that the younger Curry is a good option for Portland late in games against the Warriors precisely because he’s so undisturbed by his big brother’s excellence, and that Golden State needs DeMarcus Cousins healthy to deal with bullies like Jusuf Nurkic, who had a strong game.

If you want to beat the Warriors, you first have to believe you can beat the Warriors. With three wins in four games now, including one in Oakland, the Blazers are there. They might need a trade to find a better two-way fit next to Lillard, but if not, Portland believes in itself and that’s dangerous to everyone else.

Celtics 113, Rockets 127
Knicks 96, Bucks 112
Lakers 116, Kings 117
Sixers 114, Jazz 97
Blazers 110, Warriors 109 (OT)

All times Eastern. On League Pass unless otherwise noted.

Friday:
Nets at Hornets, 7
Pistons at Pacers, 7
Raptors at Magic, 7
Bulls at Wizards, 7
Cavaliers at Heat, 8
Hawks at Timberwolves, 8
Mavericks at Pelicans, 8, NBA TV
Spurs at Nuggets, 9
Thunder at Suns, 9
Clippers at Lakers, 10:30, NBA TV

Saturday:
Nets at Bucks, 5
Rockets at Pelicans, 7, NBA TV
Hornets at Wizards, 7
Cavaliers at Hawks, 7:30
Celtics at Grizzlies, 8
Knicks at Jazz, 8
Nuggets at Suns, 9
Warriors at Blazers, 10, NBA TV
Spurs at Clippers, 10:30

Sunday:
Pistons at Magic, 3:30
Timberwolves at Heat, 6
Bulls at Raptors, 6
Thunder at Mavericks, 7
Sixers at Blazers, 9
Kings at Lakers, 9:30

Bogdan Bogdanovic ripped the LeBron-less Lakers’ heart out of their chests with this stepback game-winning buzzer beater three over Tyson Chandler. Then De’Aaron Fox cursed about how many Lakers fans were at the Golden 1 Center. Friends, I think Lakers vs. Kings is a thing again?

Great Jaren Jackson Jr. origin story by Ben Golliver, who writes that Triple J wanted to be the best defender out there.

Zach Lowe on the primacy of Anthony Davis rumors right now. Kevin O’Connor on the impact of the forthcoming Anthony Davis sweepstakes.

How Tum Tum Nairn went straight from playing for Michigan State to coaching the Suns.

Zito Madu on how Kyrie Irving is beyond numbers.

Candace Buckner on what happens to Kelly Oubre’s dogs when he gets traded and more.

Tattoo artists suing video game makers for copyright infringement when athletes’ ink is recreated in the artwork seems ... bad.

Cool idea from Donovan Mitchell.

Speaking of Mitch, Ben Simmons had some funny quotes about how much he toasted the Jazzman by in the Rookie of the Year race before the Sixers toasted the Jazz.

Be excellent to each other.