NBA: Trail Blazers overcome Stephen Curry (48 points), Warriors

The Portland Trail Blazers secured a thrilling 136-131 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night, with Jerami Grant and Shaedon Sharpe leading the charge by scoring 35 points apiece. Despite a remarkable 48-point performance from Stephen Curry, the Blazers managed to withstand a late surge by the Warriors and came away with their second win in the last eight games.

Grant, who made seven 3-pointers, and Sharpe, who sank five, helped Portland shoot a blistering 51.3% (20 of 39) from beyond the arc. Deni Avdija also played a pivotal role, contributing 26 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds.

Curry’s incredible shooting display saw him make 12 of 19 3-pointers, just one shy of his career-high set in the 2016-17 season. Curry, who has been on a scoring tear with an average of 43.5 points over the last two games, returned to form after missing five games due to a quadriceps injury.

In addition to Curry’s heroics, Jimmy Butler III added 16 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, while Draymond Green contributed 14 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. However, the Warriors struggled with turnovers, committing 18 overall, including several critical ones down the stretch.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading blows in the fourth quarter. Curry's 11th 3-pointer gave the Warriors a 124-121 lead with 3:11 remaining, but Grant quickly responded with a three-pointer of his own. Avdija then converted a three-point play to give the Blazers a 125-124 advantage.

Curry knocked down another clutch 3-pointer to put Golden State ahead 129-127, but it was Portland’s ability to make key plays in the final moments that sealed the win. Grant's three-point play gave Portland the lead with just over a minute left, and Avdija's free throws put the Blazers up by three with 19 seconds remaining.

In the final seconds, Toumani Camara forced Curry into a turnover, and Sharpe knocked down two free throws to extend the lead to five. Portland closed it out, securing their third win against Golden State this season.

Both teams shot 50.6% from the field overall, and Portland’s strong perimeter shooting proved crucial in the tightly contested game. Despite a 10-3 run by Curry and the Warriors to open the fourth quarter, which gave them a 109-99 advantage, the Blazers responded with a 12-0 run to take the lead at 111-109.

The game was filled with dramatic momentum shifts, including Curry's three quick 3-pointers that pushed Golden State ahead 79-70 in the third quarter. But Sharpe’s 16 third-quarter points kept the Blazers in striking distance, and they managed to close out the game with solid defense and clutch free throw shooting.

Portland now holds a 3-0 record against Golden State this season, continuing their dominance over the Warriors in what is shaping up to be a highly competitive campaign. -Field Level Media/Reuters