Portland Trail Blazers’ LaMarcus Aldridge, left, blocks a shot attempt from Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Bogut (12) during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. (Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP / AP)
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) The taxing preseason, which included two games in China, is finally over. Whether the Golden State Warriors are ready to live up to lofty expectations remains unclear.
Damian Lillard scored 21 points, LaMarcus Aldridge added 16 points and 12 rebounds, and the Portland Trail Blazers rallied to beat the Warriors 90-74 Thursday night in the preseason finale for both teams.
“There are certain teams with different mentalities and agendas going into the preseason. Some teams, we were there once, it’s important to win ball games,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. “For some teams it’s important to stay healthy. Some teams you just want to establish a rhythm. I think the two latter ones were us. The danger is you can’t believe you can turn it on when you want to.”
The Warriors will carry that message into the regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.
Golden State led by 11 early in the third quarter before the Blazers scored 22 straight points. The Warriors missed 17 shots in a row and were held scoreless for more than 8 minutes during Portland’s run.
Stephen Curry had 17 points and six assists, and Klay Thompson scored 16 points for the Warriors, who blew a double-digit lead for the second straight game. Golden State lost 91-90 at Sacramento on Wednesday night after leading by 17 points in the third quarter.
“That’s going to be our Achilles’ heel. When we’re not making shots, how do we defend? What’s our personality going to be?” said new addition Andre Iguodala, who had nine points, four rebounds and two assists.
The Warriors ended the preseason 3-4, including wins against the Lakers in Beijing and Shanghai. Portland won its final five games to finish the preseason 5-2.
“Just as we ignored the predictions last year that we weren’t going to make the playoffs,” forward David Lee said, “we’re not going to let the positive outlook change the way we work.”
Jackson said he feels satisfied with the way the preseason ended because the Warriors emerged “relatively healthy.” The third-year coach still never really got the chance to experiment with lineups in the exhibitions like he had hoped.
Small forward Harrison Barnes missed the last four games with left foot inflammation. His status for the regular-season opener is murky.
Lee also sat out Thursday after undergoing dental work on his two front teeth, which were loosed by an inadvertent elbow from Jason Thompson in the loss at Sacramento. Lee is not expected to miss any time.
Adding to the concerns, Nemanja Nedovic – drafted 30th overall out of Serbia – landed hard on his left wrist and lower back after Mo Williams fouled him on a layup attempt in the fourth quarter. Officials called a flagrant foul but downgraded it to a common foul after a video review.
The Warriors have less than a week to rest up and regroup – not to mention sort out the rotation. With the addition of Iguodala, the question remains: Who will come off the bench?
All five starters – Curry, Thompson, Barnes, Lee and Andrew Bogut – are back from a team that won 47 games last season before beating the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs and losing to the eventual Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs in six games. Either Barnes or Thompson will come off the bench.
Jackson is still trying to find the right combination, especially after wasting leads in consecutive losses, albeit in the preseason.
“It is somewhat of a concern, but not overly concerned,” Jackson said. “I think that second unit, probably in a normal game, someone will be in there as a calming effect – not just a scorer, but a guy that could get us good looks. With that being said, leaving a starter in the game to take some of the pressure off would be ideal.”
Thompson started his third straight game in the preseason finale, which is usually more of a showcase for unproven players than the regulars, though neither coach treated it that way.
Second-year Blazers coach Terry Stotts mixed up his backcourt rotation throughout, but leaned on Lillard when it mattered most.
The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year and Oakland native started the Blazers’ big run with a 3-pointer. He made another from beyond the arc to put Portland up 76-59 early in the fourth.
Wesley Matthews (irregular heartbeat), C.J. McCollum (fractured left foot) and former California guard Allen Crabbe (stomach flu) all sat out for the Blazers.
Taylor lifts Bobcats over Cavaliers, 105-92
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Jeffery Taylor scored 20 points and Gerald Henderson added 19 as the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-92 on Thursday night.
Kyrie Irving led the Cavaliers with 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting in 27 minutes.
Taylor, who saw additional playing time after starting small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist left the game with a strained right hamstring, was 7 of 11 from the field and 3 of 4 from 3-point range.
Earl Clark had 12 points for the Cavaliers, who wrapped up the preseason 4-4.
Charlotte’s Cody Zeller had 13 points and eight rebounds. But he’ll have to wait for another night to face older brother Tyler, who remains out following an appendectomy.
The Bobcats (4-3) came into the game with the league’s best defense this preseason, allowing fewer than 83 points per game. The Cavaliers were the first team to score 90 points against them.
Pistons beat Wolves on Smith’s 3-pointer
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Josh Smith made a 3-pointer as time expired and finished with 20 points to lift the Detroit Pistons to a 99-98 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night in both teams’ exhibition finale.
J.J. Barea’s layup with 3.6 seconds left gave the Timberwolves (4-3) a 98-96 lead but Smith, who got the ball out of a timeout, launched his shot in the final second. It hit the rim and fell in as the horn sounded.
Greg Monroe and Will Bynum each added 17 points, rookie Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 13 and Andre Drummond grabbed 20 rebounds for the Pistons (4-4).
Kevin Love had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Kevin Martin added 18 points for Minnesota on a night both coaches gave their younger players plenty of playing time.
Harden, Howard help Rockets roll past Spurs
SAN ANTONIO (AP) James Harden had 22 points and 11 assists, Dwight Howard added 15 points and 16 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets routed the San Antonio Spurs 109-92 on Thursday night.
Aron Baynes scored 16 points, and Danny Green and Marco Belinelli each added 12 points in San Antonio’s preseason finale. Tim Duncan had six points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes, while Tony Parker had eight points and four assists in 20 minutes.
Omri Casspi and Chandler Parsons each had 16 points and Jeremy Lin added 11. Houston closes its preseason schedule Friday at Memphis before opening the season at home Wednesday against Charlotte.
Howard and Harden played all but the final minute of the third quarter, and the Rockets outscored the Spurs 37-25 in the period.
Boris Diaw and Belinelli started for Kawhi Leonard and Green. Leonard and Manu Ginobili both sat out the game to rest for San Antonio’s season opener at home Wednesday against Memphis.
NBA Roundup: Blazers beat Warriors 90-74 in preseason finale is a post from: PhatzRadio.com
