Warriors whip Portland at home in opener of West semifinals

OAKLAND, California — Klay Thompson scored 37 points in another brilliant performance as Stephen Curry watched injured and the Golden State Warriors again dominated without their MVP to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-106 Sunday (Monday in Manila) in the opener of the Western Conference semifinals.

 

Draymond Green had his second career postseason triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for the defending champions.

 

With Curry sidelined because of a sprained right knee, Green and Thompson took charge again. Thompson hit seven more 3-pointers to become the first player in NBA history to make at least seven 3s in three straight playoff games.

 

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Tuesday night (this coming Wednesday) at Oracle Arena.

 

Golden State reserve Anderson Varejao and Portland's Gerald Henderson were ejected late in the third quarter after receiving their second technical fouls. Both were hit with a technical when Varejao tripped Henderson after they collided and the Portland guard jumped up, pointing a finger at his opponent's face.

 

Thompson hit a Curry-esque 30-foot 3-pointer in the opening minutes followed by another jumper to put Golden State up 10-2, and the Warriors ran with it from there. Thompson scored 18 of his points in the first quarter on 7-for-10 shooting with four 3s as Golden State built a 37-17 lead.

 

Damian Lillard had another slow start back home in the Bay Area, missing 11 of his first 13 shots before finishing with 30 points — 10 on free throws.

 

Shaun Livingston added 12 points and six assists after scoring 16 in each of his first-round starts in place of Curry.

 

The Warriors had 38 and 30 assists their previous two games — including six quarters without Curry — by generating the kind of snappy ball movement coach Steve Kerr called for without Curry's playmaking. Then 27 more assists Sunday.

 

Curry, dressed in a dark blue blazer and black shirt, emerged on the bench midway through the second quarter and received big cheers during a timeout.

 

Portland looked tired at times after eliminating the injury-plagued Los Angeles Clippers in six games Friday night before traveling to the Bay Area. The Blazers began the game 1 of 9 and missed their initial five 3-point attempts.

 

With Mason Plumlee going up for a one-handed dunk late in the first quarter, Andrew Bogut blocked the shot, then got a hand up to bother Al-Farouq Aminu's putback attempt. The Australian had another timely block in the second period and finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks.