Warriors Dominate Trail Blazers, Set Up High-Stakes Finale vs Clippers

Portland, Oregon – April 11, 2025

The Golden State Warriors are one win away from locking in a guaranteed playoff series after a convincing 103-86 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night at Moda Center.

With the victory, the Warriors (48-33) now control their postseason fate. A win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday would clinch the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and avoid the chaos of the play-in tournament — a scenario that has loomed over the second half of their rollercoaster season.

Curry, Butler Lead as Defense Shines

Stephen Curry played through a sore thumb — which required an early exit and negative X-rays — and still finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Jimmy Butler carried the scoring load with 24 points, adding five rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. Butler was perfect from the free-throw line (11-for-11), notching his 10th game this season with 10 or more attempts.

Golden State’s defense continued its elite form, forcing 22 Portland turnovers and holding the Blazers to 37.6% shooting — tying a season low for points allowed (86). The Warriors are now 11-0 when opponents shoot below 40%.

Buddy Hield chipped in with 16 points and hit four three-pointers, marking his seventh season with 200 or more triples — a feat shared by just a handful of sharpshooters, including Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

Quinten Post and Gary Payton II returned from injury absences, giving the Warriors depth heading into their most crucial stretch yet.

Playoff Stakes at a Peak

Golden State sits sixth in the West and would slip to seventh with a loss to the Clippers (49-32), who’ve won 16 of their last 19. A defeat Sunday means the Warriors must navigate the unpredictable play-in route, potentially facing Memphis in the first round of that bracket.

“We have three potential home games to get into the playoffs,” said head coach Steve Kerr. “We’re in a really good spot… but we’ve got to go do it.”

Curry echoed the urgency: “It should be like a Game 7 kind of vibe… If you win, you control your destiny.”

The Warriors have gone 23-7 since acquiring Butler, boasting the NBA’s top defensive rating over that span. Their impressive turnaround has breathed new life into a season that once looked on the brink.

The Clippers haven’t faced the revamped Warriors — now built around Butler and a small-ball lineup — since December. Sunday’s game in San Francisco will be their first meeting of 2025, with major playoff implications hanging in the balance.

Portland, playing without several starters, was led by Jabari Walker’s 19 points. The Trail Blazers fell to 35-46 on the season.

Game Notes:

• Warriors finish road schedule 24-17.
• Golden State forced 15 steals and blocked 7 shots.
• The Warriors are 0-3 vs. Clippers this season.