OAKLAND – Disappointed, perhaps even embarrassed, by their performance on Christmas Day, the Warriors will try to bounce back Thursday night against a Portland team they’ve handled pretty well in recent seasons.
Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 6 o’clock, with Warriors Outsiders, followed by Warriors Pregame. Tipoff at Oracle Arena is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. PT.
When the Warriors (23-12) were routed, 127-101, by the Lakers on Christmas, it was their fourth home loss this season – all by at least 20 points. They’ve spent the past two days evaluating that loss while undergoing considerable self-evaluation.
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SIGN UP HERE Their overall record this season at Oracle is 15-4, which suggests home games are feast or famine.
The Warriors have feasted on the Trail Blazers, besting them in 17 of the last 22 meetings, including the last eight in a row at home.
The Trail Blazers (19-15), victims of a 125-97 loss to the Warriors on Nov. 23 at Oracle, are coming off a 117-96 loss to the Utah Jazz on Christmas night in Salt Lake City. It was Portland’s second loss to Utah in a five-day span, by a total of 51 points.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
News
Warriors
F – Kevin Durant
F – Draymond Green
C – Kevon Looney
G – Klay Thompson
G – Stephen Curry
Trail Blazers
F –Maurice Harkless
F – Al-Farouq Aminu
C – Jusuf Nurkic
G – CJ McCollum
G – Damian Lillard
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: G Jacob Evans (L foot contusion) is listed as probable. C DeMarcus Cousins (L Achilles’ tendon rehab) and C Damian Jones (L pectoral surgery) are listed as out.
Blazers: No injuries reported.
ROTATION OUTLOOK
Warriors: Coach Steve Kerr started power forward Jonas Jerebko at center against the Clippers last Sunday but went back to Looney on Christmas Day. The position is semi-fluid, but Looney will be the usual starter until Cousins is cleared. Meanwhile, Green can expect to see regular minutes at center.
Look for more pick-and-roll offense from the Warriors, particularly involving Green, who is having such a poor shooting season that opponents don’t bother guarding him on the perimeter.
Thompson is 8-of-39 (20.5 percent) beyond the arc and 38-of-104 overall (36.5) over the last seven games.
After shooting 30.3 percent from deep over the first six weeks, guard/forward Andre Iguodala is draining triples at a 50-percent clip over the last month.
After an impressive start forward Alfonzo McKinnie has not regained his touch since recovering from a foot injury early this month. He’s shooting 40.4 percent overall and 23.8 percent from deep in the 10 games since he returned.
The Warriors are 7-4 after losses this season and an NBA-best 57-16 in those circumstances under Kerr.
Blazers: Lillard is having another All-Star season, shooting 45 percent overall, 39.8 percent from deep. His 24.8 player efficiency rating is 14th in the league.
McCollum is struggling with his 3-point shot, shooting 26.8 percent this month and 19 percent over his last five games.
The performance of Nurkic is the team’s best barometer. When he’s good, they’re a playoff team. When he’s not, they’re slightly above mediocre. He has been inconsistent.
Backup guard Seth Curry, younger brother of Stephen, had a slow start but is showing signs of recovery. Nothing wrong with his 3-point shooting; he’s at 49.3 percent from deep.
Shooting 43.8 percent from deep, 7-foot backup center Meyers Leonard has completed the transformation from draft bust to 3-point shooting specialist.
Coach Terry Stotts (a former Warriors assistant) is one win away from passing Rick Adelman for No. 2 on the list of wins for Portland coaches. The two are tied with 291 wins, well behind leader Jack Ramsay, with 453.