Draymond Green Returns, But Turnovers and Defensive Lapses Haunt Warriors in Loss to Blazers
PORTLAND - Draymond Green was back on the court Sunday night, and for the Golden State Warriors, that should’ve been a boost. Instead, it turned into a frustrating night for the veteran forward - and the team as a whole - as the Warriors fell 136-131 to the Portland Trail Blazers in a game that highlighted both the highs and lows of their current form.
Green, who had missed the previous three games with a right foot injury and a team-excused absence, looked physically ready to go. He logged 30 minutes, put up 14 points, pulled down eight rebounds, handed out seven assists, and added three steals and a block.
That’s a full night’s work by any measure. But it was the eight turnovers that stuck with him - and not in a good way.
“Played a little s--,” Green said postgame. “Way too many turnovers, but it’s good to be back out there. I feel great.”
That’s classic Draymond - honest, self-critical, and always focused on the details that separate a win from a loss. And on Sunday, those details mattered. The Warriors coughed up the ball 18 times as a team, and Portland took full advantage, turning those mistakes into 24 points - a swing that proved costly in a five-point game.
Green didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Just making bad reads,” he said. “Bad decisions.
Be more decisive. Take better care of it.
Too f-- old to be doing that.”
It’s not just the turnovers that stung. The Warriors’ defense - usually anchored by Green’s presence - struggled to get stops.
The Blazers found clean looks all night, attacking gaps and exploiting mismatches. For a team that prides itself on communication and cohesion on that end of the floor, the breakdowns were glaring.
Head coach Steve Kerr, while clearly happy to have Green back in the lineup, echoed the concern.
“His energy is amazing for us,” Kerr said. “And he plays so hard.
He’s just got to find a way to walk that line. He’s an incredible player.
We’d be in big trouble without him. But he’s got to have three turnovers instead of eight.
A lot of them, he was just in a rush. He’s got to find a way to just slow down a little bit, keep the game under control.”
That control - or lack thereof - is what’s been missing for Golden State. Even with Stephen Curry lighting it up for 48 points, including 12 made threes, the Warriors couldn’t close the deal. Curry’s brilliance gave them a chance, but the defensive lapses and giveaways kept them chasing.
Kerr didn’t hold back when asked about the team’s overall state two months into the season.
“At some point we just have to find some consistency and some momentum,” Kerr said. “We’re obviously not there yet.”
With the loss, the Warriors dropped to 13-14 on the year - a record that doesn’t match the talent on this roster. Injuries haven’t helped.
Veteran big man Al Horford missed his fourth straight game with sciatica, and Gary Payton II was out due to illness. But even with those absences, the Warriors expect more of themselves - especially now that Green is back in the mix.
Kerr remains optimistic that Green’s return can help spark a turnaround. Before Sunday’s game, he spoke at length about what Draymond still brings to the table - especially on defense.
“It makes a dramatic difference,” Kerr said. “Draymond remains one of the great defenders in the league.
One of the very best, if not the best, defender that I’ve ever seen. Even at this age, the impact that he makes with his brain, his versatility - but it also changes things offensively.”
That versatility is what allows Golden State to experiment with different lineups, including small-ball looks with Green at center - something Kerr said remains “always an option.” But the coach also acknowledged that the team needs to recalibrate, especially with Curry and Green both back and the rotation shifting.
“There are changes we have to make, shifts we have to make, with our thinking, with our lineups,” Kerr said. “So it’s good that we have a deep team because we have a lot of options.”
Right now, though, the Warriors are still searching for the right combination - and more importantly, some rhythm. Green’s return is a step in the right direction, but Sunday night showed that there’s still plenty of work to do if Golden State wants to climb back into the Western Conference conversation.