The Portland Trail Blazers needed a spark - and Sunday night at the Moda Center, they found it in a gritty, high-octane win over the Golden State Warriors, 136-131. It wasn’t just a win that snapped a three-game skid. It was one that came with resilience, late-game execution, and a reminder that this young Blazers squad still has some fight in it.
They had to earn it, too. Stephen Curry looked every bit like the two-time MVP, pouring in 48 points and hitting 12 of his 19 threes.
He was electric. But even a vintage Curry performance wasn’t enough to hold off a surging Portland team that simply made more plays when it mattered most.
Golden State led by double digits in the fourth quarter. But the Blazers, who’ve had their share of late-game struggles this season, flipped the script. They outscored the Warriors 40-32 in the final frame, riding a red-hot stretch from Jerami Grant and clutch defensive stops to close it out.
Grant was the closer Portland needed. He erupted for 19 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, going 6-for-9 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from deep in that stretch.
His three-point play with just over a minute left gave the Blazers a 130-129 edge, and his two free throws with 13.2 seconds remaining sealed the deal. This was the kind of takeover performance Portland envisioned when they brought him in - and it came at the perfect time.
But Grant didn’t do it alone. Shaedon Sharpe matched him with 35 points of his own, continuing to show flashes of becoming a go-to scorer. Deni Avdija turned in a well-rounded night with 26 points, eight assists, and seven boards - another strong outing in what’s been a quietly productive stretch for the forward.
And then there was the frontcourt duo of Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III, both returning from injury and illness. Their stat lines may not jump off the page - 14 points, 21 rebounds, six assists and three blocks combined - but their presence was felt. They gave Portland much-needed size and rim protection, and helped stabilize the paint against a Warriors team that thrives on pace and spacing.
Still, this game came down to the final possessions - and that’s where Portland made its stand.
Curry, who had been unstoppable for most of the night, missed a driving layup with 29 seconds left that could’ve swung the game. Then, under pressure from Toumani Camara and Sharpe, he lost the handle with 15 seconds to go, coughing up a rare late-game turnover. It was a costly sequence for Golden State, and Portland made them pay.
This marks the third time this season the Blazers have beaten the Warriors - and each win has come at a moment when Portland desperately needed a lift. The first came in the immediate aftermath of off-court turmoil.
The second ended a four-game losing streak. And this one?
It halted a rough stretch where the Blazers had dropped 11 of their last 14.
For a team still finding its identity, these kinds of wins matter. They don’t erase the growing pains, but they show what’s possible when the young core clicks and veterans step up.
As for Curry, his 48-point night was another reminder of his greatness - and another chapter in his three-point shooting legacy. This was the 28th time in his career he’s hit at least 10 threes in a game, extending his own NBA record.
For context, the next closest player is Klay Thompson, who’s done it nine times. Damian Lillard, now with the Bucks but still a Portland legend, sits third on that list with six.
The Blazers will look to build on this momentum when they host the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night. If they bring the same energy and execution, they’ll have a shot to keep climbing out of the early-season hole.