Expectations for the Portland Trail Blazers were low heading into the season. With Damian Lillard sidelined and the team lacking the star power of its Western Conference rivals, few predicted they could compete.
Yet their victory over the Golden State Warriors proved otherwise – and it didn’t go unnoticed by Steve Kerr.
“There’s a lot of difficult, you know, moments in the schedule, whatever. But tonight was not about that. It was about Portland and what they’ve built, and the length and athleticism and the style of play. And they were brilliant,” Kerr said after the game.
The Blazers played with intensity from start to finish, forcing 25 turnovers and holding Golden State to just 43.8 percent shooting. Forwards Jerami Grant and Deni Avdija combined for 48 points, while all five starters finished in double figures – a reflection of the team’s balanced, selfless approach.
Blazers find strength through chaos as Billups faces investigation
The victory arrives during one of the franchise’s most turbulent moments. Head coach Chauncey Billups has been placed on leave after being arrested for alleged involvement in a rigged poker game.
Though he remains officially employed, the NBA has barred him from team activities pending a federal investigation.
Still, Billups‘ fingerprints are evident in Portland’s resilience. “I would be embarrassed to, you know, sit here and blame fatigue when a team just came out and just, just took it to us. So it was about them and their great play. And this city is going to really enjoy watching the Blazers,” Kerr said.
Despite losing leaders like Lillard and Anfernee Simons, the Blazers’ collective effort showed a growing identity rooted in toughness and unity.
According to ESPN, they still face long odds to contend in the West, but their latest performance suggests a shift in mentality – and perhaps the beginning of something special in Portland.
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