Stephen Curry had 17 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds before entering the fourth quarter, and the Golden State Warriors opened the season with a 139-104 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
Buddy Hield had 22 points off the bench for the Warriors, who missed the playoffs last year.
Portland led by as many as nine points in the first quarter, but the Warriors took the lead and led 62-50 at halftime. Curry had a three-pointer to open the second half and Golden State led the rest of the way by as many as 37 points.
Portland was led by Scoot Henderson with 22 points off the bench. Shaedon Sharpe did not play due to a shoulder injury.
Terry Stotts, head coach of the Blazers from 2012 through 2021, is now an assistant under Steve Kerr with the Warriors. Stotts greeted the crowd in the opening quarter as the Blazers played a tribute to him on the video scoreboard.
“I think we are definitely better organized this year than in the past. Terry was a big part of that,” Kerr said. “He’s added so much to our staff and given us some other things that we’re excited about.”
Late in the first half, Draymond Green took a jab at the officials after being called for a foul and earned his first technical of the season. Kerr put an arm around Green’s shoulder and led him off the field.
Curry, fresh off winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics this summer, had seven assists in the first quarter alone, moving him ahead of Clyde Drexler (6,125) to 38th on the NBA’s all-time career list .
The Trail Blazers continue their three-game homestand against the Pelicans on Friday, while the Warriors also visit the Jazz on Friday. ___
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