Steph Curry's record-breaking effort not enough to beat Trail Blazers

Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News on Dec 15, 2025

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Steph Curry’s first 3-pointer of the third quarter rippled the net from 32 feet away, eliciting a murmur from the Portland crowd at Moda Center Sunday night. His second make was a 25-foot stepback from the right wing, turning the murmur into nervous groans on the very next possession.

Curry’s third make in a minute and a half was a 26-foot rainbow from the opposite wing after dribbling around screens, and by that point, even the Portland Trail Blazers diehards had to cheer for the marksmanship they were witnessing.

Curry scored 48 and made 12 3-pointers, surpassing Michael Jordan for the most 40-point games after turning 30 (45). However, he was not perfect in the Warriors’ 136-131 loss, missing a driving layup with 27 seconds remaining and down by one point.

Deni Avdija knocked down two free throws to push the lead to three, and Curry had another late turnover to help secure the game for the Blazers. Though the last 15 seconds took around 20 minutes to play, the Warriors eventually fell to 0-3 against Portland.

It was a game where the Kerr chased the win, with Curry starting the fourth quarter rather than beginning the frame watching from the bench as usual. Shaedon Sharpe did his best to keep up with Curry, scoring a team-high 35 for the Blazers. Jerami Grant also put in 35 points.

Jimmy Butler III scored 16 and made 10 free throws as all five Warriors starters hit double-figures in scoring, but no other Warrior was able to hit the 20-point threshold.

The Warriors were coming off a 127-120 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, a result preceded by a pair of road wins in Cleveland and Chicago. For the second game in a row, defense was nowhere to be seen. The Warriors led 62-61 at halftime as the teams blasted up and down the court, and 99-96 after three quarters.

The Warriors enjoyed a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, but a 12-0 run led by Grant helped Portland take a lead. Curry’s 10th triple gave the Warriors another lead as the teams went back and forth. Portland made the plays down the stretch to pull out the victory.

Golden State (13-14) will have another three nights off before playing at Phoenix on Thursday.

Draymond returns

After missing the past three games because of a right foot sprain and for a personal reason, Draymond Green returned to the lineup and started next to Quinten Post.

Rust was not a factor against a Blazers lineup that started Donovan Clingan, who injured Green on a rebound during the Warriors’ last game against the Blazers in November.

Green played 30 minutes, dishing out eight assists and grabbing seven rebounds. He did commit eight turnovers, but also had three steals.

Green scored 14 in the first half alone by making 5 of 6 field goals and burying a couple of 3-pointers. He was aggressive throughout when it came to attacking open space, always looking to get the ball to Curry or shooters.

Blazers have another hot shooting night

Statistics say that the Trail Blazers are the least threatening long-range unit in the NBA. Though they are fourth in attempts per game (42), Portland is dead last in accuracy at 32.8%.

But while the Blazers are usually ineffective from behind the arc, there is just something about the Warriors defense that turns bricklayers into snipers.

Portland made 16 of 34 in the first regular season matchup, and then followed that up with a 16 of 45 night in another victory on Nov. 21. Sunday night was more of the same despite Green’s return.

In the rubber match, Portland made 20 of 39 triples, connecting on 10 of 22 in the first half.

After Curry put the Warriors up by 10 in the fourth quarter, Grant buried a couple of warmup 3s from the corners to keep the Blazers in the game.

Familiar foe

If it feels as if Golden State is facing the Blazers every other game, there is a reason for that.

The Warriors and Blazers have played five times since Oct. 8 — twice in the preseason and then thrice over the first two months of the regular season.

Three of those matchups have been in the Pacific Northwest, which is where Sunday’s game took place. They will play once more on Jan. 13 in the Bay Area.

New starting lineup

Steve Kerr cannot be accused of being stuck in his ways, at least when it comes to switching up the starting five. The Warriors trotted out their ninth different lineup in as many games against the Blazers.

This time, Curry, Butler and Moses Moody lined up on the perimeter, while Green and Post played the frontcourt spots.

Because of injuries and absences, the Warriors have used 15 different starting fives in 27 games this season.

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