With a 9-1 record in the last 10 games, the Golden State Warriors have had the championship sniff! It’s just a matter of time before the Bay Area side will translate this habit in the postseason. After two tough wins, Stephen Curry & Co. takes on the 12th-seeded Portland Trail Blazers tonight. On paper, it might seem like a cakewalk, but the Dubs have to stay vigilant. With 18 games left in the season, the Blazers have all the chances to make it to the postseason. Will they stun the in-form team?

Well, we’ll never know. The 76ers, without the help of Joel Embiid and Paul George, restricted the hot Warriors a few days ago. It was not even Tyrese Maxey who anchored the game, but Quentin Grimes. So, always expect the unexpected. Now, are the Warriors equipped enough to withstand the desperate Blazers?

It’s doubtful. The team has listed two key players out of the mix, Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga. While JK is out for over a month with an ankle injury, the sophomore star has managed to outshine himself in the Jimmy Butler era. He was scoring under 9 ppg and it transformed into 13.6 ppg since Butler’s arrival. Unfortunately, Steve Kerr has to find an alternative for tonight, as Podz is still recovering from his back injury.

During the Thursday night game against the Nets, Podziemski exited the floor within 45 seconds after the tip-off, holding his lower back in discomfort. And, on Saturday night, he was on the court in casual clothing. Looks like the rising star would once again make a similar cameo tonight. Apart from that, the team has a pretty healthy roster stacked with veterans in the starting lineup.

Meanwhile, the Blazers have a concerning situation with four players on the report:

Brandin Podziemski & C0. vs Blazers: Starting Lineup & Depth Chart

In the last game, it was Draymond Green who shot the clutch three. How ironic? In a game where Stephen Curry surpassed the 25,000-point mark with a three-pointer, his longtime wingman drills a three to save the team. Well, that’s the sort of confidence the Warriors are riding with since the arrival of Jimmy Butler.
It may seem like Butler hasn’t made any difference, looking at the box score. But the veteran not only consistently scores 15+ points per game but also controls the team’s offense and defense just with his mere presence. So, tonight, we can witness the magic once again!

The Golden State Warriors

The Portland Trail Blazers

On the other hand, the short-handed Blazers have to trust their season-best player, Anfernee Simons, to go off tonight along with some support from the rest of the team. Can they shock the Dubs? Let us know in the comments.