Steph and Buddy Power Warriors to Season-Opening Win Key Takeaways ,After shaking off some early-game jitters, the Warriors cruised to a 139-104 win against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Moda Center, kicking off the 2024-25 NBA season.
Golden State started slow and was tied 21-21 with the Blazers after the first quarter. But from the second quarter onwards, the Warriors took control, outscoring Portland 118-83. The 35-point margin of victory marked the largest season-opening win in franchise history.
Steph Curry Just Shy of Triple-Double in Historic Victory
Steph Curry came close to securing his 11th career triple-double, finishing with 17 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds, and two steals, all without committing a turnover until late in the game. Curry didn’t play in the fourth quarter, ending the night with a plus-23 rating in just 25 minutes.
Andrew Wiggins contributed 20 points and knocked down four 3-pointers, but it was Buddy Hield who stole the spotlight. In his Warriors regular-season debut, Hield led all scorers with 22 points in just 15 minutes off the bench, hitting five of seven shots from deep and grabbing five rebounds.
Here are three key takeaways from the Warriors’ dominant win:
New Starting Lineup
Coach Steve Kerr revealed his starting five shortly before the game: Curry, Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green, and Trayce Jackson-Davis. This lineup, designed to be long and athletic on defense while relying on Curry’s offensive prowess, struggled at first. They missed their first nine shots, not scoring until the 6:28 mark of the first quarter. By the end of the first, they were down 12-5, and the starters had a minus-7 rating during their time together.
Warriors Set Franchise Record for Largest Season-Opening Win
However, they returned in the second half with more energy, and Curry sank his first 3-pointer to open the third quarter. The group finished the game with a plus-5 rating in the third, despite being a minus-2 overall.
Bench Depth Shines
The Warriors’ depth was a major theme throughout training camp and preseason, and it was on full display in this game. Coach Kerr used 12 players by the start of the second quarter, with Hield as the first sub off the bench. By halftime, the Warriors’ reserves had outscored the Blazers’ bench 27-11, with key contributions from Brandin Podziemski, Gary Payton II, and Kevon Looney.
By the end of the game, the Warriors’ bench had outscored Portland’s 70-37, showing how valuable their depth could be throughout the season.
Buddy Hield’s Impact
Hield quickly made his mark, hitting four 3-pointers in the first half alone, and finishing with 22 points. His ability to score efficiently and quickly off the bench adds a dangerous new element to the Warriors’ offense. Hield shot 71.4% from beyond the arc, a continuation of his strong preseason performance, where he averaged 12.2 points per game on nearly 49% shooting from three.
While Held isn’t officially joining the “Splash Brothers,” his instant impact has the Warriors excited for what he brings to the team.