The Golden State Warriors (48-33) delivered in a must win game and maintained control of the 6th spot, taking down the severely undermanned Portland Trailblazers (35-46) with a dominant 103-86 victory on April 12.
Portland Trailblazers Top Performers:
Donovan Clingan 14 PTS | 15 REB | 1 BLK | 36.5 FPS
Clingan put up another solid performance at the center spot, finishing with a double-double while shooting over 50% from the field and without committing a turnover. He’s been consistently dominant in recent games, though foul troubles has limited his output. Still, with the way he’s been playing, he’s well-positioned to hit 30 fantasy points for the seventh straight game.
Jabari Walker 19 PTS | 6 REB | 2 STL | 31.7 FPS
Walker continues to come off the bench but his minutes remain inconsistent. Despite that, he has been instrumental lately, putting 15+ points and 5+ rebounds in his last two games. Sustaining this level of play will be difficult but he should still be a decent option for the SF position.
Matisse Thybulle 11 PTS | 3 STL | 2 BLK | 28.8 FPS
Thybulle continues to capitalize on his increased role, turning in another solid two-way performance. Defense remains his calling card but he’s quietly added some offensive value recently, draining two three-pointers in his last three contests without sacrificing his steal production. With his well-rounded impact, he’s an elite option for the SG position in their next game.
Kris Murray 7 PTS | 6 REB | 4 AST | 24.2 FPS
Murray has carved out a steady role over his last four games and should continue to start in their final game. Though not a primary scoring option, he’s been quietly productive in the SF spot with well-rounded contributions across the board. That said, a 20-point fantasy floor feels like a safe baseline for him against the Lakers.
Rayan Rupert 15 PTS | 2 REB | 1 AST | 16.9 FPS
Rupert gave the team a solid offensive spark, though his impact in other areas was limited. With the season essentially over, he’s seen an uptick in both minutes and production, a trend likely to continue in their final game against the Lakers. While he’s not at his best on offense, 20 fantasy points remains within reach.
Golden State Warriors Top Performers:
Jimmy Butler 24 PTS | 5 REB | 7 AST | 46.5 FPS
Butler stepped up in a big way with Curry leaving the game temporarily, posting his second straight game with 24+ points on an ultra-efficient 60% shooting from the field and a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line—all without committing a turnover. He also supplemented his scoring with strong secondary categories, most notably in steals, recording 2 in eight-consecutive contests. Butler has been a tremendous addition for the Warriors, helping them to a 22-7 record. With both him and Curry in the lineup, the team has gone 22-4 and looked every bit like a legitimate contender.
Draymond Green 7 REB | 5 AST | 4 STL | 31.9 FPS
Green struggled offensively but made up for it with another strong all-around play. He’s stepped up over the last two games, particularly on the defensive end, tallying eight stocks after a stretch of disappointing performances earlier this month. If he maintains this defensive intensity, recording 30 fantasy points should be expected.
Brandin Podziemski 10 PTS | 7 REB | 2 STL | 28.9 FPS
Podziemski has cooled off in his last two games, shooting at 32% from the field following his hot-streak earlier this month where he shot 58% or better three times. Despite that, he managed to keep his output strong with contributions in other categories. He’s unlikely to do better against the Clippers but he should still be good for 25 fantasy points.
Stephen Curry 14 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 29.5 FPS
Curry had to step out momentarily after hurting his thumb. Despite that, he struggled to find his rhythm on offense with the injury impacting his shot. He also sat out in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach, limiting his final output. The good news: X-rays came back negative, according to the team. Curry mentioned postgame that it was a re-aggravation of an earlier injury, but he added that he felt great and is ready to play. If he’s active, expect a much more intense showing in their season finale against the Clippers.
Buddy Hield 16 PTS | 4 REB | 1 BLK | 23.8 FPS
Hield has settled into a consistent bench role but has heated up lately, hitting at least four three-pointers in two of his last three games. However, his contributions outside of scoring remain limited. With the Clippers having been a tough matchup for him this season, reaching 20 fantasy points may be a stretch.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Jonathan Kuminga 10 PTS | 5 REB | 1 BLK
JK had a difficult time in offense, but he still managed double-digit points for the third-straight game with a solid performance from the line. Even so, his overall performances have been mostly underwhelming, and his playing time remains limited. That trend is also unlikely to change in their final game, as they face a tough challenge against the Clippers.
