NBA
Jan 14, 2026
The Warriors dominated the Trail Blazers despite a cold shooting night from Stephen Curry, showcasing depth, ball movement, and balance. Photo by: CNN
Even though Stephen Curry wasn't hitting his shots, the Golden State Warriors still crushed the Portland Trail Blazers with a fantastic team effort, probably their best this season.

Instead of trying to force things, Curry switched it up and became a playmaker, helping Golden State dominate.
If you're a fan between 14 and 25, this game really showed why the best players can still make a difference, even when their stats don't look amazing.

Curry's shots might not have been the talk of the town, but his impact definitely was.
11 assists
Kept the pace steady
Commanded the defense on each play
Created space for teammates
That sums up the night perfectly:
Defense: “Stay on Curry.”
Warriors: “Thank you for the space.”
When Curry stopped hunting shots, the offense became impossible to guard.

With Curry running the show, Jimmy Butler brought the heat.
Butler scored 16 points, going after mismatches and playing a tough game that Portland couldn't keep up with. Because he was ready to score right away, Curry could focus on setting up his teammates.
Player | Points | Assists | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
Jimmy Butler | 16 | - | Physical scoring |
Stephen Curry | - | 11 | Offensive control |
De’Anthony Melton | - | - | Scoring surge |
This wasn’t about one star, it was about balance.

De'Anthony Melton was on fire, making Portland pay for their defensive mistakes.
What fueled Melton's scoring:
He was in a groove.
The ball movement set him up.
Portland had to choose who to guard.
Once Melton got hot, the game swung our way for good.
Golden State didn’t rely on isolation or hero ball. They relied on flow.
Portland had trouble keeping up with the Warriors because they make quick decisions, pass the ball a lot, and move well without the ball.
Curry drawing defenders away from the play made things even harder. This led to open shots and easy baskets.
The Blazers were chasing from the opening quarter.
Their defensive rotations were slow.
Their defense in transition wasn't consistent.
They struggled to score.
Once the Warriors got ahead by ten points, it was clear they were playing with more energy.

This victory was important because it settled something important:
Can the Warriors still win even when Curry isn't racking up a ton of points?
Turns out, they can, and they did it in a big way.
This shows that the Golden State team:
Stays calm under pressure
Relies on their whole team
Wins with smarts, not just by making shots.
That's the kind of basketball you need in the playoffs.
Recently, Kendrick Perkins, a former NBA player, brought up a good point: What's the Warriors' plan for the future with Curry?
Games like this one make that question even harder to answer.
Curry doesn't have to score a ton to take over a game, but he does need his teammates' help. Tonight, he got it.

This wasn't your typical flashy Curry game. It was even better.
It proved that:
Knowing the game inside and out is key.
Being able to adjust makes great players into legends.
Winning doesn't always mean big, showy plays.
If you're a young fan trying to learn the game, this is a great example to follow.
Stephen Curry didn't have to score a lot to take over the game.
The Warriors didn't need anyone to play like a superhero to win.
They just needed to trust each other, move the ball well, and stay balanced, and they did all those things.
When they play like this, Golden State doesn't just look good.
They look like a finished product.