With the eight seed clinched, the Portland Trail Blazers rode the play of reserve guards Pat Connaughton and Shabazz Napier to a win over the San Antonio Spurs and a near victory versus the New Orleans Pelicans in the team's final pair of games of the regular season. Connaughton and Napier averaged 17 and 28.5 points, respectively, as the Boston duo earned the opportunity to shine in the Blazers' final games.
The confidence has carried over into Portland's first round series versus the Golden State Warriors, despite a limited rotation in the playoffs. Seldom used in the regular season, Connaughton and Napier each made an impact in relief of starting guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum on Sunday as the Blazers fell to the Warriors, 121-109, in a tightly contested game that saw the two sides tied after three quarters.