OAKLAND — The Warriors not only needed their stars but key supporting players to subdue the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the playoffs Sunday, and JaVale McGee and Ian Clark brought the latter in a major way off the bench.
Clark, who has been notoriously lethal against Portland during the regular season, scored a playoff career high 12 points and was on the court when the Warriors made their decisive 15-2 run that ultimately delivered a 121-109 victory.
McGee, meanwhile, was a force at both ends of the floor in just under 10 minutes. He blocked two shots, altered a few more, hit 3 of 4 baskets and had one very huge third quarter assist after blocking a Damian Lillard shot at one end of the floor, then racing to the other end to snare a loose ball and firing it to Stephen Curry for a wide-open corner 3-pointer.