After sitting the majority of the rotation, the Portland Trail Blazers were never truly competitive tonight, losing 103-86 to the Golden State Warriors. They successfully kept the final margin under 20 after Golden State sat their starters (a familiar theme for observers of the second half of the Blazers’ season). Little in this game mattered beyond the standings, so let’s focus on that.
Combined with the Phoenix Suns’ victory over the San Antonio Spurs tonight, the Blazers will finish the season no worse than a tie for the 9th draft position, and most likely will be in that position by themselves.