The Golden State Warriors kicked off their 2024-25 NBA season with the NBA with a resounding victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, securing a 139-104 win at the Moda Center. The result marked the largest margin of victory in a season opener in franchise history, underscoring a strong statement at the start of their campaign.
Slow start
The game started slowly for the Warriors, as both teams finished the first quarter tied at 21-21. Difficulties with shooting accuracy plagued Golden State early on, with the starting five missing their first nine attempts.
It wasn't until Draymond Green, assisted by Steph Curry, converted a layup at the 6:28-minute mark that the Warriors got their first basket from the field. During this stretch, the starting quintet of Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green and rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis was outscored 12-5, with a minus-7 mark at the end of the first quarter.
Despite the slow start, the Warriors quickly found their rhythm in the second quarter, outscoring the Trail Blazers 118-83 from that point on. The Warriors' roster depth became a focal point, with Steve Kerr using 11 players at the end of the first quarter and rotating to 12 for the start of the second.
This deep rotation proved key to turning the tide of the game, outscoring Portland's reserves 27-11 going into halftime, and maintaining their dominance for the remainder of the game.
Buddy Hield shines off the bench in Warriors debut
Among the substitutes, Buddy Hield, who was making his regular season debut with the team, stood out. Hield offered an outstanding performance, leading the team with 22 points in only 15 minutes coming off the bench.
He scored 8 of 12 attempts from the field, including an impressive 5 of 7 from the three-point line, in addition to grabbing five rebounds. His performance in the first half was especially crucial, scoring 14 points and hitting four three-pointers, helping the Warriors pull away from their early struggles.
Hield's role as the Warriors' sixth man reflects the kind of impact once envisioned for Klay Thompson, as a sharpshooter capable of changing the momentum of the game off the bench. His five three-pointers tied for the second-most three-pointers made by a player in his Warriors debut.
Steph Curry also left his mark on the game with a near triple-double performance, recording 17 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds and two steals. Impressively, Curry racked up nine assists before committing his first loss, maintaining his efficiency as the Warriors' offensive engine.
Although he fell just one rebound short of what would have been his 11th regular-season triple-double, Curry's leadership was instrumental in guiding the Warriors after their slow start. His perimeter partner, Andrew Wiggins, added 20 points and hit four three-pointers, providing essential support as the Warriors extended their lead in the second half.
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Steve Kerr's Deep Rotation And The Key Role Of The Bench
The starting quintet, which initially struggled, regained its composure in the third quarter. After playing just over five minutes in the first half, the starting quintet returned in the second half with a renewed focus, posting a plus-5 rating in the third quarter as their shots began to fall and the defense stepped up.
By the end of the game, the starting quintet had played just over 11 minutes together, finishing with a minus-2 overall rating despite the team's resounding victory.
Steve Kerr's decision to rotate frequently and rely on the Warriors' depth was a key factor throughout the game. Notable performances from players off the bench were crucial to the win, including solid performances from Brandin Podziemski, Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney and De'Anthony Melton.
Podziemski finished with a plus-34 rating, the highest of any player, while Payton recorded a plus-26, Looney a plus-13, and Hield a plus-20. The bench outscored the Blazers' reserves 70-37, showing the depth that has been a recurring theme for the team since the start of training camp.
Kerr's approach of fielding a tall, athletic starting five with a defensive emphasis started slowly but evolved over the course of the game as the Warriors found their rhythm.
Jonathan Kuminga, who struggled early on, was the only starter to finish with a negative plus/minus rating, although the team's overall performance in the second half improved markedly.
Kerr's rotations, combined with contributions from the bench, allowed the Warriors to dominate and secure a historic win to start the season.
