The Portland Trail Blazers have one final chance to beat the Golden State Warriors, who enter Game 4 Monday night ahead 3-0 in the Western Conference Finals.
Game details: Here’s a look at the start time, television information and odds for tonight’s Warriors-Blazers Game 4.
- When: 9 p.m. ET
- Where: Moda Center, Portland, OR
- TV: ESPN
- Betting line: Warriors -3 / 219 points
The big picture: Down 3-0, the Blazers will attempt to do what no team has ever before accomplished in the history of the NBA playoffs — come back from this deficit. Even though the Warriors have been shorthanded throughout the series, it will take nothing short of a miracle for the Blazers to come back.
As we look ahead to this pivotal contest, we offer up some burning questions that must be answered in Game 4.
Will Iggy play?
Andre Iguodala is currently dealing with some soreness in his Achilles area and was almost a non-factor in Game 3. He played just 18 minutes in the last game (significantly less than in any other postseason game this year) and pitched in just two points. Iguodala got some good news on Sunday when his MRI came back clean. Yet he’s still questionable for Game 4.
The Warriors put together a tremendous comeback win without Iggy in Game 3, thanks to the Splash Brothers coming alive, and thanks to a signature game from Draymond Green. Yet Iguodala has been a key player for Golden State this postseason, and without Kevin Durant the team will certainly have its depth tested in Game 4 if the veteran cannot play.
Will it ever be Dame time?
Damian Lillard has struggled mightily in this series. The Oakland native lost his shooting touch in Game 7 against Denver in the last series and has never regained it, shooting 32.9 percent while averaging 20.3 points against Golden State.
C.J. McCollum has taken over as the leading scorer for Portland while Lillard flounders. But it’s no surprise that the Blazers have yet to win a game in this series with their top star suffering a failure to launch.
This is a player who has authored countless signature moments for his team in recent years. “Big Game Dame” got that moniker for a reason.
If the Blazers have any hope of winning even a single game against the Warriors, it has to be Dame Time Monday night in the Moda Center.
Can Steph keep the magic going?
Remember when everyone was worried that Stephen Curry’s finger injury was a big deal because he had a few rough shooting games?
That seems like ancient history now, because ever since Game 4 of the Houston series Curry has gone back to being the baby-faced assassin on the court for the Dubs. Especially since his 33-point second-half outburst in Game 6 against the Rockets, Curry has been incredibly deadly.
He’s averaged 36.3 points per game in this current series while providing key buckets late in games to bury his opponent. If Curry remains this potent in Game 4, the Blazers will have their work cut out for them to be sure.
Will the brooms come out?
At this point, even if the Blazers figure out a way to win a game, this series is already over barring history in the making. And sorry Portland fans, but that’s not happening. Given Golden State’s shorthanded roster, and the desperation Portland will have coming into Game 4, the Blazers might just avoid a sweep.
Looking at it from the Warriors’ perspective, though, a clean sweep culminating with a Game 4 victory would certainly benefit their cause. Toronto pulled out a clutch win at home in double-overtime Sunday night and that series against Milwaukee looks like it could go at least six games. So, if the Warriors can conjure the willpower to dispatch their rival Monday night, they’ll have some time to get healthy for the NBA Finals.