The Portland Trail Blazers didn’t just win — they announced themselves. On Friday night, October 24, 2025, at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, they demolished the Golden State Warriors 139-119, turning what was expected to be a close matchup into a statement performance. It was the first game under new head coach Tiago Splitter, and the team didn’t waste a second. With 26 points, six assists, and five rebounds, Deni Avdija led a balanced, relentless attack that overwhelmed a weary Warriors squad playing their third game in four nights. The win improved Portland to 1-1; Golden State dropped to 2-1. And the most telling number? 24 turnovers forced — a deliberate, chaotic strategy that turned the game into a track meet the Warriors couldn’t keep up with.
A second quarter that changed everything
Portland didn’t start hot — they exploded. After a sluggish first quarter that ended 28-28, the Blazers turned the second into a 41-point masterpiece. They hit six three-pointers in under six minutes. Deni Avdija buried a 24-foot stepback at 7:02, cutting Golden State’s lead to two. Then Jerami Grant drove through the lane for a layup with 57 seconds left, making it 55-63. By halftime, the Blazers were up 69-56. The Warriors, fresh off an overtime thriller against the Denver Nuggets, looked drained. Their legs were heavy. Their passes were sloppy. And Portland’s defense? It was everywhere.
Turnovers. Three-pointers. Chaos.
Splitter’s game plan was simple: attack the gaps, force mistakes, and punish them from deep. It worked. Portland shot 54% from the field and made 16 of 34 threes — a blistering 47%. The Warriors, meanwhile, committed 24 turnovers, many on rushed passes or poor ball handling under pressure. Stephen Curry, who dropped 35 points and seven threes, looked like the same magician we’ve seen for a decade. But even he couldn’t carry a team that was running on fumes. Draymond Green had 11 assists and 8 rebounds, but his defensive rotations were late. And when Deandre Ayton — the 26-year-old Bahamian center who’s finally found his rhythm in Portland — threw down a thunderous dunk off an Avdija pass with 19 seconds left in the third, the game was effectively over. The score? 91-103. The crowd? Unhinged.
Warriors’ fatigue meets Blazers’ urgency
The Warriors entered this game on the back end of a brutal back-to-back. Their win over Denver the night before had gone to overtime — a game that drained their energy and tested their depth. Coach Steve Kerr used "a ton of bodies early," as one broadcaster noted, but it wasn’t enough. Jordan Poole struggled to find rhythm, going 3-for-12 from the field. Gui Santos, the Brazilian forward, looked lost in transition. Meanwhile, Portland’s young core — Shaedon Sharpe, Keon Ellis, and Brandin Podziemski — played with a fearless energy that defined their identity. Podziemski’s 27-foot pull-up three at 7:50 in the third, assisted by Jordan Butler III, pushed the lead to 20. It wasn’t just talent. It was tempo. It was hunger.
What this means for the West
Before this game, the Western Conference looked like a two-team race between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets. But Portland’s win — their first under Splitter — adds a new layer. At 1-1, they’re no longer the team that lost by four to Minnesota. They’re a contender with a new identity: fast, physical, and unafraid to shoot. The Warriors, meanwhile, are now 2-1 but look vulnerable. Their defense is porous. Their bench is thin. And Curry, at 37, can’t be expected to carry them every night. This loss isn’t just a setback — it’s a warning sign.
What’s next?
Portland’s next game? You guessed it — another matchup against the Warriors, scheduled for October 25, 2025, just 24 hours after this one. A true back-to-back for both teams, but only Portland has momentum. The Warriors will have to scramble to adjust. And if Splitter’s Blazers can do this again? The league will be watching. Their next home game after that? November 22 against the LA Clippers. December 14? A road trip to Phoenix. But for now, Portland’s focus is simple: keep the pressure on.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Deni Avdija’s performance compare to his previous games?
Avdija’s 26-point, 6-assist night was his best since joining the Trail Blazers in 2023. His previous high was 22 points against Dallas in April 2025. This game marked his first double-double of the season and the first time he’s shot over 60% from the field (10-for-16). His stepback three at 7:02 in the second quarter was the turning point — a shot he’d missed in his last four games.
Why was the Warriors’ defense so ineffective?
Golden State’s defense was hampered by fatigue and poor rotations. After playing 48 minutes against Denver in overtime, starters like Curry and Green were visibly tired. Portland’s motion offense — especially the pick-and-roll with Avdija and Ayton — exploited slow closeouts. The Warriors committed 11 defensive miscues in the second quarter alone, leading to 18 points. Their three-point defense allowed 16 makes — the most they’ve given up in a game since 2022.
What role did Tiago Splitter play in the win?
Splitter, a former NBA center and longtime assistant, implemented a high-pressure, transition-heavy system in his first game as head coach. He emphasized forcing turnovers and quick three-point attempts, abandoning the slower half-court sets used under his predecessor. His substitution patterns were aggressive — he played 10 players in the first half and rotated eight players in the fourth quarter. The result? Portland’s bench outscored Golden State’s 48-31.
Is this win a sign the Trail Blazers are turning a corner?
Possibly. Portland hasn’t won more than 30 games since 2021, but this performance showed they can compete with elite teams when they play with pace and discipline. Their 139 points were their highest since 2019. If they can maintain this defensive intensity and shooting efficiency, they could challenge for a top-6 seed in the West. The real test? Doing it again on back-to-back nights.
How did Deandre Ayton’s presence change the game?
Ayton, who had 18 points and 11 rebounds, was a nightmare for Golden State’s interior defense. He finished 8-for-9 at the rim and altered five shots — his highest block total since joining Portland. His pick-and-roll chemistry with Avdija created open looks all night. The Warriors, missing their primary rim protector Kevon Looney, had no answer. Ayton’s dunk at 0:19 in the third quarter was the symbolic moment — Portland wasn’t just scoring. They were dominating.
What’s the historical context of a 139-point game for the Trail Blazers?
This was Portland’s highest-scoring game since November 2019, when they dropped 142 on the Sacramento Kings. Only three times in the last 25 years have they scored over 135. Their previous 130+ game was in 2023 against the Lakers. The 41-point second quarter was their best since 2021. This wasn’t just a win — it was a throwback to the high-octane Blazers teams of the early 2010s, with a modern twist.
