The Golden State Warriors are back in the Western Conference finals once again as they take on the Portland Trail Blazers with Game 1 just getting underway. While the top-ranked Warriors look to advance to the NBA Finals for the fifth consecutive season, the third-seeded Blazers are looking for their first Finals trip since 1992.
The Warriors will be short-handed, to start the series at least, as Kevin Durant has been ruled out of Game 1 due to the calf strain that he suffered against the Rockets in the semis. His Game 2 status is also in doubt. Meanwhile, DeMarcus Cousins is also still sidelined for Golden State with a torn quadriceps muscle, with no clear return date set.
One of the more interesting aspects of this series will be the showcase of two of the league's best backcourts -- Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson going up against Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. The two teams faced off four times in the regular season, splitting that series between them at two games apiece.
We'll see which backcourt is hotter, and if it helps a certain side claim Game 1.
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Here's everything you need to know about Game 1 between the Warriors and Blazers:
Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers, Game 1
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: Oracle Arena -- Oakland, CaliforniaTV channel: ESPN
Live stats: GameTracker Online streaming: WatchESPN Odds: Warriors -7.5 (Over/Under 220.5)
TV listings
All games from the Western Conference finals will air on ESPN.
Odds and Analysis
Check Sportsline's NBA pick sheet for all your daily odds.
Who wins Warriors vs. Blazers? And which side of the spread cashes in over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see the Game 1 pick against the spread, all from an advanced computer model that's up over $3,000 on top-rated picks this season.
Key Players Storylines
Trail Blazers: When Jusuf Nurkic went down with his gruesome, season-ending leg injury in late March, the consensus was that the Blazers' season was done. They would make the playoffs, of course, and maybe win a first-round series, but no one expected they would go on a deep playoff run in the crowded West. In fact, when they were matched up with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round, almost everyone picked them to lose. And yet here they are, in the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2000, and set for a matchup against the mighty Golden State Warriors.
Warriors: For the fifth straight season, the Warriors have advanced to the Western Conference finals, and they'll be looking to make it the same number of consecutive trips to the NBA Finals. But their road to a three-peat got a bit more complicated with Kevin Durant's injury in Game 5 of their second-round series with the Rockets. Now, in year five of their dynasty, they'll have to rely on the original big three of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green as much as they did in year one. Perhaps that's fitting though, with big roster changes, including a potential Durant departure -- likely in the summer.
Game prediction, pick
The Warriors are the logical pick here. They're playing at home, and they have the talent and the experience to win Game 1, and the series as a whole. While the Blazers backcourt is an advantage against most teams, Golden State might be the only team in the league with a better backcourt, and they also have a more formidable frontcourt. The Blazers are a talented team and should be able to keep it competitive, but the Warriors will start the series with a win.
