The Golden State Warriors are back in the Western Conference Finals for the fifth year in a row. Their opponents in Game 1 this Tuesday will be the Portland Trail Blazers, who haven’t made it this far since 2000. Tip-off is at 9 PM ET on ESPN, and the Warriors have opened as 8-point home favorites with a total of 218.5.
After downing the Houston Rockets in six games during the second round, the Warriors come into this series with two important injury questions to answer. Kevin Durant missed Game 6 against Houston with a strained right calf, and was not expected to play had Game 7 been necessary – his status for the Western finals is up in the air at press time. DeMarcus Cousins is also said to be nearing a return from his ruptured quad, although he’s not expected to appear until later in this series, if at all.
The Blazers needed seven games to put away the Denver Nuggets in the Western semis, and will come into Tuesday’s opener on just one day of rest. Jusuf Nurkic (broken left leg) remains out for Portland, while Rodney Hood (hyperextended left knee) is considered questionable for Game 1.
