Portland Trail Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter highlighted his team’s resilience after a 136-131 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday at the Moda Center.
Splitter emphasized the challenge of guarding Stephen Curry, saying, “The main thing was trying to guard Curry, which he was unbelievable. We tried all types of things… somehow we found a way to also score another end.”
The coach noted the Blazers’ offensive performance, particularly in the fourth quarter, adding, “Offense was good today, especially last quarter, we scored 40 points.”
He credited Jerami Grant’s impact, particularly in the second half, stating, “He was huge… trying to drive, draw fouls, and score close to the basket, and the guys found him.”
Splitter also praised Shaedon Sharpe’s return to form after a calf injury, saying, “He got his shot, he’s looking a little bit better, legs, his arc is a little higher… confident.”
On the significance of the win, Splitter acknowledged the morale boost, explaining, “We need it for the morale, for the job that we’re doing… the whole squad just from players and coaches and performance team, everyone is fighting and working every day to get better.”
The interim coach highlighted the contributions of returning players Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III, noting their minutes restrictions, defensive responsibilities, and importance in protecting the rim and rebounding.
Splitter praised the team’s composure against Curry’s hot shooting, saying, “Usually when Steph is shooting like that, it’s just kind of demoralizing… I don’t think that was the case. Everybody was positive in every huddle, talking about offense, talking about defense, how we can do better.”
Portland improved to 10-16, snapping a three-game losing streak, with both Grant and Sharpe scoring 35 points. The Blazers shot 51 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from three-point range while making 26 of 29 free throws.
The Trail Blazers will look to build on the momentum when they host the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, aiming to maintain the balance between offensive execution and defensive discipline highlighted by Splitter in Sunday’s win.
