Kevin Durant
Durant helps Warriors take 1-0 series lead
scores 32 points in his Golden State playoff debut as the Warriors beat the Trail Blazers 121-109 in Game 1 of the first-round series.
OAKLAND, Calif. — Kevin Durant had 32 points and 10 rebounds in his Golden State playoff debut, Stephen Curry scored 29 points, and the Warriors withstood a sensational day by Portland duo CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard to beat the Trail Blazers 121-109 on Sunday in Game 1 of the first-round series. McCollum scored a playoff career-best 41 points, and Lillard had 34, but the Warriors made the crucial big plays on both ends down the stretch with Portland playing without injured center Jusuf Nurkic. Draymond Green contributed 19 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and five blocked shots to help last season's second-place team take the first step in what it is counting on to be a championship run.
Durant shot 12 for 20, showing no issues with a recent left knee injury that sidelined him 19 games before he returned for the final three regular-season contests with the NBA-best Warriors.
Also in the West on Sunday, host Houston blasted Oklahoma City 118-87 in their Game 1.
In Washington, John Wall scored a playoff career-high 32 points and Markieff Morris added 21 in his NBA playoff debut as the Wizards beat the Atlanta Hawks 114-107 in their opener.
Jimmy Butler had 30 points as Chicago prevailed 106-102 in Game 1 on an emotional night for grieving Celtics star Isaiah Thomas. Playing a day after sister Chyna Thomas was killed in a car accident in their home state of Washington, Thomas scored 33.