Durant shines in Golden State playoff debut

OAKLAND, Calif. — Kevin Durant patted his chest after two big baskets in the fourth quarter and let everybody know “I got this!” Stephen Curry knocked down a timely baseline 3-pointer, reached his hand high and gestured to further ignite a raucous sellout crowd.

On a day Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum put on a dazzling display of shot-making for Portland, the NBA’s top-seeded team of superstars found its touch down the stretch and defended with purpose.

Durant had 32 points and 10 rebounds in his Golden State playoff debut, Curry scored 29 points, and the Warriors withstood that sensational day by the Trail Blazers’ dynamic backcourt duo to win Game 1 of the first-round series 121-109 on Sunday.

McCollum scored a playoff career-best 41 points, and Lillard had 34, but the Warriors made Kyle Terada /

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (center) shoots against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (bottom) and center JaVale McGee (top left) on Sunday in Oakland, Calif. the crucial big plays on both ends down the stretch with Portland missing injured center Jusuf Nurkic.

“When they got it going, they’re hitting tough shots in the first half, some you’ve just got to live with, USA TODAY Sports Images via AP, Pool

we played great defense,” Curry said. “They were just able to finish, but over the course of 48 you just try to wear them down.”

Draymond Green had 19 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, five blocked shots and three steals to help last season’s secondplace team take the first step in what it is counting on to be a championship run.