The Portland Path Blazers performed poorly within the fourth quarter of their season opener on Wednesday night time, after which head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested early Thursday morning.
Now Tiago Splitter takes over as interim coach of the Path Blazers after Billups was charged on counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and cash laundering as a part of a FBI playing investigation. Billups was positioned on go away by the workforce.
The Path Blazers will attempt to flip their consideration to basketball on Friday night time after they host the Golden State Warriors within the wake of the blindsiding off-court developments.
Billups coached Portland on Wednesday night time when the Path Blazers led many of the manner earlier than falling 118-114 to the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves. The Path Blazers have been outscored 30-19 within the fourth quarter, after they made simply 4 of 19 pictures (21.1%).
That setback appears like a minor situation after Billups, a Corridor of Fame participant, allegedly took half in illegally fastened poker video games backed by the Mafia. The Path Blazers positioned him on “quick go away” and canceled their scheduled Thursday media availability session.
Billups was one sport into his fifth season as Portland’s coach. He has a 117-212 document.
Splitter will grow to be the primary Brazilian to function head coach of an NBA workforce. His earlier expertise contains stints as an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets (2019-23) and Houston Rockets (2023-24). He performed seven NBA seasons (2010-11 to 2016-17) and was a member of the San Antonio Spurs’ title-winning workforce in 2013-14.
Golden State improved to 2-0 on the younger season with a dramatic 137-131 additional time win over the visiting Denver Nuggets on Thursday night time.
Warriors star Stephen Curry recorded 42 factors, seven assists and 6 rebounds. He scored 35 of his factors after halftime.
“Any time there is a present to be placed on, he’ll do it,” longtime Golden State teammate Draymond Inexperienced mentioned of Curry. “He did that in a serious manner.”
Jimmy Butler III added 21 factors and Inexperienced was strong all-around with 13 factors, eight rebounds and eight assists. The Warriors managed to beat a 50-point effort from Denver’s Aaron Gordon.
“We have been disciplined as you’ll be able to think about for a Recreation 2 down the stretch,” Curry mentioned. “Nice win for us.”
The Warriors opened the season with a 119-109 highway victory over the Los Angeles Lakers earlier than the duel with the Nuggets.
As Curry sees it, there isn’t any time for relaxation with a highway sport ready in opposition to a 3rd straight Western Convention opponent.
“There is a sense of urgency for us to get off to a very good begin,” Curry mentioned. “We’ve a sport (Friday) in Portland, so attempt to maintain it going. We perceive the duty at hand. The West (race means) each night time there’s going to be one thing. We bought to get as many wins as potential.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr is hopeful that guard Moses Moody (calf) will make his season debut on Friday. Veteran huge man Al Horford will sit out on the again finish of consecutive video games, having contributed 13 factors on Thursday, together with an additional time 3-pointer that put Golden State on high for good.
A vibrant spot for Portland within the opener was the play of Jerami Grant. The veteran ahead scored 29 factors on 10-of-14 taking pictures whereas coming off the bench for the primary time because the 2019-20 season, when he performed for the Nuggets.
“I am a basketball participant,” Grant mentioned of the modified function. “Wherever I am at, I will do what I’ve bought to do.”
After a number of extra brief solutions, a reporter talked about to Grant that he performed effectively off the bench.
Grant’s retort: “I do not grow to be a worse participant as a result of I am coming off the bench.”
The Warriors have defeated Portland 9 straight instances, profitable final season’s three conferences by a mean of 21 factors.
–Area Stage Media