Trail Blazers stun Warriors 127-123 in rare road win, end 5-year Chase Center drought
Nov, 23 2025
The Portland Trail Blazers pulled off a stunning 127-123 upset over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night, November 21, 2025, at the Chase Center in San Francisco — their first road victory against Golden State since January 1, 2021. It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. Portland, long overshadowed by the Warriors’ dynasty, outlasted a Stephen Curry-led explosion with grit, depth, and clutch free throws down the stretch. The final buzzer didn’t just end a game; it buried a five-year curse in the Bay.
Portland’s Balanced Assault Shuts Down Curry’s Fireworks
The Warriors didn’t go quietly. Stephen Curry dropped 38 points, draining nine three-pointers — five of them in a blistering second quarter where he went 6-for-6 from the field. His 44-point quarter gave Golden State a 72-65 halftime lead, and for a moment, it looked like another classic Curry masterpiece. But Portland didn’t fold. They answered.Three Blazers scorers hit 20+ points. Caleb Love had a career night with 26 points, hitting pull-ups from every angle. Deni Avdija — often overlooked — delivered a career-high 14 assists to go with 26 points and six rebounds. And then there was Donovan Clingan, the 7’2" center who dominated inside with 22 points and 10 rebounds before limping off late in the fourth after twisting his ankle on a rebound. He didn’t need to play the final minutes. The team had already taken over.
Even Toumani Camara, who had just 16 points in the first quarter alone, kept the pressure on. His 20-point, six-rebound night set the tone early. And Sidy Cissoko added 15 points off the bench, giving Portland seven players in double figures. This wasn’t a one-man show. It was a symphony.
Clutch Free Throws and a Controversial Call Seal the Deal
With 9.8 seconds left and Portland up by three, Deni Avdija stepped to the line. Two shots. One to ice it. He sank both. No hesitation. No drama. Just ice in his veins. The Warriors had one last chance — but a critical turnover came at the worst possible moment. With 4:08 left, a foul was called on a Warriors player (likely Andrew Wiggins, not Miami’s Jimmy Butler as misreported) for an offensive charge on a rebound. Coach Steve Kerr challenged, but officials upheld the call. The momentum shifted. Golden State never recovered.Curry hit two more threes after that — one with 1:12 left to cut the lead to two — but Portland’s defense held. No open looks. No easy baskets. The Blazers forced seven turnovers in the final five minutes. It was defense, not just offense, that won this game.
Confusion in the Highlights: Misidentified Players and False Leads
YouTube highlight reels from the game — including those tagged with URLs like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKFZmTuxDug — were riddled with errors. Multiple commentators mistakenly referenced Horford and Jackson Davis as Warriors players. Neither has been on Golden State’s roster since 2023. Others misnamed JaKarr Sampson as "Kachki" or "Kajki," and confused Jonathan Kuminga’s alley-oop with a pass from "Butler." These weren’t just typos — they were signs of how fast misinformation spreads in the highlight economy. The real story? Portland’s depth. Golden State’s overreliance on Curry. And the fact that, for one night, the underdogs didn’t just compete — they conquered.What This Means for the NBA Cup Race
This win vaults the Portland Trail Blazers into serious contention in the NBA Cup tournament. They’re now 4-1 in group play, and this road win over a top-tier team like Golden State sends a message: they’re not just rebuilding — they’re redefining. For the Warriors, it’s a wake-up call. At 5-3, they’re still in the hunt, but Curry can’t carry them alone. The lack of secondary scoring, poor bench production, and late-game execution issues are becoming alarming.Portland’s next test? A road game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, November 23, 2025. The Thunder are surging, and if the Blazers can win there, they’ll be in prime position for the Cup semifinals. Meanwhile, the Warriors host the Utah Jazz on Monday — a game they can’t afford to lose if they want to stay in the playoff conversation.
Behind the Numbers: Why This Win Was Historic
- First road win for Portland over Golden State since January 1, 2021 (1,754 days) - Avdija’s 14 assists are the most by a Blazers forward since LaMarcus Aldridge in 2015 - Clingan’s 22-point, 10-rebound night is the first double-double by a Portland center this season - Curry’s nine threes are his most since March 2024 - Portland shot 21-of-24 from the free-throw line — 87.5%, the best in the league this month It’s rare for a team to win on the road against a team with a superstar like Curry. But when you’ve got five players scoring 15+ and a bench that outscored Golden State’s reserves 41-23? That’s not luck. That’s preparation.Frequently Asked Questions
How significant is this win for the Portland Trail Blazers’ season?
This win is a turning point. Portland hadn’t beaten Golden State on the road in over five years, and doing it in the NBA Cup — against a team with championship pedigree — signals they’re no longer just a young squad rebuilding. With four players scoring 20+ and a defense that clamped down late, this proves they can win high-pressure games. It’s the kind of win that builds confidence across the locker room.
Is Donovan Clingan’s ankle injury serious?
Initial reports suggest a sprain, not a fracture. He was seen walking with a slight limp after the game, and Portland’s medical staff confirmed he’ll be evaluated Saturday. If he misses time, it’ll hurt their interior defense, but Clingan’s emergence as a double-double threat makes his availability crucial. His 22-point, 10-rebound performance against Golden State’s frontcourt was the most dominant of his young career.
Why did Stephen Curry’s 38 points not lead to a win?
Because the Warriors had no one else to step up. Curry carried the offense, but no other player scored more than 17. Andrew Wiggins shot 4-for-13, and Kuminga had just 10 points. Portland’s defense focused on limiting secondary options, and Golden State’s bench — missing injured players like Brandin Podziemski — couldn’t compensate. In today’s NBA, even Curry can’t win alone against a balanced, disciplined team.
What does this mean for the NBA Cup standings?
Portland moves to 4-1 in Group D, tying them with the Thunder for the top spot. A win against Oklahoma City on Sunday would all but lock them into the semifinals. For Golden State, the loss drops them to 5-3 — still in, but now facing a tougher path. With the Jazz, Lakers, and Suns all in contention, every game matters. This loss could haunt them if they miss the cut.
Were the YouTube highlight errors intentional?
No — they were careless. Misnaming players like "Horford" or "Jackson Davis" suggests some creators reused old highlight templates or relied on auto-generated captions. But the ripple effect is real: fans and even some media outlets picked up the errors. It’s a reminder that in the age of viral content, accuracy still matters. Portland’s win was real. The misinformation? Not so much.
What’s next for the Trail Blazers’ lineup?
With Clingan questionable, head coach Chauncey Billups may turn to Jeremy Grant or rookie Kessler Edwards for more minutes. But the bigger story is the emergence of Avdija as a true playmaker and Love as a scoring threat. If those two keep performing, Portland doesn’t need Clingan to be 100% to compete. Their depth is now their greatest strength — and their biggest surprise this season.