The Golden State Warriors didn’t just beat the Portland Trail Blazers. They took control from the opening tip and never let go, rolling to a 119-97 win at Chase Center on Tuesday night in San Francisco. Against a short-handed Portland side, Golden State’s fast start and steady defense delivered one of its most complete halves of the season and a much-needed response at home.

Golden State improved to 22-19 overall and 14-6 at home. Portland fell to 19-22 and 9-12 away, dropping its second straight after a five-game surge. The Blazers had won all three prior meetings this season and were chasing a rare season sweep of the Warriors — something they last achieved in 2003 — but that bid ended with a thud.

Warriors vs. Trail Blazers: a first-quarter blitz set the tone

This game was decided early. The Warriors shot 14-for-22 in the first quarter, including 8-of-15 from three, to jump ahead 38-24. The ball zipped, the spacing was sharp, and the shots were pure. By halftime, the lead had swelled to a season-best margin, 67-41, as Golden State paired hot shooting with active hands on defense.

The energy in the building matched the performance. Attendance was 18,064, and the group inside Chase Center got to ease back in their seats well before the fourth quarter. After a Sunday loss to Atlanta that halted a three-game home win streak, the Warriors looked intent on setting things right from the jump.

“This is the blueprint — sprint out early, share it, and make life easy.”

Stephen Curry the passer, and the ripple effect

Stephen Curry scored only seven points on 2-for-9 shooting, but this was his playmaking night. He finished with 11 assists — his second game this season with double-digit dimes and the 148th of his career. The shot gravity still bent the floor, but instead of hunting scoring, he fed cutters and spot-up shooters who cashed in.

Jimmy Butler was one of the main beneficiaries, tallying 16 points along with six rebounds and five assists. De’Anthony Melton came off the bench and poured in a season-high 23, giving the second unit scoring punch that kept Portland from mounting any real run. The scoring balance and unselfish choices grew directly from Curry’s control of the tempo.

There were defensive sparks too. Gui Santos grabbed a career-high four steals, reading passing lanes and getting the Warriors out in transition. And Moses Moody, always ready to keep the spacing clean, knocked down his 364th career three-pointer, moving him to 12th place in Warriors history.

“Curry scoring seven and still owning the game? That’s leadership.”

Short-handed Blazers lean on youth: Sharpe and Love step up

Portland entered this one short-handed and had to start two two-way players. The big miss was Deni Avdija, who has been averaging 26.1 points per game and sat with lower back soreness. Even without their top scorer, the Blazers kept competing.

Shaedon Sharpe led the way with 19 points, showing his burst and touch from mid-range. Rookie guard Caleb Love added 17 points and seven assists, doing his best to organize the offense as Golden State crowded the paint and closed out on shooters. But the hole was too deep after that first half. Portland, which saw a five-game win streak end Sunday against New York, could not find the burst needed to turn this one around.

“Portland’s kids have heart, but you can’t spot the Warriors 26 at half.”

Inside the numbers: how Golden State controlled every quarter

The quarter-by-quarter totals tell the story:

• Portland: 24-17-30-26 = 97
• Golden State: 38-29-28-24 = 119

After the 38-24 opening frame, the Warriors kept pressing. A 29-17 second quarter pushed the margin to 26 at the break. From there, they simply managed the lead, with the bench maintaining the cushion and the starters controlling the pace.

There was also a tone-setting message in the way the Warriors mixed lineups. Melton’s burst, Santos’ activity, and Moody’s timely shooting kept the floor spaced and the ball live. Butler’s steady two-way play lifted the starting group, and Curry’s 11 assists served as the heartbeat for the half-court sets.

What this win means for the Warriors

For Golden State, this was about re-centering at home and leaning on habits. Sunday’s 124-111 loss to Atlanta snapped their three-game home win streak and raised questions about consistency. On Tuesday, the Warriors answered with pace, passing, and defense — the things that travel, but also play especially well in front of a home crowd.

Before tip-off, Jrue Holiday summed up the vibe around the team: “These guys are playing well and playing big minutes and winning games. This city is seeing how fun it is to watch us play.” On a night where the stars didn’t need to score big, that comment felt right. The Warriors looked deep, connected, and confident.

At 22-19, with a 14-6 mark at Chase Center, Golden State is building a clearer identity. When Curry leans into his passing and the bench wins its minutes, the Warriors’ ceiling rises. This game showed a path: fast starts, simple reads, and trust up and down the rotation.

Portland’s perspective and the road ahead

The Blazers entered with a chance to sweep the season series — something that has not happened since 2003 — after winning the first three meetings. That added some edge, but the absences and the early haymaker were too much to overcome. Still, there were positives. Sharpe and Love took on bigger roles and looked comfortable. The experience for the two-way players should help in the long run.

Portland has now dropped two in a row after a five-game win streak, but the schedule offers a quick chance to reset.

What’s next

• Warriors: host the New York Knicks on Thursday.
• Trail Blazers: host the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.

Games like this can be anchors in a season. Golden State didn’t need heroics; it needed habits. The first-quarter burst, the team defense, and Curry’s table-setting did the job. For Portland, health and reps for the young core are the key. Both teams know exactly what comes next — and what it will take to get there.