Game Three of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Playing without injured league MVP Steph Curry, the Golden State Warriors still managed to put away the Portland Trail Blazers in the first two contests of the series. But the fifth seeds remain convinced they can come back against the reigning champions, especially with Damian Lillard expressing confidence that the tide would turn, once the action shifted from Oakland to Rip City.

G-State looking to go up 3-NOTHING on the road. And late in the first quarter, Klay Thompson sees an open lane and drives right through it, as the kiss off the glass puts the Dubs ahead by a margin of eight.

Portland surges back in the second Q, and Mason Plumlee dishes to a cutting Lillard, who puts the home team in front by three. And Steve Kerr says that is not the defense he drew up.

Portland 120 - Golden State 108

The champions still behind after half-time, so they turn to Draymond Green, who buries the trey -- 37 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists for "Do It All Dray."

Lillard would respond by finding Al-Farouq Aminu at the top of the key, and three of his 23 points have the Blazers firmly in command, as their lead swells to a dozen.

Down the stretch, CJ McCollum uses Plumlee's screen to stop and pop. He would go for 22 point, as Rip City continues to rip Golden State.

Andre Igoudala later locates Thompson for three of his 35 points, but the Warriors are running out of time with just four minutes left on the clock, and Curry, rightfully, looks worried.

That's because Lillard continues to torch the visitors D. He finishes with 40 points, and the titleholders lead is now just 2-1.

And in Saturday's Eastern Conference Semi-Final, Kyle Lowry scored 33 points to help Toronto take a 2-1 lead against Miami, despite Dwyane Wade's game high 38 points. Both teams also got some bad news, as Jonas Valenciunas of the Raptors and the Heat's Hassan Whiteside, had to leave early with injuries.