Programming note: Warriors-Blazers Game 4 coverage starts tonight at 6:30pm with Warriors Pregame Live on NBC Sports Bay Area, and streaming live right here.
PORTLAND -- The Warriors are one victory away from advancing to the second round of the playoffs.
After snapping a five-game losing streak in Game 3s behind acting head coach Mike Brown on Saturday, the Warriors will go after a first-round sweep Monday night, when they face the Trail Blazers in Game 4 at Monday night at Moda Center.
The Warriors have won the first three games by an average of 15.7 points.
Facing what some players referred to as a must-win situation in Game 3, Portland took the inspirational approach, turning to center Jusuf Nurkic, who missed Games 1 and 2 with a fractured leg. He played 17 mostly ineffective minutes and already has been ruled out of Game 4.
BETTING LINE
Sports
Warriors by 7.5
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson vs. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum: Any chance they Blazers have of fighting off a sweep lies with Lillard and McCollum. It has become evident through the first three games that they can't just be good. They have to be vastly superior to Curry and Thompson. That's an exceedingly tall order considering the Warriors are aiming to close out the series.
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: F Matt Barnes (R foot/ankle bone bruise), F Kevin Durant (L calf strain) and G Shaun Livingston (R index finger sprain and hand contusion) are listed as questionable. F Kevon Looney (L hip strain) is listed as out.
Blazers: G Allen Crabbe (L foot soreness) and G CJ McCollum (R ankle sprain) are listed as probable. C Jusuf Nurkic (L leg fracture) C Ed Davis (L shoulder surgery), C Festus Ezeli (L knee surgery) and C Jusuf Nurkic (R leg fracture) are listed as out.
SERIES HISTORY
The Warriors own a 3-0 lead in the series and swept all four games in the regular season. Including the 2016 playoffs, they have won 13 of the last 14 games.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
SPLASH TIME: Curry and Thompson have struggled with their shots for the majority of the series. Both warmed up in Game 3, Thompson in the third quarter and Curry in the fourth, examples of finding the range when it's time to finish off an opponent. The Warriors would love to see 3-pointers splashing through the nets.
THE BENCHES: The Warriors, behind McGee, have won the bench scoring battle in each of the first three games by double digits. Portland's most dangerous reserve, guard Allen Crabbe, has scored 15 points in three games. Unless he gets it going, there will be no Game 5.
JAVALE TIME: No non-star on either roster has made more of an impact than Warriors backup big man JaVale McGee. He's shooting 84.2 percent (16-of-19) from the field and having his way inside. The Blazers have no answer for the 7-footer.
