Golden State Warriors Clinch Pacific Division Title

For the first time since 1976, the Warriors are Pacific Division champions.

After a relatively lethargic first half, they came out in the third quarter and blitzed the Trail Blazers en route to a 122-108 victory at Moda Center in Portland.

The Warriors (58-13) not only clinched the division title but also lowered to four their magic number to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Stephen Curry led the way, with 33 points and 10 assists. Five other Warriors scored in double figures as Andre Iguodala put in 21 points, Klay Thompson tossed in 16, Draymond Green finished with 14, Harrison Barnes totaled 13 and Andrew Bogut added 10, as well as a game-high 16 rebounds.

The Warriors shot a season-high 60.2 percent for the game and outrebounded Portland 46-35.

Portland (44-25) took its fifth straight loss and dropped from fourth to fifth in the conference standings. All-Star guard Damian Lillard finished with 29 points and five assists to lead the Blazers, who were without All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge (sprained finger), forward Nicolas Batum (back pain) and center Chris Kaman (strained right shoulder).

The Warriors wrapped up the division only 16 days after Clippers coach Doc Rivers acknowledged his team had little chance to catch up. The Warriors then held a nine-game lead.

"Yeah, they probably wrapped it up, then," Rivers said. "I think you can pretty much say that. I don't have a concession speech yet. I'm going to Romney it. I'm going to wait for the last second."

Rivers was jokingly referencing Mitt Romney's delayed concession in the wake of losing the 2012 presidential election to Barack Obama.

Now that it's official, Rivers can clear his throat and concede.

STANDOUT PERFORMER:
Curry did enough to earn it by himself, but he has to share this one with the big man.

And, honestly, Iguodala (21 points, four rebounds, four assists) and Green (14 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists) were right in the mix.

Bogut's 10 points and 16 rebounds represented his sixth double-double of the season, and his first since Feb. 11. The 7-foot center also added six assists.

Curry, however, was the catalyst for the comeback that put the Warriors in front. He scored 13 of his 33 points in the third quarter, when the Warriors outscored the Blazers 36-18.

TURNING POINT:
Trailing 66-59 just 50 seconds into the second half, the Warriors reeled off a 21-3 run to take an 80-69 lead with 5:05 left in the third quarter.

The Warriors turned up the defense, limiting the Blazers to 1-of-13 shooting (7.7 percent, with two turnovers, during the rally.

Curry scored 10 of his 21 points during the stretch that lasted a little more than six minutes.

Portland shot 29.2 percent (7-of-24) for the quarter.

INJURY UPDATE:
G Shaun Livingston (rest) did not play.

WHAT'S NEXT:
The Warriors returned to Oakland early Wednesday morning and plan to take the day off. They scheduled a practice for Thursday morning prior to flying to Memphis, where they will face the Grizzlies on Friday night at FedEx Forum.

For more Warriors coverage, visit CSN Bay Area.

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