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Trail Blazers-Warriors Preview

Apr 3, 2016 - 6:22 AM Their record home winning streak is now history, but the Golden State Warriors still have a chance to make some more.

There's now little margin for error, however, as the reigning NBA champions resume their pursuit of the league's single-season wins record in Sunday night's matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers.

With its run of 54 consecutive home wins halted with Friday's 109-106 loss to Boston, Golden State (68-8) can now concentrate on two more significant achievements. It's still yet to secure the Western Conference's No. 1 seed, and breaking the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' league standard of 72 victories still remains in reach despite the outcome.

The Warriors have just one mulligan left to reach the second goal, needing to win five of their final six games. Four are at home and two are against San Antonio, which trails Golden State by four games for the conference's best record.

"Maybe it's a good reminder, going into the playoffs, that we don't want this feeling," Stephen Curry said.

The more immediate concern may be fine-tuning an offense that's been uncharacteristically sloppy of late. The Warriors are averaging 18.5 turnovers over their past four games, with the Celtics recording 27 points on 22 miscues.

"Our execution hasn't been good for a while," coach Steve Kerr said. "We've been slipping the last couple of weeks. I think people have seen that."

Getting Klay Thompson back on track also ranks high on the agenda. The sharp-shooter was 6 of 16 from the floor against Boston and has shot 38 percent in three outings following a four-game stretch in which he averaged 32.3 points and hit 62.2 percent of 45 tries from 3-point range.

Thompson has been on the mark in Golden State's two wins over the Trail Blazers this season. He went 8 of 11 from 3 in a 37-point effort in a 128-112 home win on March 11 and 7 of 10 while scoring 36 in 128-108 rout at Portland on Jan. 8.

Portland (41-36) enters on a four-game winning streak, though its recent home/road splits have been night and day. The Blazers have won seven straight and 11 of 12 as the host and lost eight of nine as the visitor.

"I can't speak for other people but we're doing what we're supposed to. We're winning at home," said guard C.J. McCollum following Saturday's 110-93 victory over Miami. ''(We're) beating teams we are supposed to beat.''

The defense hasn't traveled during that poor road stretch, during which Portland has allowed 118.9 points per game and 44.9 percent shooting on 3-pointers. The Blazers have yielded 99.4 points per game and held teams to 41.6 percent overall in the last seven at home.

Portland limited Miami, playing without Dwyane Wade, to 38.6 percent to move within a half-game of slumping Memphis for fifth in the West.

While the defense shined, Damian Lillard's slump continued. The star guard finished 5 of 14 from the field and is shooting 29.3 percent while being held to 18 points or less in five straight.

Lillard is averaging 36 points against the Warriors this season, highlighted by a career-high 51 as Portland dealt Golden State its worst loss of the season in a 137-105 rout on Feb. 19. He managed just 17 on 5 of 19 shooting in the March 11 meeting.

The Warriors may not have Andrew Bogut available after the center exited Friday's game in the third quarter with a rib injury.