Even without having to deal with Kevin Durant in the opener of the 2019 Western Conference Finals, the Portland Trail Blazers looked overmatched. They were soundly defeated by the Golden State Warriors, and the result should be similar Thursday night in Game 2.

Oddsmakers seem to agree, given that the Warriors are eight-point betting favorites, according to OddsShark. The total is 218.

Since not looking quite like himself through Golden State’s first 10 playoff games, Stephen Curry is back to performing like a two-time MVP. He powered the Warriors to a 116-94 Game 1 victory with 36 points on 12-23 shooting. The guard made nine of his 15 three-point attempts while adding six rebounds, seven assists and just one turnover.

Curry has scored 30 points or more in three of his last four games. Klay Thompson has joined him in stepping up during Durant’s absence by shooting 15-32 from behind the arc over the last three contests.

Don’t expect Portland to stop the Splash Brothers in Game 2. The Blazers aren’t an elite defensive team like the Houston Rockets, who at least had some success in slowing down the guards.

Portland ranks ninth in the playoffs in defensive rating. They were in the middle of the pack in the regular season when the team allowed 109.5 points per 100 possessions.

Much was made about Blazers’ defensive strategy Tuesday, which allowed Curry to get open looks from three-point range. Portland can improve on that side of the court, but they ultimately will have trouble keeping Golden State’s stars in check. Houston couldn’t stop the sharpshooter when they had defenders draped all over him in a must-win Game 6.

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum should be much better in Game 2 and help keep this contest closer. Arguably the NBA’s second-best backcourt combined to score just 36 points on 11-31 shooting in Tuesday’s loss.

But the Warriors continue to remind the rest of the NBA that they were champions before signing Durant. Curry and Thompson seem to be on a mission, and the Blazers simply aren't good enough to steal a win at Oracle Arena against a focused Golden State team.

Game 2 Prediction: Golden State over Portland, 115-105

Stephen Curry Kevin Durant Warriors
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates on the bench against the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, Jan. 15, 2019. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
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