The Golden State Warriors were down, but refused to be beaten with guard Klay Thompson and forward Draymond Green leading a dramatic comeback against the Portland Trailblazers.
The defending champion Warriors won 110-99 in Oakland on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in their NBA Western Conference semi-final series.
With star guard Steph Curry sitting out another game with a knee sprain, the Warriors appeared headed for an upset loss with Portland taking a 59-51 halftime lead and 87-76 advantage at the start of the final quarter.
"Portland was phenomenal in the first-half," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
The Trail Blazers led from the first minute of the game until midway through the final quarter when Thompson hit back-to-back three-pointers.
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Portland guard Damian Lillard was a handful for the Warriors, scoring 25 points, including six three-pointers, in the first three quarters.
Lillard, however, failed to score in the final period.
"Any loss is a tough loss in the playoffs, but this one is especially hard," Lillard said.
Warriors' Australian centre Andrew Bogut had seven rebounds, four points and two big blocks, but it was reserve centre Festus Ezeli who was the X-factor.
Kerr let Ezeli loose in the fourth quarter and as well as eight points, six rebounds and a blocked shot he used his mobility and 211cm, 116kg frame to help shut down Lillard and Portland's other main scoring threat, CJ McCollum.
Thompson struggled and had just seven first-half points, but finished with 27 points, including five three-pointers.
Draymond Green was also inspirational in his 41 minutes on the court with 17 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and four blocked shots.
The Warriors want Curry to successfully get through two Warriors' practices before he plays a game.
They have not ruled out Curry making his return in Saturday's game three in Portland.
In the Eastern Conference the Miami Heat drew first blood in their semi-final series with a 102-96 overtime thriller against the Toronto Raptors.
Raptors guard Kyle Lowry hit a three point heave from his own side of the half-court line to force the extra period, but Heat veteran Dwyane Wade had seven of his 24 points in overtime to take game one.
