There was no great escape for Andrew Bogut and his Golden State Warriors, with the Portland Trail Blazers taking game three of their NBA Western Conference semi-final series.
The Trail Blazers won 120-108 on their home court on Saturday (Sunday AEST), but still trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
The Warriors fell behind by 20 points with seven minutes to go, but when it appeared the reigning champions would stage one of their trademark comebacks Portland guard Damian Lillard shut it down.
Lillard, who had 40 points, including key three-pointers in the final minutes, said his team knew it could not allow the Warriors to snatch victory and take a 3-0 series lead.
"Not a lot of teams come back from that, especially against a team that is as great as what the Warriors are," Lillard said.
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The Warriors, after a record 73-win regular season and victories in their previous four playoff games despite their NBA MVP Steph Curry out with a knee sprain, are expected to pull off miracle victories.
The Warriors trailed by 10 points late in game two, but stole it from Portland with a comeback run.
When Draymond Green hit 10 straight points for the Warriors in the final three minutes of game three the Trail Blazers' guards Lillard and CJ Collum countered with their own three-point bombs.
Green had 37 points, including 8-12 three point shooting, along with nine rebounds and eight assists.
"Draymond was terrific and kept us in it," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
"We need more from the entire team."
Warriors guard Klay Thompson had 35 points, although just five came in the last quarter.
Australian centre Bogut started the game strongly and continued his series dominance over Portland big man Mason Plumlee, blocking two of his layups in a two minute period in the first quarter.
Bogut had six points, eight rebounds, including four offensive rebounds, and two blocked shots for the game.
However, he picked up his fourth and fifth fouls in the first two minutes of the third quarter and was pulled from the game soon after.
Curry could also miss Monday's game four as the Warriors' medical staff cautiously monitor his recovery.
Curry had a two-on-two scrimmage in practice on Saturday and Kerr wants him to get through a five-on-five scrimmage before letting him play against the Trail Blazers.
Earlier, Toronto took a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final series against Miami with a 95-91 victory in game three.
