PORTLAND — With the specter of the dreaded play-in tournament looming over the Warriors, Golden State’s matchup in Portland on Friday night was a must-win game in everything but name.

So was there any doubt that the Golden State Warriors veterans – with their Hall of Fame legacies forged in games of the highest stakes – would take care of business against the severely undermanned Blazers?

Against a Portland squad missing its top six scorers, the Warriors routed the home team 103-86.

Jimmy Butler led the way with 24 points and made all 10 of his free throws, while Steph Curry put in 14. Draymond Green scored just three points, but contributed seven rebounds, five assists and a whopping four steals. Buddy Hield scored 16 off the bench and joined the 200 3-pointers made in a season club.

Golden State improved to 48-33.

Elsewhere, Minnesota (48-33) defeated the hapless Brooklyn Nets to keep pace with the Warriors. Memphis (47-34) lost to Denver (49-33), guaranteeing that the Grizzlies will be in the play-in tournament.

With one game to play, Golden State will finish no worse than seventh and no higher than fifth.

If the Warriors defeat the Clippers in the Bay Area on Sunday, the lowest the Warriors can finish is sixth, one spot above the play-in slot.

The Warriors rebounded from Wednesday’s surprising 114-11 loss to the visiting San Antonio Spurs, which saw former Golden State champion Harrison Barnes hit a 27-foot buzzer-beating fadeaway over Jimmy Butler.

Gary Payton II and Quinten Post, who had both missed the past two games, returned to the rotation.

Even though the final score was lopsided, that did not mean that the game at the Moda Center lacked drama.

The Warriors suffered a brief scare in the first quarter when Curry went back to the locker room with 1:59 remaining in the period after hitting his thumb on Portland defender Justin Minaya’s knee on a drive.

Curry returned midway through the second quarter with a wrap around his right hand. The 37-year-old previously dealt with a thumb injury in January.

Golden State led 26-20 after one quarter and 50-37 at halftime.

The Warriors used a 17-3 run in the third quarter to pull away. The Blazers got it within 14 late in the third, but a Butler and-1 reverse layup stopped the bleeding.

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