Warriors beat Blazers 119-117 in OT for NBA Finals berth
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Experience bred confidence for the Golden State Warriors, even when challenged by the upstart Portland Trail Blazers.
No matter how far they were down, they've been through too much to ever think they're out.
''We just really understand what we're capable of on both sides of the basketball,'' Draymond Green said. ''We're never out of the fight. That's just always our mindset.''
The Warriors swept their way to a fifth straight NBA Finals, getting triple-doubles from Stephen Curry and Green in a 119-117 overtime victory on Monday night.
The two-time defending champions overcame a double-digit deficit for the third straight game against the Blazers, back in the conference finals for the first time since 2000.
Green had 18 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, and made a key 3-pointer in overtime. Curry added 37 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. They became the first teammates to have triple-doubles in the same playoff game.
The Warriors will face the winner of the Eastern Conference finals between Toronto and Milwaukee. The Bucks lead that series 2-1 with Game 4 on Tuesday night in Canada.
The Warriors came back from 17 down after erasing an 18-point deficit in Game 3 and a 17-point hole in Game 2.
''We've been here before. We've seen everything, every experience you can imagine. So we relied on that,'' Curry said.
Playing without Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala and DeMarcus Cousins, the Warriors became the first team to reach five straight finals since the Boston Celtics went to 10 in a row from 1957-66.
Damian Lillard, playing with separated ribs, had 28 points and 12 assists for Portland. He missed a 3-point attempt as time ran out in the extra period. Meyers Leonard added a career-high 30 points along with 12 rebounds.
The Warriors were up 114-113 in the extra period after Green missed the first of a pair of free throws. CJ McCollum's jumper from out front briefly gave Portland the lead but Alfonzo McKinnie's basket put Golden State back ahead and Green made a 3-pointer to push it to 119-115 with 39 seconds left.
Lillard made a layup and Curry missed a jumper to give Portland back the ball. Facing stifling defense from both Green and Klay Thompson, Lillard couldn't get off a shot but the ball went out of bounds in the scramble. The Blazers got it back with 3.3 seconds left but Lillard's final shot didn't fall.
Blazers coach Terry Stotts was asked if he was expecting another buzzer-beating winner from Lillard, who had a memorable 3-pointer at the buzzer to clinch the first-round series against Oklahoma City.
''Yeah, I did. I thought it was going to - kind of meant to be,'' Stotts said. ''When he shot it, it had a good arc. I thought it had a chance.''
The Blazers stretched the lead to 17 points in the third quarter, but the Warriors went on a 12-0 run to close within 95-90 early in the final period.
Green's long baseline jumper gave the Warriors a 108-106 lead with 3:30 left. Lillard's 3-pointer put the Blazers back ahead and Leonard's dunk extended it to 111-108 with just under 2 minutes to go.
After Thompson's 3-pointer tied it up again both Curry and Lillard missed 3s. Curry made a 3 from the corner with 10.7 seconds left but he was called for traveling first and it didn't count.
Lillard's layup bounced around the rim and out and the game went to overtime.
Iguodala was out because of a sore left calf. The veteran swingman, who is averaging 10.1 points in the playoffs, was hurt in the second half of Saturday's Game 3 victory.
It was not known how long he'd be out, but the Warriors said an MRI Sunday was clear.
Golden State was already missing Durant because of a sore right calf. It's unknown when the two-time NBA Finals MVP will return. Also sitting is Cousins, who injured his left quadriceps in the opening round.
''We've had guys step up all along this entire time and we're going to look forward to those guys continuing to step up, no matter what happens with the injuries that we have,'' Green said. ''You know, we're trying to go win this thing. Never the goal is just to get there.''
Lillard separated his ribs in Game 2 but was playing through the pain. He averaged 33 points in the first-round playoff series against Oklahoma City but struggled against Golden State's defensive focus on him.
Playing with urgency in an elimination game, Portland pulled in front 30-28 in the opening quarter on CJ McCollum's layup and free throw, but Curry answered on the other end with a step-back 3-pointer.
Portland went ahead 59-50 after back-to-back 3-pointers from Leonard, who finished with five 3s in the first half.
Curry hit a 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds left in the half to close the Warriors within 69-65 at the break.
Portland pushed the lead to 83-72 on McCollum's 3-pointer. After he made another 3 to push the lead to 91-78, he gestured to the crowd to make noise. McCollum finished with 26 points.
TIP INS:
Warriors: Curry has made a 3-pointer in a playoff-record 106 games. ... Quarterback Colin Kaepernick was among the fans at the game, sitting a few seats down from the Warriors bench. ... Per Elias Sports and the Warriors, Curry had a streak of 81 consecutive free throws made in the fourth quarter and overtime in the postseason - before he missed one with 9:25 left in the game against the Blazers.
Trail Blazers: Leonard, who didn't even play in five of Portland's postseason games, had a playoff-high 16 points in Game 3. After scoring 25 in the first half, fans at the Moda Center chanted his name.
FIVE AIN'T EASY
The Warriors are just the sixth professional team from North America to go to five straight championships, along with the Montreal Canadiens (NHL), Boston Celtics (NBA), Cleveland Browns (NFL), New York Yankees (MLB) and New York Islanders (NHL).
HONORING LOWE
Former Oregon wide receiver Keanon Lowe got a standing ovation when he was introduced to the crowd at the Moda Center in the first quarter. Lowe, a coach at Portland's Parkrose High School, stopped a student who came to the school armed with a shotgun on Friday.
''I saw the look on his face, the look in his eyes, I looked at the gun, I realized it was a real gun and then my instincts just took over,'' Lowe, 27, said about wrestling the gun away from the teenager. Lowe spoke to reporters before the game.
The suspect, 19-year-old Angel Granados-Diaz, pleaded not guilty earlier Monday during a brief court hearing.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jumpball | |||
11:41 | +2 | Meyers Leonard made layup, assist by CJ McCollum | 0-2 | |
11:22 | +3 | Alfonzo McKinnie made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Draymond Green | 3-2 | |
11:08 | +2 | Meyers Leonard made dunk, assist by Maurice Harkless | 3-4 | |
10:51 | +3 | Klay Thompson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Draymond Green | 6-4 | |
10:37 | +3 | Damian Lillard made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by CJ McCollum | 6-7 | |
10:27 | +2 | Jordan Bell made driving layup, assist by Stephen Curry | 8-7 | |
10:04 | Maurice Harkless missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:02 | Defensive rebound by Draymond Green | |||
9:49 | Klay Thompson missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:47 | Defensive rebound by Maurice Harkless | |||
9:38 | CJ McCollum missed jump shot | |||
9:36 | Defensive rebound by Draymond Green | |||
9:30 | +2 | Alfonzo McKinnie made driving dunk, assist by Stephen Curry | 10-7 | |
9:09 | +2 | Meyers Leonard made jump shot, assist by CJ McCollum | 10-9 | |
8:57 | +2 | Stephen Curry made finger-roll layup | 12-9 | |
8:57 | Shooting foul on Meyers Leonard | |||
8:57 | +1 | Stephen Curry made free throw | 13-9 | |
8:35 | +3 | CJ McCollum made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Damian Lillard | 13-12 | |
8:20 | +2 | Klay Thompson made jump shot, assist by Jordan Bell | 15-12 | |
7:58 | Klay Thompson missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:55 | Defensive rebound by CJ McCollum | |||
7:47 | +2 | CJ McCollum made jump shot | 15-14 | |
7:37 | +2 | Klay Thompson made driving layup, assist by Jordan Bell | 17-14 | |
7:26 | +2 | Maurice Harkless made dunk, assist by Damian Lillard | 17-16 | |
7:15 | +3 | Stephen Curry made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Draymond Green | 20-16 | |
6:50 | CJ McCollum missed jump shot | |||
6:45 | Defensive rebound by Draymond Green | |||
6:42 | Alfonzo McKinnie missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
6:42 | GS team rebound | |||
6:42 | +1 | Alfonzo McKinnie made 2nd of 2 free throws | 21-16 | |
6:21 | +2 | Damian Lillard made driving layup | 21-18 | |
6:05 | Out of bounds turnover on Draymond Green | |||
5:39 | Offensive rebound by Maurice Harkless | |||
5:32 | +2 | Jordan Bell made dunk | 23-18 | |
5:17 | +2 | Damian Lillard made jump shot, assist by Meyers Leonard | 23-20 | |
5:08 | +2 | Jordan Bell made reverse layup, assist by Draymond Green | 25-20 | |
4:53 | Offensive rebound by Damian Lillard | |||
4:36 | +3 | Klay Thompson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Draymond Green | 28-23 | |
4:08 | Offensive rebound by Maurice Harkless | |||
4:08 | +2 | Maurice Harkless made dunk | 28-25 | |
4:08 | Shooting foul on Draymond Green | |||
4:06 | Defensive rebound by Kevon Looney | |||
3:48 | Alfonzo McKinnie missed floating jump shot | |||
3:46 | Defensive rebound by Damian Lillard | |||
3:35 | +2 | Meyers Leonard made turnaround jump shot, assist by Damian Lillard | 28-27 | |
3:28 | Alfonzo McKinnie missed driving layup | |||
3:26 | Defensive rebound by Meyers Leonard | |||
3:23 | Shooting foul on Kevon Looney | |||
3:23 | +1 | CJ McCollum made free throw | 28-30 | |
3:11 | +3 | Stephen Curry made 3-pt. jump shot | 31-30 | |
2:40 | +2 | Draymond Green made turnaround jump shot | 33-32 | |
2:24 | Traveling violation turnover on Zach Collins | |||
2:07 | Bad pass turnover on Draymond Green, stolen by Rodney Hood | |||
1:58 | Meyers Leonard missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
1:56 | Defensive rebound by Stephen Curry | |||
1:47 | Draymond Green missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
1:44 | Defensive rebound by Meyers Leonard | |||
1:27 | Rodney Hood missed turnaround jump shot | |||
1:24 | Offensive rebound by Rodney Hood | |||
1:09 | Zach Collins missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
1:07 | Defensive rebound by Kevon Looney | |||
0:46 | +3 | Stephen Curry made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Draymond Green | 36-32 | |
0:31 | +3 | Meyers Leonard made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Damian Lillard | 36-35 | |
0:13 | Draymond Green missed driving layup, blocked by Zach Collins | |||
0:10 | Defensive rebound by Meyers Leonard | |||
0:06 | Defensive rebound by Stephen Curry | |||
0:03 | Personal foul on Seth Curry | |||
0:01 | Stephen Curry missed 3-pt. turnaround jump shot | |||
0:00 | GS team rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:36 | Defensive rebound by Enes Kanter | |||
11:26 | Enes Kanter missed floating jump shot | |||
11:24 | Defensive rebound by Kevon Looney | |||
11:15 | Traveling violation turnover on Quinn Cook | |||
10:58 | +1 | Seth Curry made free throw | 36-36 | |
10:45 | Zach Collins missed driving layup | |||
10:45 | GS team rebound | |||
10:20 | +2 | Kevon Looney made hook shot | 38-36 | |
10:02 | +2 | Zach Collins made dunk, assist by Seth Curry | 38-38 | |
9:44 | +2 | Shaun Livingston made jump shot, assist by Jonas Jerebko | 40-38 | |
9:20 | Evan Turner missed jump shot | |||
9:18 | Defensive rebound by Kevon Looney | |||
8:56 | Defensive rebound by Seth Curry | |||
8:46 | Personal foul on Klay Thompson | |||
8:30 | Defensive rebound by Andrew Bogut | |||
8:20 | Lost ball turnover on Quinn Cook, stolen by Enes Kanter | |||
8:16 | Lost ball turnover on Seth Curry, stolen by Klay Thompson | |||
8:12 | +2 | Quinn Cook made layup | 42-38 | |
7:54 | CJ McCollum missed floating jump shot | |||
7:50 | Offensive rebound by Enes Kanter | |||
7:50 | +2 | Enes Kanter made dunk | 42-40 | |
7:38 | Offensive rebound by Andrew Bogut | |||
7:36 | +2 | Shaun Livingston made floating jump shot, assist by Andrew Bogut | 44-40 | |
7:20 | +2 | Evan Turner made driving layup, assist by Rodney Hood | 44-42 | |
7:00 | Andrew Bogut missed hook shot | |||
6:50 | +2 | Enes Kanter made jump shot, assist by Evan Turner | 44-44 | |
6:32 | Quinn Cook missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
6:27 | Lost ball turnover on Jonas Jerebko, stolen by Rodney Hood | |||
6:24 | Personal foul on Andrew Bogut | |||
6:09 | +2 | CJ McCollum made floating jump shot | 44-46 | |
5:50 | Offensive rebound by Jonas Jerebko | |||
5:45 | POR team rebound | |||
5:31 | Shooting foul on Andrew Bogut | |||
5:31 | +1 | Damian Lillard made 1st of 2 free throws | 44-47 | |
5:31 | +1 | Damian Lillard made 2nd of 2 free throws | 44-48 | |
5:23 | +2 | Andrew Bogut made driving dunk, assist by Stephen Curry | 46-48 | |
5:10 | Evan Turner missed fade-away jump shot | |||
4:55 | +2 | Andrew Bogut made alley-oop shot, assist by Draymond Green | 48-48 | |
4:32 | +2 | Enes Kanter made jump shot | 48-50 | |
4:08 | Alfonzo McKinnie missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:05 | Defensive rebound by Evan Turner | |||
4:00 | +3 | CJ McCollum made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Evan Turner | 48-53 | |
3:45 | +2 | Klay Thompson made jump shot, assist by Stephen Curry | 50-53 | |
3:27 | +3 | Meyers Leonard made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by CJ McCollum | 50-56 | |
3:08 | +3 | Meyers Leonard made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Damian Lillard | 50-59 | |
2:53 | +2 | Stephen Curry made jump shot | 52-59 | |
2:27 | Defensive rebound by Draymond Green | |||
2:23 | Klay Thompson missed jump shot | |||
2:20 | Defensive rebound by Meyers Leonard | |||
2:07 | Shooting foul on Rodney Hood | |||
2:07 | +1 | Stephen Curry made 1st of 3 free throws | 53-61 | |
2:07 | +1 | Stephen Curry made 2nd of 3 free throws | 54-61 | |
2:07 | +1 | Stephen Curry made 3rd of 3 free throws | 55-61 | |
1:48 | +2 | Meyers Leonard made floating jump shot, assist by CJ McCollum | 55-63 | |
1:46 | Traveling violation turnover on Stephen Curry | |||
1:38 | +3 | Damian Lillard made 3-pt. jump shot | 55-66 | |
1:28 | Personal foul on Rodney Hood | |||
1:22 | Traveling violation turnover on Klay Thompson | |||
1:10 | Damian Lillard missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:54 | +2 | Alfonzo McKinnie made dunk, assist by Draymond Green | 57-66 | |
0:28 | +3 | Stephen Curry made 3-pt. jump shot | 60-69 | |
0:10 | Bad pass turnover on Damian Lillard, stolen by Stephen Curry | |||
0:09 | Clear path foul on Damian Lillard | |||
0:09 | +1 | Stephen Curry made 1st of 2 free throws | 61-69 | |
0:09 | +1 | Stephen Curry made 2nd of 2 free throws | 62-69 | |
0:00 | Bad pass turnover on Meyers Leonard, stolen by Jonas Jerebko | |||
0:00 | GS team rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:41 | Jordan Bell missed jump shot | |||
11:38 | Defensive rebound by Al-Farouq Aminu | |||
11:26 | Defensive rebound by Draymond Green | |||
11:16 | Klay Thompson missed jump shot | |||
11:13 | Defensive rebound by Meyers Leonard | |||
10:56 | +2 | Damian Lillard made floating jump shot | 65-71 | |
10:47 | Shooting foul on Meyers Leonard | |||
10:47 | GS team rebound | |||
10:47 | Jordan Bell missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
10:47 | +1 | Jordan Bell made 2nd of 2 free throws | 66-71 | |
10:28 | Al-Farouq Aminu missed layup, blocked by Draymond Green | |||
10:27 | Defensive rebound by Draymond Green | |||
10:16 | +2 | Draymond Green made driving layup, assist by Stephen Curry | 68-71 | |
9:59 | Shooting foul on Draymond Green | |||
9:59 | +1 | Maurice Harkless made 1st of 2 free throws | 68-72 | |
9:56 | Defensive rebound by Draymond Green | |||
9:39 | +3 | Damian Lillard made 3-pt. jump shot | 70-75 | |
9:25 | Stephen Curry missed layup, blocked by Al-Farouq Aminu | |||
9:16 | Defensive rebound by Stephen Curry | |||
9:00 | +2 | Klay Thompson made jump shot, assist by Draymond Green | 72-75 | |
8:42 | +3 |