Warriors still the comeback kids: ‘We find a way’

LOS ANGELES, USA –Quite fittingly, Steph Curry and Draymond Green combined on the game-winning basket in overtime – Curry feeding Green for a three-pointer that pushed the Golden State Warriors to a 119-115 lead over the Portland Trail Blazers with 39.6 seconds left.

“Obviously in that situation we want Steph to have the ball, we want Steph or Klay (Thompson) to take the shot,” Green said.

“But they were swarming them. So I was just talking to them ‘Watch out, watch out.’

“When he passed me the ball, I just let it go. When I shot it, it felt good.”

Curry and Green both posted triple-doubles – the first teammates in NBA history to have triple-doubles in the same game in the playoffs – to power the Warriors to a 119-117 overtime victory over the Trail Blazers and into a fifth straight NBA Finals. (READ: West champs: Warriors punch 5th straight NBA Finals ticket)

“We know how to find that next gear. It comes with the experience that we’ve been through,” said Curry. “When it matters most, we have nights like tonight where we just find a way, take the team’s best shots and run with it.”

The two-time defending NBA champions, who rallied yet again from 17 points down, swept the Blazers in 4 games in the best-of-seven series to rule the Western Conference on Monday, May 20 (Tuesday, May 21, Philippine time). 

It was the third straight game in which Portland led by as many as 17 only to come up short. (READ: ‘I hope it doesn’t go unnoticed,’ Kerr on Warriors’ historic romp)

“We know we can cover 17 points in a matter of 3 or 4 minutes,” Green said. “So we always try to keep that mindset – that we’re never out of the game.”

the best buckets down the stretch as the @warriors top POR to advance to their 5th consecutive #NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV! #StrengthInNumbers #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Ryr28HYA3L

— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2019

The Warriors pulled off a series sweep even with veteran Andre Iguodala joining superstar Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins on the injured list.  

“We couldn’t get over the hump,” Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. “I think it was a demonstration of how good they are and how good they have been over the years – they find a way to win.”

“We’ve been here before, been to a lot of different experiences,” said Curry. “Championship mentality showed down the stretch tonight. We just found a way to get it done and advance.”

The Warriors, who are vying to become the first three-peat champions since the  Los Angeles Lakers (2000-2002), will battle for the title starting on May 30 against either the Milwaukee Bucks or Toronto Raptors.

“We’re proud of everybody who helped to make this a reality to be back in the Finals,” said Curry. “Four more wins and we get back to celebrating.” – With a report from Agence France-Presse