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A20 SPORTS
Wednesday 22 May 2019

Warriors beat Blazers 119-117 in OT for NBA Finals berth

By ANNE M. PETERSON first and it didn't count.
AP Sports Writer Lillard's layup bounced
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Ex- around the rim and out
perience bred confidence and the game went to
for the Golden State War- overtime.
riors, even when chal- Iguodala was out because
lenged by the upstart Port- of a sore left calf. The vet-
land Trail Blazers. eran swingman, who is av-
No matter how far they eraging 10.1 points in the
were down, they've been playoffs, was hurt in the
through too much to ever second half of Saturday's
think they're out. Game 3 victory.
"We just really understand It was not known how long
what we're capable of he'd be out, but the War-
on both sides of the bas- riors said an MRI Sunday
ketball," Draymond Green was clear. Golden State
said. "We're never out of was already missing Durant
the fight. That's just always because of a sore right calf.
our mindset." It's unknown when the two-
The Warriors swept their way time NBA Finals MVP will re-
to a fifth straight NBA Finals, turn. Also sitting is Cousins,
getting triple-doubles from who injured his left quadri-
Stephen Curry and Green ceps in the opening round.
in a 119-117 overtime vic- "We've had guys step up all
tory on Monday night. The Golden State Warriors players pose with the Western Conference Championship trophy after along this entire time and
Game 4 of the NBA basketball playoffs Western Conference finals against the Portland Trail Blazers
The two-time defending Monday, May 20, 2019, in Portland, Ore. The Warriors won 119-117 in overtime. we're going to look forward
champions overcame a Associated Press to those guys continuing
double-digit deficit for the to step up, no matter what
third straight game against We've seen everything, front briefly gave Portland against Oklahoma City. happens with the injuries
the Blazers, back in the every experience you can the lead but Alfonzo McK- "Yeah, I did. I thought it was that we have," Green said.
conference finals for the imagine. So we relied on innie's basket put Golden going to — kind of meant "You know, we're trying to
first time since 2000. that," Curry said. State back ahead and to be," Stotts said. "When he go win this thing. Never the
Green had 18 points, 14 re- Playing without Kevin Du- Green made a 3-pointer shot it, it had a good arc. I goal is just to get there."
bounds and 11 assists, and rant, Andre Iguodala and to push it to 199-115 with 39 thought it had a chance." Lillard separated his ribs in
made a key 3-pointer in DeMarcus Cousins, the seconds left. The Blazers stretched the Game 2 but was playing
overtime. Curry added 37 Warriors became the first Lillard made a layup and lead to 17 points in the third through the pain. He aver-
points, 12 rebounds and 11 team to reach five straight Curry missed a jumper to quarter, but the Warriors aged 33 points in the first-
assists. They became the finals since the Boston Celt- give Portland back the went on a 12-0 run to close round playoff series against
first teammates to have ics went to 10 in a row from ball. Facing stifling defense within 95-90 early in the fi- Oklahoma City but strug-
triple-doubles in the same 1957-66. from both Green and Klay nal period. gled against Golden State's
playoff game. Damian Lillard, playing Thompson, Lillard couldn't Green's long baseline defensive focus on him.
The Warriors will face the with separated ribs, had get off a shot but the ball jumper gave the Warriors a Playing with urgency in an
winner of the Eastern Con- 28 points and 12 assists went out of bounds in the 108-106 lead with 3:30 left. elimination game, Portland
ference finals between To- for Portland. He missed a scramble. The Blazers got it Lillard's 3-pointer put the pulled in front 30-28 in the
ronto and Milwaukee. The 3-point attempt as time back with 3.3 seconds left Blazers back ahead and opening quarter on CJ Mc-
Bucks lead that series 2-1 ran out in the extra period. but Lillard's final shot didn't Leonard's dunk extended it Collum's layup and free
with Game 4 on Tuesday Meyers Leonard added a fall. to 111-108 with just under 2 throw, but Curry answered
night in Canada. career-high 30 points along Blazers coach Terry Stotts minutes to go. on the other end with a
The Warriors came back with 12 rebounds. was asked if he was ex- After Thompson's 3-pointer step-back 3-pointer.
from 17 down after erasing The Warriors were up 114- pecting another buzzer- tied it up again both Curry Portland went ahead 59-50
an 18-point deficit in Game 113 in the extra period after beating winner from Lillard, and Lillard missed 3s. Curry after back-to-back 3-point-
3 and a 17-point hole in Green missed the first of a who had a memorable made a 3 from the corner ers from Leonard, who fin-
Game 2. pair of free throws. CJ Mc- 3-pointer at the buzzer to with 10.7 seconds left but ished with five 3s in the first
"We've been here before. Collum's jumper from out clinch the first-round series he was called for traveling half.q