With enough rest and vast experience, the Warriors will await their adversary in a new NBA final.
For the fifth consecutive year, Golden State advanced to the league title series, beating the Portland Trail Blazers 119-117 in overtime on Monday night.
Draymond Green had 18 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, in addition to contributing a key triple in overtime, which sealed Golden State’s sweep of the Blazers in the Western Conference final.
“We just understood what we can do on both sides of the court,” Green said. “We never stop fighting, that’s our mentality.”
Stephen Curry added 37 points, 12 balls caught off the boards and 11 assists. Curry and Green are the first teammates to achieve triple-doubles in the same playoff game.
The Warriors will face the winner of the Eastern Final, between Toronto and Milwaukee. The Bucks lead that series 2-1 and will play their fourth game this Tuesday, in Canada.
Golden State erased another large deficit, of 17 points. In the third game he had recovered from a deficit of 18 points, and in the second he had turned a difference of 17.
“We have been here before. We have seen everything, all the experiences you can imagine. So we built on this, ”Curry said.
By the time the first game of the NBA Finals takes place, the Warriors will have been off for nine full days. The series is due to begin May 30, in Milwaukee or Toronto.
It will be the third time in five trips to the final that Golden State has at least one week off before the decisive series.
“I’m happy to get a little rest before we play again,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
Several more appreciate the days off.
The Warriors secured the series in Portland without Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Iguodala, all sidelined with injuries. There is no way to know if Durant and Cousins will make it to the NBA Finals.
And other Golden State players carry bumps and scrapes.
Damian Lillard, who played despite suffering a rib split, had 18 points and 12 assists for the Blazers. He missed a triple when time was running out in overtime.
Meyers Leonard added 30 points, the highest number in his career, in addition to intercepting 12 rebounds. AP