2019.05.18 – Warriors vs Blazers – 2019 WCF Game 3 – Full Game Highlights
2019.05.18 – Warriors vs Blazers – WCF Game 3 – Full Game Highlights!
Dominant Green! Warriors beat Trail Blazers Lead WCF series 3-0
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots against Portland Trail Blazers forward Meyers Leonard, left, during the first half of Game 3 of the NBA basketball playoffs Western Conference finals, Saturday, May 18, 2019, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
2019.05.18 – Draymond Green dominated the game with 20 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Portland Trail Blazers 110-99 on Saturday night for a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.
With Kevin Durant out, Green has taken it upon himself to dominate the games and boost Golden State.
Green had his seventh career postseason triple-double and Stephen Curry scored 36 points for Golden State, which moved a win away from a fifth straight trip to the NBA finals with Game 4 set for Monday.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said it was one of the best games he’s seen Green play.
“I don’t even know what to say about Draymond,” Kerr said. “He was a wrecking ball, destroying everything in his path.”
Durant, the two-time NBA Finals MVP who was averaging more than 34 points during the playoffs, remains out with a sore right calf and his return is uncertain.
“When Kevin is not on the floor, I know I have to be more aggressive. So whether that’s attacking the basket, putting more pressure on the defense, I understand that,” said Green, who has had a triple double in each of the rounds during the playoffs — all on the road.
CJ McCollum had 23 points for the Trail Blazers, who led by 18 during the second quarter. Damian Lillard added 19 points, but Portland was hurt at the line, making just 20 of 33 attempts.
Golden State’s Andre Iguodala left in the third quarter with a sore lower leg. Kerr said he will have an MRI on Sunday. Iguodala played 17 minutes and had nine points.
After trailing 66-53 at the half, the Warriors mounted a third-quarter comeback to lead 82-79 going into the fourth. Jonas Jerebko’s jumper pushed the lead to 90-82 with 7:26 left.
Curry’s 3-pointer made it 98-87 with just under five minutes to go, and Portland struggled to catch up — similar to their fourth-quarter fade in Game 2.
Game 3 was the first conference finals game in Portland since 2000. The Blazers lost that series to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in seven games.
No team has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit to win in the playoffs. Only three series have gone to a seventh game after one team opened with a 3-0 lead.
“We’re going to give it our best effort on Monday. That’s all that matters,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. “We’re going to give it our best effort and whatever happen, happens.”
On Thursday, the Blazers were up 15 at halftime and led by eight with 4½ minutes left before the Warriors rallied — boosted by Kevon Looney’s dunk with less than a minute left, and a game-sealing steal from Iguodala — for a 114-111 Game 2 victory.
Both teams switched up their lineups for Game 3, with Portland’s Meyers Leonard making his first start of the playoffs at center. Enes Kanter, despite sustaining a separated shoulder in the first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, started in all the previous games. Leonard provided a spark and finished with a career playoff-high 16 points.
Kerr started Damian Jones, who hadn’t started since December and had made just two previous appearances in the playoffs. Jones, who played in just 24 games in the regular season because of a torn pectoral muscle, collected three fouls in the game’s opening three minutes and headed to the bench.
Portland was boosted by the home crowd at the start, going up by 10 points in the first quarter. Seth Curry’s jumper made it 60-42 with 2:28 left until halftime.
The Warriors roared back, closing within 76-75 on Alfonzo McKinnie’s basket and pulling ahead on Looney’s layup to cap a 10-0 run. Golden State outscored the Blazers 22-6 to close out the third quarter.
TIP-INS
Warriors: Jones was making his first career postseason start. … The Warriors have used six different starting lineups in the 2019 playoffs. Jerebko was handed a flagrant I for a foul on Zach Collins in the second quarter. … The Warriors have won at least one road game in 22 straight playoff series, extending their own record.
Trail Blazers: Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was among the fans at the game. Also there was Sabrina Ionescu, who was on the Oregon team that went to the Final Four this season, and former Blazer Scottie Pippen (1999-2003). Portland has lost nine straight playoff games to Golden State, dating back to 2016.
TIRED?
Lillard, who hasn’t had the commanding performances he had earlier in the playoffs, was asked if exhaustion was taking a toll. Later, reports emerged that he may have injured a rib in Game 2, although the Blazers did not immediately comment.
“Everybody’s tired,” he said. “It’s the third round of the playoffs after a long season. Our last series, I got a lot of attention. The team was giving me a lot of attention and the same thing in this series. It takes a lot to deal with that and go out and chase guys around on the defensive end.”
UP NEXT
Game 4 is set for Monday night in Portland.
RELATED: Curry, Green Triple-Doubles! Warriors sweep Blazers in Game 4
RELATED: See below (Warriors vs. Blazers Game 2)
Read more at: Golden State Warriors Media Services / More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Golden State Warriors, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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2019.05.16 – Warriors vs Blazers – 2019 WCF Game 2 – Full Game Highlights!
2019.05.16 – Warriors vs Blazers – 2019 WCF Game 2 – Full Game Highlights!
Curry’s Grit! Warriors hold off Blazers Game 2
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots next to Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA basketball playoffs Western Conference finals in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, May 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2019.05.16 – Stephen Curry’s grit helped score 37 points, and the Golden State Warriors rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit before holding off the Portland Trail Blazers for a 114-111 win Thursday night and a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.
Curry shot 11 for 22 and made all 11 of his free throws — three with 2:01 left — to post his third straight 30-point performance while Splash Brother Klay Thompson needed a half to heat up, scoring 13 of his 24 points in the Warriors’ 39-point third period. It was reminiscent of those old third-quarter runs that have defined the Splash Brothers.
These Warriors have long been able to score in fabulous, jaw-dropping flurries. Down by eight to the Trail Blazers at home with 4½ minutes to go, they needed every last burst, perfect pass, driving layup and dunk.
“Our experience really paid off for us tonight having a bunch of guys who just won’t quit,” said Draymond Green, who was right smack in the middle of it all.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr insisted his team stole this game with a sensational final few minutes and another, familiar third-quarter outburst.
Counterpart Terry Stotts of the Trail Blazers considered it a “lost opportunity” on the road.
CJ McCollum missed a driving jumper with 32 seconds left and Green scored on the other end for the Warriors, giving Portland one final chance with 12.3 seconds to go. Andre Iguodala then blocked a 3-point attempt by Damian Lillard on the left wing.
“They stole it, but they earned it down the stretch,” McCollum said.
Seth Curry, Steph’s little brother, scored 16 points and put Portland ahead on a 3-pointer with 1:03 left before Kevon Looney’s dunk on the other end put Golden State back on top at 112-111. Seth tried to “distract” his brother at the free throw line late, or so the story went from Steph, who called Seth a “pest” on defense.
“This was like the coolest experience I think I’ve ever had playing against him. You talk about the stage, he was amazing tonight,” Stephen Curry said. “For my parents, I know we’ve talked about it the whole series, these last two games it’s probably nerve-wracking as heck for them. It worked out perfectly tonight. He played well and we won.”
McCollum scored 22 points for Portland and Lillard overcame a slow start to add 23 points and 10 assists as the Blazers looked far more in sync than in a 116-94 defeat two days earlier.
“We did play a much better game at both ends of the floor tonight. We’ve got to take that into Game 3,” Stotts said. “It is a lost opportunity, no question. We had a chance to get one here on the road.”
Green made a pretty bounce pass through the paint to a cutting Iguodala for a dunk with 3:06 left to make it 108-105, then Green assisted on a layup by Looney the next possession.
“Draymond’s been special all playoffs,” Thompson said. ”… When he goes, we go. He was tremendous tonight.”
Green had 16 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five blocked shots playing with foul trouble. His seven straight playoff games with at least 10 rebounds are a career high.
“We’ve been here before,” Green said. “When you’re on a run like we’re currently in, you’ve seen everything. Down eight points with what, four minutes to go, or whatever it was, just got to keep going, because we know we can erase eight points.”
The Warriors missed Kevin Durant for a third straight game because of a strained right calf and he isn’t likely to return at all this round.
Curry scored Golden State’s first eight points of the third to get his team back within 69-58 then Thompson hit two straight 3s.
The Blazers had built a 65-50 halftime lead, capitalizing on 10 Warriors turnovers for 18 points.
Then two of the top backcourts in the Western Conference went at it in an entertaining final two quarters. The game was tied at 89 to start the fourth.
The Warriors already got past James Harden and Chris Paul in the last round — now it’s McCollum and Lillard standing in the way of a fifth straight trip to the NBA Finals.
Portland showed it made adjustments from Game 1 and brought it on both ends from the opening tip after the Blazers had regularly left Curry wide open on the perimeter off the pick-and-roll and he scored 36 points while matching his postseason high with nine 3-pointers.
“We’ve got to bring that same energy at home,” McCollum said, “understand that this is the first time in 19 years we’ve been in the conference final.”
LILLARD AT HOME
Lillard isn’t ready to ponder this might have been his final game at Oracle Arena, just a short walk from where he grew up in Oakland. The Warriors are moving to new Chase Center in San Francisco next season.
The Blazers want to return to the Bay Area for a Game 5 next week.
“I doubt this will be the last time. We plan on being back here,” Lillard said.
DURANT UPDATE
Durant will miss at least Games 3 and 4, scheduled to be re-examined by doctors in another week. That means he wouldn’t be expected to return until the NBA Finals if Golden State advances.
Durant was re-evaluated Thursday and is not yet ready for on-court work — a necessary step before the two-time reigning NBA Finals MVP can return to game action.
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: Seth Curry stole the ball from big brother Steph in the second quarter. They are the first brothers to ever face each other in a conference final. … The Blazers are 1-10 all-time against Golden State in the playoffs.
Warriors: The Warriors are 31-4 in the postseason when Curry scores 30 or more points. … Golden State shot 3 of 13 from deep in the first half and 9 for 29 overall on 3s. … The Warriors are 15-4 in Game 2 of postseason series dating to the 2015 title run.
Game 3 in the best-of-seven series is Saturday night at Portland.
RELATED: See below (Warriors vs. Blazers Game 1)
Read more at: Golden State Warriors Media Services / More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Golden State Warriors, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
EMI Sports Central – EMI Sports Bay Area: Join the conversation on sports news for SF Bay Area teams: Follow @EMIsports on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for our FREE email newsletters.
2019.05.14 – Warriors vs Blazers – 2019 WCF Game 1 – Full Game Highlights!
2019.05.14 – Warriors vs Blazers – 2019 WCF Game 1 – Full Game Highlights!
Curry Splashing 3-Pointers! Warriors past Blazers Game 1 WCF
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots a basket as Portland Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter (00) watches during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA basketball playoffs Western Conference finals in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, May 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2019.05.14 – Stephen Curry splashed down nine 3-pointers on his way to 36 points, leading the Golden State Warriors past the Trail Blazers 116-94 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
“I know what I’m capable of on the floor. The situation calls for me to be a little bit more aggressive and hopefully that’ll continue,” said Curry, who came in shooting 37.1% on 3s this postseason. “Obviously it’s nice to see the ball go in. I didn’t shoot the ball well for 4 1/2 games the last series and got off to a good start tonight. I want to maintain that. Every game is different, you’ve got to re-establish yourself. That’s my perspective no matter how I play.”
Curry had all kinds of room for a change and capitalized, finding his shooting touch in a hurry to get Golden State on a roll. Portland’s defenders were too far back in the paint or a step behind all night.
“Practice shots,” Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard said of Curry’s wide-open chances.
So far, the Warriors are showing they can keep winning until Kevin Durant gets healthy.
Curry shot 12 for 23 in his fourth 30-point performance this postseason, finding far more open looks than he had in the last round against Houston. The two-time NBA MVP outplayed the Portland duo of Lillard and CJ McCollum, who combined to go 11 for 31 against a strong Golden State defense.
“It’s good to see Steph have a game like that at a time that obviously we need him most,” Draymond Green said.
Klay Thompson had 26 points, including a late one-handed slam. Green established the energy on both ends early for the well-rested Warriors, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals.
Lillard scored 19 points back home in Oakland, just miles away from where he grew up. He appreciated all the support but wants to stick to basketball.
“That’s part of what makes it special, I’m from here,” Lillard said. “I could walk home from here if I wanted to, that tells you how close it is.”
McCollum had 17 and missed five of his six 3s as the cold-shooting Blazers went just 7 for 28 from long range.
Game 2 is Thursday night, and the Warriors are unlikely to have Durant back from a strained right calf. An update on Durant’s status is expected that day once the two-time reigning NBA Finals MVP is re-examined.
“I think we played a terrible game and we still had a chance going into the fourth quarter,” McCollum said, “so we need to tighten some things up and look forward to the game on Thursday.”
Curry came off screens with authority and matched his postseason career high for 3s, also accomplished in Game 1 of last year’s finals against Cleveland. He found his groove far earlier than in the Game 6 clincher at Houston on Friday night, when he scored all 33 of his points in the second half.
Little brother Seth struggled with three points for Portland, which shot 36.1% overall.
“It’s not one-and-done. We’ve got a series, it’s one loss,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. “We’ve got to play better, particularly at the offensive end, but we’ve got to be better at both ends.”
Lillard hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds remaining in overtime Dec. 27 in his last regular-season game at Oracle Arena. He averaged 28.3 points and 6.5 assists in four regular-season games against Golden State this season.
He arrived for Game 1 in a custom Oakland Athletics baseball jersey having averaged 30 points in his nine previous playoff matchups against the Warriors.
Green has at least 10 rebounds in six straight playoff games, matching his postseason career-best streak of six also done last year.
“This series is going to get tougher and tougher,” Green said.
FAMILY AFFAIR
Between warmup shots, Seth Curry stole a glance to the other end as his big brother went through his own pregame routine.
Back in the locker room, Stephen Curry said, “That was wild.” Then, he joked, “Only me and Seth are going to score, the whole series.”
The Currys became the first brothers to ever face off in a conference final and the first in any round since Marc Gasol for the Grizzlies against Pau Gasol and the Spurs in the first round of the 2017 playoffs.
“I caught myself a couple times looking up in the stands at my parents,” Stephen Curry said.
ON THE ROAD
Coach Steve Kerr certainly thought the rest benefited the Warriors.
“The schedule favored us but I thought we took advantage of the situation and got off to a good start,” Kerr said.
The Blazers traveled straight to the Bay Area from Denver after winning Game 7 on Sunday rather than return to Portland.
“Denver seems like a week ago now,” Stotts said.
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: Portland committed four quick turnovers and finished with 21 for 31 Golden State points. … G Rodney Hood, who suffered a bone bruise in his left knee Sunday against the Nuggets, scored 17 points. … Portland is 1-9 all-time against Golden State in the playoffs.
Warriors: Damian Jones, who began the season as starting center, returned from a torn left pectoral muscle to play in his first game since Dec. 1. … Golden State is 18-1 in Game 1 of a playoff series dating to the 2015 title run, having won the last 12 postseason openers.
Read more at: Golden State Warriors Media Services / More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Golden State Warriors, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
EMI Sports Central – EMI Sports Bay Area: Join the conversation on sports news for SF Bay Area teams: Follow @EMIsports on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for our FREE email newsletters.