Monday 11 November 2019 13:02, UK
Draymond Green posted a triple-double and hit a clutch overtime three-pointer as the Golden State Warriors completed a series sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers to reach the NBA Finals for the fifth successive season.
With the defending NBA champions missing starters Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Iguodala, Green stepped up with a stat sheet-stuffing performance and a clutch shot in the final minute of overtime as the Warriors overcame a 17-point third-quarter deficit to record a 119-117 Game 4 win that ended the Blazers' season.
Green supplied 18 points, 11 assists, 14 rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocks. He shot 7-of-13 from the field and made 1-of-4 from three-point range.
Green revelled in his playmaking role early in the game, making key passes to find Alonzo McKinnie and Stephen Curry for first-quarter triples. He then barrelled his way into the Blazers' lane to find Jordan Bell with a deft wraparound pass to set up an easy basket.
In the second quarter Green lofted a perfect alley-oop pass for Andrew Bogut to finish at the rim. He notched his 10th assist with a superb bounce pass to find the cutting Curry on the baseline in the third period.
With the game in overtime, Green saved his best for last, collecting a Curry pass on the perimeter and drilling a three-pointer with 39.6 seconds left in the game to give the Warriors a four-point lead.
The Warriors then held on to complete a 119-117 win that earned them a 4-0 series victory and their fifth successive trip to the NBA Finals.
Speaking after the game, Green said: "I mean, it's incredible. Basketball careers aren't that long. If you can get 10 [season] out of it, you're lucky.
"To be to five straight Finals, I don't even know what to say about it. This is what you play for. This is our goal every year and to get here five straight times is special.
"Saying that, we know we still have more work to do. The goal is never to get to the Finals; the goal is to go win the finals."
Click the video at the top of the page to watch Green's clutch overtime three then click the clip directly above to watch more top plays from the Warriors' series-clinching Game 4 win over the Trail Blazers.
Golden State will face the winners of the Eastern Conference Finals series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors in the NBA Finals.
