Golden State Warriors: Road to the Finals

Despite the heroic efforts of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, the Golden State Warriors proved too much for the Portland Trail Blazers. This would be a common theme throughout the postseason. Lillard and McCollum combined for 75 points, but Kevin Durant led the way for the Warriors with 32 points and 10 rebounds. Curry added 29 points as the Golden State Warriors would cruise to a 121-109 win.

When Kevin Durant was unavailable for Game 2 against the Trail Blazers, there are a select group of players you figured would step up. JaVale McGee wasn’t supposed to be one of those players. But there he was, shooting 7 for 7 from the field, and scoring 15 points off the bench. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined to shoot 35 percent from the field, but the Warriors were still able to dominate Portland, 110-81.

Now without Steve Kerr and down 17 points in the first half, the Warriors were finally looking mortal. That’s when Stephen Curry showed up. With their backs against the wall, Curry put up 34 points in Golden State’s 119-113 win. Not even the return of Portland’s talented center Jusuf Nurkic could stop the Warriors from taking a commanding 3-0 series lead.

It was a business-like game for the Warriors. Show up to a hostile environment, dominate the game and complete the sweep. Things are rarely this easy for any team, but Warriors made it look like a walk in the park. Kevin Durant returned, but it was Curry who finished off Portland with 37 points as the Warriors won, 128-103. Golden State would move onto the second round.

In a matchup of rest versus rust, rest won. A week removed from their first round sweep, the Golden State Warriors continued their assault on the Western Conference with their 106-94 Game 1 win. Stephen Curry had 22 points in three quarters, but it was Draymond Green’s overall brilliance - 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists - that carried the team to victory.

Despite 33 points from the reemerging Gordon Hayward, the Utah Jazz was helpless in preventing a wire-to-wire victory by the Golden State Warriors. Kevin Durant led the way with 25 points, but once against it was Draymond Green providing support with 21 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range for the 115-104 win.

Looks like that $54 million contract has been worth it so far. With no else shooting like their usual selves, Durant took the Golden State Warriors on a 38-point ride en route to a 102-91 victory. On a team of MVPs and great players, Kevin Durant showed why he was a superstar among All-Stars.

It was a quick death for the Utah Jazz, but it was far from a painless one. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson showed their Splash Brothers form, helping the Warriors jump out to a 39-17 lead after the first quarter. The Jazz wouldn’t get much closer as Golden State would sweep Utah, 121-95.

You can’t win a title without being a little lucky. San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard was making his case for MVP, scoring 26 points in 24 minutes before reinjuring his ankle. The Spurs were able to stay in game with performances from LaMarcus Aldridge and Manu Ginobili, but Golden State’s Stephen Curry came through with 40 points to save the Warriors' perfect postseason record.

A day after Kawhi Leonard made a case for MVP with his play, he made another case for himself by not playing. Without their injured star, the Spurs were unable to hold the Warriors in check. Game 2 was a laugher in favor of Golden State, 136-100.

There’s only so much home cooking can do. For Spurs, it wasn’t much. Kevin Durant lit San Antonio up for 33 points as the Golden State Warriors beat the Spurs, 120-108. Stephen Curry would score 21 points, and pass Rick Barry for the franchise record in total playoff scoring.

There are good playoff performances, and there are dominant ones. The Golden State Warriors accomplished something else. Much to the surprise of no one, the Warriors completed their undefeated sweep to the NBA Finals with a Game 4 win against the Spurs, 129-115. They become only the third team to reach the championship round undefeated, and the first to go 12-0 to get there.