Stephen Curry and Draymond Green make history as Warriors book fifth straight NBA finals appearance

Aussie Andrew Bogut gets a chance at a second NBA title — even if his teammate almost forgot he was there. The Warriors booked a booked a fifth straight NBA Finals appearance thanks to historic nights from a pair of stars.

Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green made history in Portland. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Aussie Andrew Bogut gets a chance at a second NBA title — even if his teammate almost forgot he was there.

Golden State booked a fifth straight NBA Finals appearance, completing a stunning 4-0 sweep of the Portland Trailblazers in claiming the Western Conference title.

Veteran Bogut, who only joined the Warriors in March after the NBL season finished, provided nine solid minutes — his most for the series — adding four points, three rebounds and using up four fouls in the 119-117 overtime win.

Klay names the bench players that helped the Warriors win, but Andrew Bogut was not ready to be left out 😂 pic.twitter.com/8soKZFkzqG

— Grant Liffmann (@GrantLiffmann) May 21, 2019

But teammate Klay Thompson had to be reminded the tower from Down Under was even playing as he shouted out some of the Warriors’ unsung heroes during presentation of the Western Conference championship trophy.

Bogut was standing directly behind the sharpshooter, and had to whisper his name in Thompson’s ear.

“Boges! Sorry, bro,” Thompson said, leading to laughter.

Flight back to the Bay! #conferencechamps pic.twitter.com/zyWeQkzFUy

— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) May 21, 2019

Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green made history in Portland. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

It was the Steph Curry-Draymond Green show, the star pair adding another historic accolade to their storied careers in becoming the first teammates to record triple doubles in the same playoff game.

Curry played 47 minutes in his 37-point, 13-rebound, 11-assist masterpiece that was laced with seven triples, his series average of 36.5 points per game the most ever by any player in a four-game sweep.

Green (18-14-11), after acknowledging his constant badgering, whinging and whining had not been a good look, shut his mouth and let his basketball do the talking in this series, notching his fourth triple double of the playoffs — all on the road, his clutch three-pointer in with less than 40 seconds left in overtime sealing the deal for the Warriors.

🇦🇺 @andrewbogut is #NBAFinals bound after pitching in 4⃣ PTS & 3⃣ REB off the bench. #StrengthInNumbers pic.twitter.com/4FY0U3dGDt

— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) May 21, 2019

Green said his ride to a fifth NBA finals had been “incredible”.

“Basketball careers aren’t that long, if you can get 10 (years) out of it, you’re lucky,” Green told reporters after the game.

“This is what you play for, this is our goal every year and to get here five straight times is special.

“In saying that, we know we still have more work to do, the goal is never just to get to the finals, the goal is to go win the finals.

“I’ve been to a finals and lost — it’s no fun.”

Finals baby! Go @warriors

— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) May 21, 2019

Andrew Bogut drops the hammer on the Blazers. Picture: AP

Both the Warriors and Trailblazers each had opportunities to win it in regulation but scores were locked at 111. Portland star Damien Lillard could have sent the series back to Oakland, but his last-gasp corner heave as time expired in the first overtime fell short.

Lillard did his best with a rib injury, but his 28 points and 12 assists, backed by a career night for Meyers Leonard (30 points, 12 rebounds) and 26 from CJ McCollum wasn’t enough.

With stars Kevin Durant (calf) and DeMarcus Cousins (quadriceps) already on the sidelines, the Warriors lost Andre Iguodala before tip-off and fell behind by as many as 17 points in the game.

But big man Kevon Looney — as he often has in these playoffs — stepped up, ripping down 14 rebounds and adding 12 points in 29 minutes, while little used forward Alfonzo McKinnie started and also had 12.

The Warriors now have a nine-day break before Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Friday week, while they await the winner of the Milwaukee-Toronto series, which the Bucks currently lead 2-1.

The Warriors celebrating their Western Conference Championship. Picture: AP