The Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-120 Monday night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to capture their second championship in three years.
Coming off a Game 4 loss in which the Warriors gave up 49 first-quarter points, 86 first-half points and 24 made three-pointers by the Cavaliers, all NBA Finals records, coach Steve Kerr was looking for a much-improved defensive effort from the outset of Game 5.
The Warriors, who beat Cleveland in the 2015 Finals only to lose to them a year ago after squandering a 3-1 series lead, went a record-setting 15-1 in the playoffs, their only loss coming in Game Four of the best-of-seven championship.
James hit a 3-pointer on the next possession and the Cavs didn't go away, cutting a 17-point deficit to three in the opening minute of the fourth quarter with help from Smith's 25 points.
To win his first National Basketball Association title, Durant had to overcome Cavaliers forward LeBron James, whose former Miami Heat team defeated Durant's Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 Finals.
LeBron James scored 41 points on 19-30 shooting in defeat, capping a series in which he averaged 33.6 ppg.
The Warriors kept a 71-60 half-time lead but the Cavaliers trimmed the deficit in the third quarter, Smith sinking a three-pointer to pull Cleveland within 98-93 entering the fourth quarter.
LeBron James scored 41 points to lead the Cavaliers. For Under Armour athlete Stephen Curry, it's his second.
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The Cavaliers came out like a team with its back against the wall, and their hustle on both ends of the floor, as well as unselfish passing and ability to attack the rim led to a 37-33 advantage over the Warriors after the first quarter of Game 5. After scoring 49 points in the first quarter of Game 4, the Cavs are out to a 22-18 lead midway through the first quarter Monday night.
The second quarter started with more cold shooting by the Warriors, strong defense by the Cavs and a James slam over the outstretched arms of Durant.
NOTES: The Warriors'.941 winning percentage in the playoffs (16-1) bettered the previous mark of.938 established by the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers, who went 15-1.
And they could thank Kevin Durant for that. "Nervous is good. Appropriate fear is the Gregg Popovich line".
"So I would hope we're more ready, more prepared tonight".
They practiced it several times as heads turned in Oracle Arena to watch and listen.
The win gives the Warriors their second ring in three years, after winning in 2015 against a short-handed, James-led Cavs team.
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