Bouncing back from a Game 4 thrashing that saw Cleveland opening up the game with 49 points in the first quarter and 86 first-half points overall, both the most in NBA Finals history.
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday, 129-120, for its second championship in three seasons, avenging last season's historic collapse.
In this year's Finals, Durant has averaged over 34 points, eight rebounds, and five assists per game. There is no room for excuses and a win in Game 5 for Warriors will cap off an incredible Playoffs, where Kevin Durant has excelled in all the departments in the debut season.
Durant responded with a tough turnaround jumper and Iguodala backed him up with another three-pointer to go up 103-95.
It was not surprising that Cleveland sent the NBA Finals back to Oakland for Game 5, but it was surprising what the Cavaliers had to do to keep the series alive. Curry had 12 for the Warriors, but they were 2-of-7 from three.
The Warriors went on one of those signature demoralizing runs against the Cavaliers in the second quarter of Game 5.
He has won a road game in 29 consecutive series, another of his many National Basketball Association postseason records, but the challenge now is far greater than what the Cavs faced a year ago.
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The Cavs started where they left off in Cleveland hitting their first shot, and six of their first seven attempts in breaking out to a 13-9 lead.
Richard Jefferson, for months, said he begged Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue for the chance to check Kevin Durant.
The challenger has to want it and they've got to earn it.
"We were able to get them a year ago, and they went out and got one of the best players that this league has ever seen", James said. Durant joined the Warriors as a free agent after they failed in the Finals against Cleveland previous year, becoming the first team ever to blow a 3-1 Finals lead.
"It's a long flight", Golden State guard Klay Thompson told reporters in Oakland on June 11. Especially me, because that taste wouldn't have been the same if we would have lost tonight and they would have celebrated on our home floor. We know anything can happen in this league and we know that champions just don't lay down and die.
Cleveland could never fully close the gap, the lead fluctuated between four and nine, with it being at five heading into the fourth.
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