The Golden State Warriors are once again the National Basketball Association champions after a 108-85 victory over LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers won them their third title in the last four seasons.
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Durant averaged 28.8 points in the series, along with 10.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists.
Durant wasn’t as terrifying as he had been in Game 3, but he was still scoring, with 12 at the half and 20 for the game, plus 10 assists and 12 rebounds.
“You can never count out a champion, no matter what’s going on in the course of their season”, Cleveland star LeBron James said, lauding the Warriors.
Whatever team lands James will become an instant contender and there will be many with several pieces of a championship puzzle in place trying to prevent the four-time NBA MVP from re-signing with his hometown Cavs.
LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers sits on the floor after defeating the Boston Celtics 87-79 in Game Seven of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals to advance to the 2018 NBA Finals at TD Garden on May 27, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts.
And then, nearly by accident, James delivered a devastating zinger on the former front office of the Trail Blazers, who drafted Greg Oden first overall instead of Durant.
All three championships have come against the Cavaliers, with the series clincher coming in Cleveland for the second time.
As has been the case throughout the Finals, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant played like superstars and led their team to a win.
A James slam dunk had Cleveland ahead 39-38 halfway through the second quarter, but Golden State responded to lead 61-52 at half-time and eased to victory from there.
James looked exhausted and defeated throughout most of the game, with his team-mates once again doing little to provide support. “I had emotions that you just don’t get an opportunity like this on the road against Golden State to be able to get a Game 1”.
So this series is just about finished, or at least, that’s what the history books say. What a special thing we are witnessing with this franchise. Hood’s 15 points gave himself and the Cavaliers new life, creating offense where there was none.
LeBron James sat in his locker, covered by more ice than clothing and his right hand – which he injured while punching a whiteboard following the Cavaliers’ devastating Game 1 loss – wrapped. “It’s The Finals, and we’ve got to come out and play the way we know how”.
Durant, LeBron James (2016) and Andre Iguodala (2015) are the three recipients of the honor in the past four years.
Only the Houston Rockets have given them trouble over the past two playoff runs, and even that now feels more like a wake-up call for Golden State than anything else.
Game 1 was the infamous overtime loss following JR Smith’s brain fade at the end of regulation, when he forgot the score.
James was subbed out for Cedi Osman with 4:03 remaining, shook hands with a few of the Warriors players on his way to the bench, and walked off the court shortly after time expired.
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You really get the feeling that the Cavaliers missed out on a chance to make this competitive series after they blew Game 1 so I’m not surprised that they’re now 48 minutes from a series sweep.
