Highlights Of Cavs' NBA Finals Record 86-Point First Half

"They did a good job of attacking early and it opened up their three-point game", said Durant, who had a team-high 35 points.

The Cavaliers' 137 total points were also the most by any team in Finals history when facing elimination. "They can be talked in same breath only when they show consistency like previous great teams who have won multiple National Basketball Association titles".

The Cleveland Cavaliers staved off NBA Finals elimination and ended the Golden State Warriors' shot at an unprecedented ideal run through the playoffs with a gritty 137-116 win on Friday.

It's true that the Warriors' biggest problem was defense. The 3-point shot, a precious weapon all season yet dormant for much of The Finals, returned with a vengeance; the Cavs set another Finals record with 24 makes in 45 attempts.

The Warriors are no longer unbeaten in the playoffs, but James said they still have the Cavaliers where they want them.

Meanwhile, in Cleveland, some vendors outside the Cavs' arena apparently are preparing for the likelihood that this is the last home game of the season.

In any event, the Cavs are still breathing, and it's now the Warriors who may be feeling the pressure after blowing a 3-1 lead last June. But then the hijinx began. Green got a technical foul, which the Cavs thought was his second of the night.

The referees said coach Steve Kerr received the technical in the first half, not Green. Not drastically, but enough to keep Golden State guessing.

James said, "I've got to start getting ready for the next game now".

Green did pick up another technical in the Game 4 loss but he will be taking part in Game 5 unlike a year ago.

"What's distracting is them hitting 24 3s". "You got to give them credit, they played extremely well tonight".

But until the Cavs did it previous year, no team had ever rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the Finals. It looked like they'd learned to manage that with their clutch victory in Game 3.

Game five is back in Oakland on Monday.

No team has come back from 3-0 in the playoffs. "This series is a little bit different".

The Warriors are better as a front-running team, easy for them given their obvious firepower.

They now lead the best-of-seven series 3-1. The Warriors had a chance to go 16-0.

"Technically speaking, Warriors have not won a title yet", he said.

Thompson tried to remain positive despite a note of disappointment.

The Warriors' greatness is freed by their joy, and that comes with a certain level of looseness that they try and combat.

Some of it was due to breakdowns, but plenty of it was ridiculous shot-making by a desperate Cavaliers team, determined to not let the Warriors celebrate on their home floor for a second time in three years. "Last year was disappointing (but) this year, we've got it".

And with 1:10 left in the quarter, Zaza Pachulia and Kyle Korver were tied up on a loose ball. Now, it's helped tear apart their run to be the greatest of all time. "So I think a lot of guys had that in their mind today, and they came out and played like it". Do they really have any choice? The 2000-01 Lakers now hold the mark at 15-1.

The lethal duo of Kyrie Irving and LeBron James was unstoppable for the Cavaliers on the way to the record.

"Hey, you know you can lose one", Beckham yelled out.

Kyrie Irving was nothing short of heroic Friday night.