LeBron, Cavs end Warriors perfect post-season run in Game 4

Cleveland, determined not to watch the Warriors celebrate a championship on their home court for the second time in three seasons, came out flying with a record-setting 86 points in the first half to lead by 18.

"They got us where they want us", said LeBron James, who forged his Finals record ninth career triple-double with 31 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.

Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson helped the Warriors initially set the record in this year's NBA Finals, each hitting four 3-pointers in the team's Game 2 win.

Sure, there was plenty more that went into those next three games, but Thompson's jab would be the culmination of all the negative chatter from the haters and doubters who said there was "no way" the Cavs were good enough to win one more game, let alone beat the 73-win Warriors three straight times. We were just talking.

The Cavaliers, who beat the Warriors in a decisive seventh game past year after trailing 3-1, are now trying to become the first National Basketball Association team to rally back from a 3-0 series deficit. Irving is a magician when it comes to finding the tiniest of spaces to get to the rim but the fact remains Golden State's defence was nothing close to what it had been the first three games of the series. "We showed that tonight". "They were aggressive, but when everyone has two fouls, it's hard to match the physicality".

A James 3-pointer put Cleveland ahead 115-96 entering the fourth quarter.

Most points in a quarter, 49 in the first, topping the Lakers' 47 points in a quarter against the Boston Celtics in the 1984 Finals.

Game 5 tips off in Golden State at 9 p.m. Monday night on ABC.

Asked before the second quarter what his team needed to do to slow down the Cavaliers, Warriors coach Steve Kerr told ESPN: "Defense".

Cavaliers fans were chanting, "Cavs in seven" in the final minutes.

In the third quarter, Green was called for a light foul on Kevin Love, then reacted, tossing his hand at a referee in anger. We're going to keep competing.

They finished the game with 24 3-pointers, almost tying the record they set earlier in the season. I never understand why people try to compare eras and say this team could've beaten this team, or could've beaten that team, or this player was better than that player. Kevin Love hit three 3-pointers and led all scorers with 14 points in the first quarter.

The Warriors' chance at playoff perfection died right before the finish line. So I respect every great team that's come before us, every great player that's come before us.

James said his teammates were upset by comments made by fiery Warriors forward Draymond Green.

Then Golden State's Zaza Pachulia fought for a loose ball and swiped at Cleveland's Iman Shumpert. It could have been worse: The Cavs missed eight free throws in the quarter.

"We're very confident. With a 3-0 lead, you should be confident".