Warriors look to complete flawless postseason in Cleveland

Durant's key basket over Cleveland's LeBron James could be the first signature moment in a possible dynasty run for the Warriors, seeking their second title in three seasons after falling one win shy of a crown previous year.

Irving scored 40 points while James added 31 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists and Kevin Love contributed 23 points as the defending champion Cavaliers snapped Golden State's NBA-record post-season win streak at 15 games.

The Warriors popped champagne inside the bowels of Quicken Loans Arena in 2015, having clinched the series in six games. Golden State's only competition is with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and the Bulls, and other great teams from the past.

"We have championship DNA as well", James said.

Much is different now, and the addition of Durant is just one of those things. They're a juggernaut of a team, do a great job of spacing out the floor, keeping a high tempo, and just made some big-time plays down the stretch.

There is no major reason to fret for the Warriors, who blew a 3-1 lead to Cleveland last season, but are a far superior squad this season.

The only suspense left is whether LeBron James and the Cavs will be able to take a game in the series.

"He took over", said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.

The Cavs were determined not to let the Warriors sweep them, and it was Cleveland, not Golden State, which busted Finals scoring records in the first half.

"When you get guys playing 45, 44 minutes, basically attacking one-on-one (as James and Irving did) the whole game, it's going to take its toll". No one else has more than two. I don't contribute as losing this game because we got exhausted.

The three-point dagger over James was exactly the type of play the Warriors must have had in mind when they signed Durant last July in hopes of avenging their 2016 NBA Finals loss to the Cavaliers.

Durant, still one win from the coveted championship he left Oklahoma City to get, scored 35 but got little help from Stephen Curry, who scored 14 on 4-of-13 shooting.

The Warriors ended the game on an 11-0 run in the final three minutes.

Golden State set NBA Finals records by connecting on nine 3-pointers in the first quarter and 12 triples in the first half.

Then came their 137-116 loss in Game 4 of the Finals on Friday, and everything got slower, tougher and definitely a lot more freakish for the Warriors.

The off-season appears imminent for the Cavs, which is shocking because when your two best players play that well, you shouldn't lose games.

Should the Warriors complete the sweep, it would be first sweep in the Finals since 2007, when the San Antonio Spurs also swept the Cavaliers.

They very easily could be playing for a third straight championship.

Or if Kevin Durant had stayed in OKC or gone to Washington. At one point in the opening quarter, Durant accounted for 10 of Golden State's points in a row.