There will be no magic from the Cavliers this year in coming back from being down in the NBA Finals, as the Golden State Warriors closed out Clevelnad 129-120 in five games to capture their second NBA championship in three years and fifth overall title in franchise history.
LeBron James has now lost five Finals in eight appearances - only the fourth player to come up short in five NBA Finals. Kevin Love had a awful night with only 6 points.
Kyrie Irving followed up his 40-point gem in Game 4 with 26 points but shot 9 for 22.
"I left everything on the floor every game, so I have no reason to put my head down", said James, who scored a game-high 41 points Monday.
But unlike last year's comeback when they took advantage of Harrison Barnes' offensive struggles, Durant answered every charge during a 39-point night and Cleveland will need to find new answers if these teams meet in a fourth straight Finals next season. Then, as Cleveland tried to climb back in the second half, Durant continually delivered jab after jab to stagger the Cavaliers back. After an extended review of the confrontation, officials Danny Crawford and Ed Malloy assessed technical fouls to Thompson and Smith as well and did not give West a second technical, which would have resulted in an ejection. Now Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and the Warriors have found the range. He had 10 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in the clincher. The Cavs shot 62.5 percent from the floor in the first before combining for 16 fouls and 12 turnovers as a team the whole game. He led the Warriors in rebounds and blocks.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been saying they're a better team when their backs are against the wall.
Dodgers select Jeren Kendall with 23rd overall pick
Kendall is a burner, one blessed with well-above-average foot speed that he puts to good use in center field and on the basepaths. Los Angeles had the 23rd overall pick of the Major League Baseball draft and elected to go hitting this time around.
Game 5 of the NBA Finals is underway, with the Warriors holding a 3-1 lead and hoping to close the series out Monday night at home.
But Durant was quick to congratulate last year's champions. When a Kyle Korver 3 with 8:27 left cut it to six, Durant sliced backdoor for an easy dunk, uncontested just like the six dunks he had in the first half of Game 1. And though the Cavaliers crawled and James played unbelievably, they were helpless to Durant's lethal efficiency in the game's biggest moments, impossible to contain amidst the other stars the Warriors already had. You need that. And when we come out the beginning of Game 4 and lose shooters and turn the ball over carelessly, we're obviously not ready. "We were really good tonight".
Cavs coach Tyronn Lue was asked about his team's needs when told of Kerr's comments.
The Warriors lead the Cavaliers 3-1 and will try to win their second title in three years Monday.
The Golden State Warriors received plenty of congratulatory messages after clinching their second National Basketball Association championship in three seasons, notably from Lionel Messi and Barcelona.
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