Golden State Warriors clinched their second title in two years after beating the Cavaliers 129-120 in Game 5 on Monday Night.
Kevin Durant scored 39 points as Golden State Warriors clinched the seven-game series with 4-1 win and Stephen Curry added 34 points to spark celebrations around Oracle Arena in Oakland.
The two teams have met in the last three NBA finals with Cleveland overturning a 3-1 deficit a year ago to claim the title.
But with Warriors 3-1 lead before last night’s Game 5, Durant and his teammates did well to avoid the repeat of last season.
Curry who gave 10 assists and six rebounds said: ‘We learned from everything we’ve been through.
‘Our perspective, being blessed to play on this stage three years in a row, it’s for these fans, for our organisation, for these families. I’m just excited to do something special. I’m ready to do it again.’
Though LeBron James led the Cavaliers with 41 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, it wasn’t enough for his team to come out tops.
Durant scored over 30 points in every game and averaged 35.2 points per game, thereby claiming the MVP as he finished off a brilliant postseason.
Kevin Durant celebrates his MVP and the NBA trophy in the locker room. (Photo: NBAE/Getty Images).
Even in defeat, LeBron James became the first player in history to average a triple-double in the finals- 33.6 points, 10 assists per game and 12 rebounds.
In a press conference screened on NBA.com: “I’m not happy he won his first – I’m not happy at all, James said.
“From when I played against him in 2012 to now… experience is the best teacher in life, and it also helps when you’re able to experience things with this team.
“But once you get that first, no matter what anybody says from now on in your career, they can’t take away from you being a champion.”
On his own team’s efforts, he added: “We got to the post-season as a 2-seed and we were able to punch our clock and reach the finals, that’s what you want as a ball-club.
“We came up against a worthy opponent, we weren’t able to get over the hump and get it done but there’s no such thing as a failed season when you work as hard as we did.”
This is the first time in NBA history that the same two teams have contested for the trophy in three consecutive years.
