Durant shines in moment

KEVIN Durant showed he can be the difference as the Golden State Warriors crushed the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers 113-91 in game one of the NBA Finals.

Former NBA MVP Durant scored a game-high 38 points and added eight rebounds and eight assists yesterday as the two teams began battling out the championship series for a record third straight year.

Seeking a maiden NBA title, Durant joined the Warriors from the Oklahoma Thunder in the offseason and he gave every indication his quest will be rewarded amid the talent-stacked Warriors team as he scored freely.

Fellow superstar, Golden State guard Stephen Curry, scored 28 points for the Warriors, who extended their perfect playoffs streak this season to 13-0, an NBA record.

Seeking his fourth NBA title, LeBron James had 28 points and 15 rebounds for the Cavaliers but also finished with seven of the Cavaliers’ 20 turnovers.

The Warriors only gave up a total of four turnovers, an NBA Finals record low, as they enjoyed their home court advantage.

Kyrie Irving added 24 points for the Cavs.

Durant’s only previous Finals appearance ended disappointingly at the hands of James and his Miami Heat team in 2012.

This time around he punished Cleveland for leaving him free, taking the ball to the hoop for emphatic dunks.

He had six in the first half alone and shot 14 for 26 in his fifth 30-point performance this postseason, receiving a rousing ovation when he sat down for good with 2:16 remaining.

“I think the start of the game, we were a little too anx- ious and we missed some layups, we gave up some open shots,” Durant said.

“I think we just locked in from the second quarter on.”

The teams are back at the Oracle Arena in Oakland again on Sunday (10am Monday AEST) for the second match in the best-of-seven match series.

The series then shifts to Cleveland for the following two games.