Golden Warriors score a high five

Oakland, June 13: Kevin Durant became a champion and lifted Golden State to near-perfection as the Warriors celebrated their fifth NBA title Monday, defeating Cleveland 129-120 to win their second NBA Finals in three seasons.

Sparked by 39 points from Durant, who left Oklahoma City last July in quest of his first crown, the Warriors took the best-of-seven series 41, reclaiming the throne they lost to the Cavaliers a year ago.

Golden State completed a 16-1 playoff run, the best post-season win percentage in NBA history, and added to titles won in 2015 and 1975 plus those from 1947 and 1956 when the team was based in Philadelphia.

“There are a lot of super teams that haven’t worked,” Durant said. “But we come together and we’re the champions now.”

“We were able to get them last year and they went out and got one of the best players this league has ever seen,” Cavaliers star LeBron James said. “Obviously it paid dividends.”

Durant, who was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, became the first player with five consecutive 30-point performances in the NBA Finals since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.

“I couldn’t sleep for two days,” Durant admitted. “I was anxious. I was jittery. I just wanted to put it all out there.

“We battled. But we did it. We’re champions. And we’re celebrating on our home court.”

James scored 41 points to lead Cleveland. He also had 13 rebounds and eight assists, giving him a triple-double average for the finals, an unprecedented feat.

But James, in his seventh consecutive playoff series and eighth overall, fell to 3-5 in the championship round.

“Emotions are all over the place right now,” James said.

Stephen Curry added 34 points and 10 assists while Andre Iguodala came off the bench to score 20 points.