BIG STATE-MENT
Durant delivers on both ends as Warriors block LeBron & Co.
OAKLAND, Calif. — LeBron James drove to the basket in the waning seconds and Kevin Durant swatted away any chance Cleveland had at a Christmas Day comeback.
Durant pumped his fist again and again, emphatically shook his head and pounded his chest in delight. It looked a lot like the dominant Durant from the NBA Finals six months ago. Klay Thompson hit a go-ahead 3pointer with 1:33 left, Durant delivered on both ends of the floor, and the Warriors beat the Cavaliers 99-92 on Monday in a festive holiday rematch of the past three Finals. “There’s just so much joy in the arena today because it’s Christmas and we all feed off of that,” Durant said. Durant’s block against a driving James with 24.5 seconds left led to a review of possession, which determined it went off James. Durant finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and five blocked shots. “He fouled me twice,” James said of his drive, according to ESPN. “But, whatever. What are you going to do about it?” Durant saw the play a different way. “He’s too big,” he said, according to ESPN. “He’s too big. He’s too big for that. He’s too big. That ain’t no foul.”
Kevin Love had 31 points and a season-best 18 rebounds, while James contributed 20 points, six rebounds and six assists in a rivalry missing one key piece: Warriors star Stephen Curry, who missed his eighth straight game with a sprained right ankle.
Thompson scored 24 points and Draymond Green had a triple-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. It was Golden State’s 12th win in 13 games after its 11-game winning streak was snapped by Denver on Saturday night.
Warriors rookie Jordan Bell traveled with 2:13 left and James tied it. Bell made up for that mistake with a key offensive rebound and pass to Thompson for his fourth 3.
James’ 3-pointer with 10:39 left pulled Cleveland within one, but Green answered with a 3 and Andre Iguodala scored two of his nine points the next time down. In another key sequence, Durant blocked Tristan Thompson’s shot with 6:23 to go and dunked moments later.
No surprise, the up-tempo, running rivals provided high entertainment once again. The Warriors last June captured a second championship in three years against James and the Cavaliers.
The teams will see each other again soon, playing Jan. 15 in Cleveland.
KD requested James for his defensive assignment. “I just like guarding my position,” he said