Warriors back on top of NBA
OAKLAND, California — As the gold confetti fell and a fresh grey NBA champion cap sat a tad off-kilter on his head, Kevin Durant embraced mother Wanda. Then he moved across the podium and hugged Stephen Curry before accepting his shiny MVP trophy and hoisting it for everyone to see.
From the Bay all the way to OKC. Durant capped his spectacular first season with the Warriors by bringing home that coveted NBA championship he joined Golden State last July so determined to get, scoring 39 points in a fast-and-furious, final-clinching 129-120 victory over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 on Monday night.
“It’s just a great group of guys, great community, great arena, great fans,” Durant said. “I’m just so happy to be a part of it.”
Stephen Curry added 34 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and three steals as Golden State closed out its second title in three years after squandering a 3-1 lead a year ago to the Cavs to miss a repeat. That stung ever since, and even Durant understood, because he gave up the same lead to the Warriors a round earlier with Oklahoma City.
“We learned from everything we’ve been through,” Curry said during the trophy celebration. “Our perspective, being blessed to play on this stage three years in a row, it’s for these fans, for our organization, for these families. To be back here, bring ol’ Larry back home, I’m just excited to do something special.”
James, who in 2012 with Miami beat the Thunder in Durant’s only other final, wound up with 41 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.
“I left everything on the floor every game,” James said after averaging a triple-double in his eighth final.