Golden
State repelled a fourth quarter push by a tired but fighting Cleveland
Cavaliers crew, 105-97, to capture its first NBA title since 1975 on the
heroics of season MVP Stephen Curry and hustle players Andre Iguodala, Festus
Ezeli and Harrison Barnes.
The
Warriors ended the series, 4-2, on the Cavs’ home court and against another
do-it-all performance by Lebron James. Golden State enjoyed a 75-61 lead early
in the fourth quarter, but James presided over a 7-0 run that put the Cavs
within seven points, 68-75.
It
was then that Curry woke up the Warriors from their stupor with the first of
his two triples in a 15-9 run gave the Warriors a 92-77 lead. Iguodala also has
two triples in that stretch. The Cavs
came to within six points in the final minute but simply ran out of time.
In
the third quarter, Barnes shot two triples and Iguodala closed out a 16-8 run
with a two-handed slam dunk on a Curry assist to give the Warriors a 61-51
spread from a slim 45-43 halftime lead. Ezeli then came off the bench to
balloon the Warriors’ lead to 14 points, 69-55, with a completed three-point
play off his own slam.
In
the first half, the Warriors zoomed to a 28-15 lead only to see it whittled
down to 45-43 at the halftime break. Golden State flirted with foul trouble,
with its two top defenders Iguodala and Klay Thompson picking up three early
fouls.
The
Cavs turned the ball over 13 times in the first and second quarters, but made
up for it by taking 19 free throw attempts to the two of the Warriors. Golden
State had a 15-6 edge in assists there.
******
Image by ESPN
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