Golden State Warriors capped a brilliant season with a 105-97 victory over LeBron James and Cleveland Cavaliers yesterday to win the NBA Finals for the first time in 40 years.
The Warriors, the top-seeded team in the play-offs after compiling the best record in the regular season, won the best-of-seven championship series 4-2.
NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Andre Iguodala, who had not started all season until Game Four of the Finals, and Stephen Curry each had 25 points for Golden State, while James again led the way for the injury-hit Cavaliers with 32 points.
“I’ve seen this on TV so many times, dreaming about what it would be like to pour champagne on yourself and when that moment comes and I’m holding the trophy, champagne is falling on my face, that’s when it all sinks in that this is real,” said Curry.
“Best champagne I’ve ever had in my life.”
Golden State became the first team since the 1991 Chicago Bulls to win the NBA title with a squad of players absent any previous finals experience.
For James, who averaged 35.8 points per game, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists in the finals, the loss dropped the greatest player of his generation to 2-4 all-time in the NBA’s championship series.
“When you fall short, it hurts and it eats at you, and it hurts me to know that I wish I could have done better and done more and just put a little more effort to help us get over the hump in this series,” said James.
“But it just wasn’t our time.”
Having trailed by 13 points late, the Cavaliers pulled to within four in the final minute, reigniting a home crowd that had been silenced moments earlier, but the Warriors held firm to clinch the title.
In the end, injuries to All Star point guard Kyrie Irving and forward Kevin Love were too much for the Cavs to overcome.
“We never asked for sympathy when they went down. We never made an excuse, and I certainly won’t do that now,” said Cavs coach David Blatt.
“We played our hearts out. The Warriors were better.
“Those guys will get healthy, and we’ll come back after it next season.”