Watch Highlights: Kevin Durant, Warriors Beat Cavs 129-120 In Game 5 For NBA Championship

by Pablo MenaJune 13, 2017, 4:35 pmDaily Digest, News, Z-Home Slider >

The Golden State Warriors raced to their second national title in three years on Monday night with a 129-120 home victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Warriors Top Cavs for Second NBA Title in Three Years

Kevin Durant — who signed with the Dubs last summer in free agency — was named Finals MVP after finishing with 39 points, seven rebounds and five assists on 14-of-20 shooting in 40 minutes. The former Oklahoma City Thunder forward averaged 35.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists in the Finals, with a 55.6 field goal percentage.

“It feels amazing to win a championship with these guys,” Durant said. “I can’t wait to celebrate for the rest of the night — well, maybe the rest of the summer.”

The 2007 second overall pick is the third player to win four NBA scoring titles and an NBA title, joining Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.

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Durant, 28, is also only the third star since 1969 to win Finals MVP in his first season with a team. Moses Malone earned the honors with the 76ers in 1983, and Magic Johnson did it in his rookie season with the Lakers in 1980.

The Cavaliers, who won their first-ever franchise NBA championship in 2016, scored six of their first seven field-goal attempts, and led by as many as eight in the first quarter. However, the Warriors rallied and recorded 15 straight points to gain a 54-43 lead in the second quarter. Golden State then went ahead 71-60 at halftime with a 28-4 run.

After Cleveland trimmed the lead to four in the third quarter, Durant hit a three-pointer. Then in the fourth, Cavs shooting guard Kyle Korver made a 3 and Durant got inside for a dunk. Curry then tossed a pass to Iguodala for another slam, and Golden State got ahead by ten.

The game also included three technicals on one play 3:08 before halftime. David West tussled with Irving for the ball, the pair became entangled and Tristan Thompson entered the mix. Thompson and West then faced off. West, Thompson and J.R. Smith all drew technicals following a replay review.

Stephen Curry added 34 points, ten assists and six rebounds in the victory, while 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala also delivered a fantastic game for Golden State — the 2015 NBA champions — by contributing a playoff-best 20 points off the bench as well as playing solid defense on LeBron James for much of the night. The Warriors blew a 3-1 series lead over the Cavaliers in last year’s Finals.

James finished off his postseason strong with 41 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, while Kyrie Irving added 26 points on 9-of-22 shooting and J.R. Smith contributed 25. Irving finished with 40 points in Friday’s Game 4 loss, Golden State’s only defeat in the playoffs, which they finished 16-1.

“I have no reason to look back at what I could have done or what I should have done or what I could have done better for the team,” said James, who averaged a triple-double during the series — 33.6 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. “I left everything I had out on the floor every single game for five games in these finals, and you come up short.”

The King and Durant hugged it out on the floor at Oracle Arena after the game, as gold confetti rained all around. Durant also embraced his mother Wanda and Curry, who held his own child in his arms, beaming. Durant then hoisted his shiny MVP trophy high for the entire arena to see.

‘I’m happy for him,” Curry said. ”You’ve got to call Kevin Durant a champ now.”

Durant sat out 19 games late in the regular season due to a left knee injury.

Draymond Green — who missed the last game of the 2016 finals after being suspended due to a flagrant foul he drew after hitting James’ groin in Game 4 — ended Monday night with ten points, 12 rebounds and five assists.

”I had a letdown last year,” said Green, who has garnered a reputation in the NBA as a dirty player whose kick-and-flops have injured opponents in rather sensitive body parts. ”If KD was the consolation prize to lose, thanks for that loss, and we’re champs this year.”

Durant hit a 17-foot fadeaway over James early in the fourth quarter, then assisted on a 3-pointer by Iguodala on the next play as Golden State pulled ahead.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr was there to see his team win the NBA championship after assistant Mike Brown replaced him as interim head coach for 11 games while Kerr recovered from back surgery. Golden State won those 11 contests, including the Finals opener against Cleveland. Kerr returned for Game 2.

“Winning a championship is so hard,” Kerr said. “And when you do it, you just get nine months of all this work and you can finally let loose.”

The Cavaliers sent the Dubs this congratulatory tweet following the game:

OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 12: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after being named Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-120 in Game 5 to win the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 12, 2017 in Oakland, California.