OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 01: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks to pass the ball against the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 1, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kyle Terada/Pool/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 132-113 at Oracle Arena on Sunday to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in the NBA Finals, where several shooting and scoring records were broken amidst a post-game brawl.
Lebron James led the way for Cleveland with 29 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds. Kevin Love added 27 points and seven rebounds, and Kyrie Irving chipped in with 19 points on 8-23 shooting, while playing 40 minutes. No other Cavs players recorded more than eight points.
James’ triple-double is his eighth, which ties the all-time record held by Magic Johnson. However it was apparent that the supporting cast outside the ‘Big 3’ need to step up in order to beat the Warriors, even in Cleveland.
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On the other hand, the Warriors were firing on all cylinders on Sunday. Kevin Durant had 33 points and 13 rebounds on 13-22 shooting, and Steph Curry had a triple-double with 32 points, 11 assists and ten rebounds. Klay Thompson dropped 22 points, and six Golden State players in total scored in double figures.
Sunday marked the first time two opposing players (Curry and James) recorded a triple-double in an NBA Finals game, and just the second time in postseason history.
The two teams’ impressive shooting nights also found its way into the record books. The Warriors and Cavaliers combined for 26 three-point makes on a combined 72 three-point attempts, which broke NBA Finals records. The Warriors connected on 18 of those attempts, which broke the record for three-point makes they set in Game Four of last year’s Finals.
After the game, a brawl broke out between three fans near the tunnel where the Cavs were exiting the court. The fight was caught on ABC’s television broadcast.
Oakland police had to break up the fight, and JR Smith helped lead James out of potential harm’s way. Lebron also shunned the podium and gave reporter’s short, stern answers when asked about defending home court.
The Cavaliers will try to do just that on Wednesday at 9 p.m. when the two teams square off for Game Three at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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