Kevin Durant led the Golden State Warriors to their second NBA championship in three years on Monday night, scoring 39 points in Game 5 against the Cleveland Cavaliers and winning the NBA Finals most valuable player honors. The Warriors' 129-120 victory over Cleveland capped the hard-fought "three-match" — or third consecutive Finals in which the teams had faced off — and ended the Cavs' hope for a repeat of last year, when LeBron James led the Cavs to victory after trailing the Warriors 3-1 in the series. Durant, who joined the Warriors in July, lost the 2012 NBA Finals to James when Durant played for the Oklahoma City Thunder and James was on the Miami Heat.
James notched 41 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists on Monday night, and Kyrie Irving scored 26, after leading the Cavs to their sole victory in the series last Friday. Warriors star Stephen Curry had 34 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds. "We learned from everything we've been through," Curry said. "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. I'm ready to do it again." The Warriors are now the first Bay Area team to win a national championship at home since the Oakland A's topped the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1974 World Series.
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