Bring Out the Brooms: Kevin Takes Down the King in Four Games

Photo via Kyle Terada (USA TODAY Sports)

The stakes were clear entering Game 4. If Cleveland lost, its season would be over. If Golden State won, the team would be repeat champions. Only one could happen, but it was mostly clear from tip-off. The Warriors won in a route, and Kevin Durant took home the extra hardware against his longtime nemesis.

Two and a half minutes into the game, the Warriors led 10–3 and looked to be well on their way to a blowout win, forcing Cleveland to take a timeout. Steph Curry made a long-range three-pointer on Golden State's next possession, after making just one of his ten attempts from distance in Game 3, giving him six early points.

The Cavaliers scored the next eight points, capped off by a three from Kevin Love, but the Warriors responded with a run of their own, splashing home three straight from downtown. Kevin Durant, following his 43-point outburst, threw home a dunk, giving Golden State a 24–13 lead with 5:07 remaining in the first quarter.

The Cavs received no contributions from the bench in the first quarter, and their top two players were outscored by the Warriors' top two, 20–17. That's not exactly a winning formula for them. As a result, they trailed by nine after 12 minutes, 34–25.

That changed quickly (albeit briefly), as often-criticized role players stepped up early in the second. Jeff Green knocked down a three and Larry Nance scored on a put-back in the first minute of the quarter. Down 38–33, Nance scored on a dunk, assisted by Hood. Then Kyle Korver hit two free throws, and a dunk by LeBron gave Cleveland its first lead.

Golden State gained some separation after the halfway point of the period. Highlighted by an Iguodala three-pointer, his third of the night, the Warriors led 49–43 with 4:06 left in the half.

Still leading by six, Curry made another one of his classic late threes with five seconds left, giving himself 20 points at the break and his team a 61–52 edge.

LeBron James had 16 points and five assists at halftime. It wasn't a bad performance, but he would undoubtedly have to at least repeat that performance in the next 24 minutes, if not improve upon it, if he wanted to keep his team's season alive.

Klay Thompson didn't score in the first half. That wasn't going to last. In fact, it only lasted 37 seconds, before he made a ten-foot floater.

The Warriors scored the next four points, as well, jumping out to a 15-point lead, and that looked to be a gut punch to the Cavaliers.

Trailing 71–58, JR Smith picked up a technical foul. Curry made the free throw, George Hill missed a 19-footer (the "worst shot in basketball") on the other end, and Thompson came back with a three. That's "How to Lose to the Warriors 101."

Hood finally got on the board, with a triple of his own, with 4:58 to go in the quarter. Little did he know that would be his team's last field goal of the period. Golden State outscored them 9–2 during the stretch, led by five more points from Thompson, who had ten in the quarter, and the Warriors held a commanding 86–65 advantage.

By rule, the teams had to trot out for the fourth quarter, but the game was clearly over. If it wasn't a closeout game in the Finals, the starters would likely have sat it out.

At any rate, the squads traded buckets to start the quarter, but then Kyle Korver committed the cardinal sin of basketball: he fouled a three-point shooter.

After LeBron picked up his fifth foul, Curry knocked down another three, his seventh of the night, to give Golden State a 28-point lead. That was another "the game in a nutshell" moment. It also gave Curry 37 points, compared to 23 for LeBron.

Somehow, it took until the 2:47 mark for Steve Kerr to empty the bench. Even LeBron, the ultimate competitor, was out by that point. None of that matters, though, as the game had long been decided. However, they technically won by a score of 108–85.

LeBron James had 23 points, seven rebounds, and eight rebounds. Ho-hum. Those are solid numbers. Then again, he was facing elimination in what could've been his last game as a member of the Cavaliers. Compared to expectations, it was lackluster, and his retreat to the locker room prior to congratulating Golden State wasn't the greatest look, either.

Meanwhile, in addition to Curry's performance, Durant recorded a rare triple-double, with 20 points, 12 boards and ten helpers, en route to winning Finals MVP for the second straight season.

With that, the Warriors are back-to-back champions, having won three of the last four titles, all over LeBron and the Cavaliers. That much is known. Now comes the unknown, as they join the rest of the league in offseason mode.

In an interview with Rachel Nichols, when asked about his impending free agency, Durant said "I’m planning on staying with the Warriors, and we’ll figure the rest out.”

He could leave, but there's clearly no reason to. LeBron's future is far more uncertain, though. He will undoubtedly do all he can to compete with the team he just lost to. However, that will sort itself out in due time. For now, Golden State can celebrate.