Kevin Durant scores 38 points, Stephen Curry adds 28 as Golden State Warriors beat holders Cleveland 113-91 in NBA Finals opener, matching the league’s longest play off winning streak
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant shoots a three-pointer in Game 1 of the 2017 NBA Finals against Cleveland Cavaliers at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California, yesterday. Singer Rihana (third from left in front row) was also seen enjoying the match. Pic/AFP
Oakland (US): Kevin Durant scored 38 points and Stephen Curry added 28 as the Golden State Warriors defeated defending champion Cleveland 113-91 in yesterday’s NBA Finals opener, matching the league’s longest play off win streak.
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Pushing their record unbeaten play off start to 13-0, the Warriors seized a 1-0 edge in the best-of-seven championship series, which continues Sunday in Oakland before shifting to Cleveland for games three and four.
Durant, who also had eight rebounds and eight assists, dominated inside early, setting a one-game career record with six slam dunks in the first half.
Golden State had 11 first-half dunks in all, the most of any team in any Finals half in 20 years. Curry, who had 10 assists, sparkled in the third quarter, his 3-pointers capping a 13-0 run to start the second half that produced a 73-52 lead. The Cavaliers never seriously threatened again.
The Warriors matched an NBA Finals one-game record with only four turnovers while the Cavaliers made 20, eight of them by superstar LeBron James and six of those in the second quarter alone. Durant, seeking his first NBA crown after leaving Oklahoma City for Golden State last July, hit 14-of-26 from the floor.