Cleveland—The Golden State Warriors captured their third NBA title in four seasons Friday, routing the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-85 to complete a sweep in the best-of-seven NBA Finals.
Stephen Curry scored 37 points and Kevin Durant added 20 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as the Warriors inflicted the first 4-0 NBA Finals blanking since the Cavaliers were swept by San Antonio in 2007.
Golden State claimed the sixth crown in club history, matching the Chicago Bulls for third on the all-time list. The Warriors also won in 1947 and 1956 when based in Philadelphia plus 1975, 2015 and 2017 after their move to the San Francisco Bay area in 1962.
Cavaliers star LeBron James, playing in his eighth consecutive finals, scored 23 points, grabbed seven rebounds and passed off eight assists but fell to 3-6 in the championship series for his career, having twice won with Miami and triumphed again with Cleveland in 2016.
James might have played his final game for the Cavaliers. He can opt out of his contract and become a free agent next month.
James revealed Friday he played the last three games with a broken right hand.
“I let my emotions get the best of me and played the last three games basically with a broken hand,” James said, displaying his soft cast.
James had become upset in the final seconds of regulation time in the 124-114 opening defeat in California, when a foul call was reversed to allow Golden State to equalize and J.R. Smith grabbed a late rebound with the score level but dribbled away from the basket, thinking the Cavaliers led.
Images of a frustrated James talking to Smith became an internet sensation.
ESPN reported James hit a blackboard in the locker room after that game and underwent two MRI exams that showed the fracture, a fact he kept hidden so the Warriors would not know.
“Obviously, I don’t have a boxing hand,” James said.