Golden State Warriors clinched their first NBA championship since 1975 by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-97 in Game 6 on Tuesday, extending Cleveland’s even-longer title drought and denying leBron James the fairytale finish to his homecoming.
league MVP Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala — named as an unlikely Finals MVP — each had 25 points for the Warriors, who won the final three games after Cleveland had led the Finals series 2-1.
The Warriors overcame James’ best efforts in the series and followed their 67-win regular season with a title despite none of their players having had any previous NBA Finals experience entering the series.
James finished with 32 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists, falling just shy of what would have been a record third triple-double in the series.
“Doesn’t matter if I’m playing in Miami or playing in Cleveland or playing on Mars,” he said. “You lose in the finals, it’s disappointing.”
He simply did not have enough support from an injury-stricken Cavaliers.
After falling behind by two points early in the third quarter, the Warriors took control with Curry and Iguodala.
Golden State, having pushed its lead to 15 points, allowed the Cavs to creep back within four points in the final minute and a comeback seemed possible, but the Warriors hung on.
James was superbly dominant during the series, showing why he’s the world’s best player, but the Warriors were simply the better team.