iStock/Thinkstock(OAKLAND) — The Golden State Warriors are one game away from winning the NBA Finals for the first time in 40 years after they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-91 in Game 5 on Sunday at the Oracle Arena.
Stephen Curry, the 2014-2015 NBA Most Valuable Player, scored a team-high 37 points, snagged seven rebounds, and handed out four assists. With 2:43 left to play, Curry put the Warriors ahead 96-86 with a three pointer that left the Cavaliers lifeless.
LeBron James played a historic 45 minutes, scoring a game-high 40 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and dishing out 11 assists. “King James” and Hall-of-Famer Jerry West are the only two players to have 40 points while posting a triple-double in the same game in NBA Finals history.
Golden State’s depth proved to be the difference after both teams’ stars played great. Warriors’ guard Andre Iguodala nearly triple doubled, with 14 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, and Draymond Green pitched in16 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Another productive contribution came from veteran Leandro Barbosa, who scored 13 points in 17 minutes after posting 13 combined points in the first four games of the Finals.
The teams will travel to Cleveland for Game 6 on Wednesday night. Golden State will look to close out the series and take home their fourth NBA Championship win in franchise history, and their first since 1975. Cleveland is in their second ever NBA Finals and has never taken home a Championship.
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