Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — After 40 years, the Warriors are champions again.
Golden State defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 105-97, to claim the National Basketball Association (NBA) title in six games on Wednesday PHT (June 17).
Reigning MVP Steph Curry finished with 25 points, six rebounds, and eight assists for the Warriors, while Andre Iguodala also had 25.
Draymond Green added a triple-double of 16 points, 11 boards, and 10 assists. Festus Ezeli and Shaun Livingston each had 10 off the bench.
Golden State was only up by one, 48-47, before staging a 21-8 run, capped by a three-point play from Ezeli, to extend their lead to 14 points, 69-55, three minutes remaining in the third.
The Cavaliers cut it to seven at the 10:12 mark of the fourth period after LeBron James scored a basket but the Warriors again went on another spurt to go up 92-77, 6:01 left.
Cleveland got the lead down to four, 101-97, with 32.1 ticks remaining, but the Warriors made their necessary free throws to clinch the series in six games.
James registered 32 points and 18 rebounds in the loss, while Timofey Mozgov tallied 17 and 12.
The Warriors last won the championship in 1975, where Rick Barry won Finals MVP.
Iguodala was named the 2015 Finals MVP, while Curry became the first player in the league to defeat each one of his fellow All-NBA First Team members in the playoffs.
