NBA Finals Highlights: Kevin Durant Leads Warriors In Game 1 Rout Of Cavaliers

Matthew Moreno
2 Min Read

The much-anticipated 2017 NBA Finals began Thursday night at Oracle Arena, and Game 1 ended in similar fashion as other Golden State Warriors victories have during this year’s playoffs — in a rout — this time at the expense of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Kevin Durant scored a game-high 38 points and had eight rebounds and eight assists in the Warriors’ 113-91 drubbing of the reigning champions. It marked the third straight year the Warriors took Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Durant enjoyed a free lane to the basket for much of the first half, throwing down six dunks within the first 24 minutes. He entered the night shooting 55 percent during the playoffs, though finished a notch below that in Game 1 at 14-of-26 (54 percent).

Not to be outdone, Stephen Curry chipped in with 28 points on 11-for-22 shooting, including 6-of-11 from 3-point range. He added 10 assists and six rebounds to boot. No other Warriors player scored in double digits.

Perhaps most impressively, the Warriors only committed four turnovers; two apiece by Curry and Draymond Green.

LeBron James led the Cavaliers with 28 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. Kyrie Irving did his part, pouring in 24 points on 10-of-22 from the field. Kevin Love pulled down a game-high 21 rebounds and scored 15 points.

The NBA Finals continue Sunday night, with tipoff for Game 2 at Oracle Arena set for 6 p.m. PT. The series will shift to Cleveland for Games 3 (Wednesday) and 4 (Friday).

Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers games, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com
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