OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – It’s over.
Cleveland’s 52-year championship drought ended with an electrifying 93-89 victory over Golden State to give the Cavaliers their first NBA title. The Cavs are also the first NBA team to rally from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals.
As usual, LeBron James led the way and was a unanimous choice as NBA Finals MVP. James became the third player in league history to record a triple-double in a championship Game 7, joining Jerry West and James Worthy of the Lakers. James finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Kyrie Irving added 26 points and six rebounds. He hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 53 seconds left.
Draymond Green was high man for the Warriors with 32 points and 15 boards. But league MVP Stephen was held to 17 points on six of 19 shooting. Klay Thompson added 14 for the Warriors, who set a league record with 73 regular-season wins but were denied a second straight NBA title.
Cleveland had been without a championship in the four major sports since the Browns won the NFL title in 1964.
As NBA Commissioner Adam Silver put it during the award ceremony, “The curse is over.”