Sports
LeBron James cradled the shiny gold trophy and struggled to sum up what might be his sweetest championship yet, the one he is so pridefully bringing home to his native northeast Ohio just as he promised to do when he returned to the Cavaliers two summers ago.
James and his relentless, never-count-them-out Cavs pulled off an improbable NBA Finals comeback, and Cleveland is title town again at long last.
Unfazed by the criticism and chatter all series, James delivered on a vow to his home state and brought the Cavs back as they became the very first team to rally from a 3-1 finals deficit, hammering the defending champ Golden State Warriors 93-89 on Sunday night to end a 52-year major sports championship drought in Cleveland.
“I’m blessed to be a part of history,” James said, then added, “I’m home. I’m home. . I’m at a loss for words. This is unbelievable.”
In a testy series of blowouts — and a few blowups — the winner-take-all Game seven provided the thrilling finale with James as the finals MVP disarming two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry and his record-setting Warriors.
Playing his sixth straight finals, James almost single-handedly carried the Cavs back into this series and finished with twenty seven points, eleven assists and eleven rebounds as the Cavs captured their very first championship in franchise history and gave their city its very first major sports winner since the Browns won the NFL title in 1964. He also had three blocked shots and two steals, overcoming five turnovers.
“CLEVELAND! This is for you!” James bellowed in his postgame interview before being announced as finals MVP.
An emotional James fell to the floor when this one ended with a 2nd win in six days on Golden State’s imposing home floor, surrounded by his teammates. Only seconds earlier, he went down in ache with Ten.6 seconds left after being fouled by Draymond Green while going for a dunk, then came back out to make the 2nd of two free throws.
After four successful seasons in Miami and two titles with the Warmth, James came back to the Cavs in hopes of winning the title this franchise and championship-starved city so coveted. It took a 2nd attempt against Golden State after Cleveland lost to the Warriors in six games last year.
Cleveland did it after a coaching switch, with Tyronn Lue taking over in January for the fired David Blatt.
“We made history tonight,” Lue said. “Cleveland, Ohio, we’re coming back, baby!”
Kyrie Irving scored twenty six points to cap his brilliant finals, including a 3-pointer over Curry with fifty three seconds left.
“It was a fairytale ending,” Irving said.
Curry sat shortly on the bench to take in the scene after the Warriors made their last basket with Four:39 left.
“It hurts, man,” Curry said. “I’m proud of every single boy that stepped foot on the floor for our team this year. . Hopefully we’ll have many more opportunities to fight for championships and be on this stage. This is what it’s all about.”
Green had thirty two points, fifteen rebounds and nine assists, but the Warriors’ record-setting season ended without the only prize this close-knit “Strength In Numbers” squad cared about from way back in the beginning — through the record 24-0 begin as Coach of the Year Steve Kerr was out, Curry’s 2nd consecutive MVP campaign, and the seventy three regular-season wins to break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ mark.
As Cleveland celebrated in the trophy ceremony, Green returned to the floor to congratulate the Cavs. He stopped by the winning locker room, too, and Warriors general manager Bob Myers delivered the winning nets freshly cut down.
The Warriors might always be remembered as one of the best teams ever that couldn’t close it out, and Green is taking at least a good share of the blame after he sat out Game five on Monday night suspended for flagrant fouls.
The Cavs staved off elimination twice to force Game seven back at Oracle Arena, where the Warriors went up 2-0 with a pair of lopsided wins to embark this series.
This marked the very first NBA game determined by five points or fewer since May 11, Golden State’s 125-121 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game five of the 2nd round.
With its 100th postseason victory, Cleveland became just the fourth team to win an NBA Finals Game seven on the road.
Curry — who said beforehand he needed the best game of his career — scored seventeen points on 6-for-19 shooting, while Splash Brother Klay Thompson added fourteen points while making six of seventeen shots.
”I didn’t do enough to help my team win,” Curry said. “It will haunt me for a while.”
Cavaliers defeat Warriors in Game seven of NBA Finals to win very first championship, Fox News
Sports
LeBron James cradled the shiny gold trophy and struggled to sum up what might be his sweetest championship yet, the one he is so pridefully bringing home to his native northeast Ohio just as he promised to do when he returned to the Cavaliers two summers ago.
James and his relentless, never-count-them-out Cavs pulled off an improbable NBA Finals comeback, and Cleveland is title town again at long last.
Unfazed by the criticism and chatter all series, James delivered on a vow to his home state and brought the Cavs back as they became the very first team to rally from a 3-1 finals deficit, striking the defending champ Golden State Warriors 93-89 on Sunday night to end a 52-year major sports championship drought in Cleveland.
“I’m glad to be a part of history,” James said, then added, “I’m home. I’m home. . I’m at a loss for words. This is unbelievable.”
In a testy series of blowouts — and a few blowups — the winner-take-all Game seven provided the thrilling finale with James as the finals MVP disarming two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry and his record-setting Warriors.
Playing his sixth straight finals, James almost single-handedly carried the Cavs back into this series and finished with twenty seven points, eleven assists and eleven rebounds as the Cavs captured their very first championship in franchise history and gave their city its very first major sports winner since the Browns won the NFL title in 1964. He also had three blocked shots and two steals, overcoming five turnovers.
“CLEVELAND! This is for you!” James bellowed in his postgame interview before being announced as finals MVP.
An emotional James fell to the floor when this one ended with a 2nd win in six days on Golden State’s imposing home floor, surrounded by his teammates. Only seconds earlier, he went down in agony with Ten.6 seconds left after being fouled by Draymond Green while going for a dunk, then came back out to make the 2nd of two free throws.
After four successful seasons in Miami and two titles with the Fever, James came back to the Cavs in hopes of winning the title this franchise and championship-starved city so coveted. It took a 2nd attempt against Golden State after Cleveland lost to the Warriors in six games last year.
Cleveland did it after a coaching switch, with Tyronn Lue taking over in January for the fired David Blatt.
“We made history tonight,” Lue said. “Cleveland, Ohio, we’re coming back, baby!”
Kyrie Irving scored twenty six points to cap his brilliant finals, including a 3-pointer over Curry with fifty three seconds left.
“It was a fairytale ending,” Irving said.
Curry sat shortly on the bench to take in the scene after the Warriors made their last basket with Four:39 left.
“It hurts, man,” Curry said. “I’m proud of every single stud that stepped foot on the floor for our team this year. . Hopefully we’ll have many more opportunities to fight for championships and be on this stage. This is what it’s all about.”
Green had thirty two points, fifteen rebounds and nine assists, but the Warriors’ record-setting season ended without the only prize this close-knit “Strength In Numbers” team cared about from way back in the beginning — through the record 24-0 begin as Coach of the Year Steve Kerr was out, Curry’s 2nd consecutive MVP campaign, and the seventy three regular-season wins to break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ mark.
As Cleveland celebrated in the trophy ceremony, Green returned to the floor to congratulate the Cavs. He stopped by the winning locker room, too, and Warriors general manager Bob Myers delivered the winning nets freshly cut down.
The Warriors might always be remembered as one of the best teams ever that couldn’t close it out, and Green is taking at least a good share of the blame after he sat out Game five on Monday night suspended for flagrant fouls.
The Cavs staved off elimination twice to force Game seven back at Oracle Arena, where the Warriors went up 2-0 with a pair of lopsided wins to begin this series.
This marked the very first NBA game determined by five points or fewer since May 11, Golden State’s 125-121 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game five of the 2nd round.
With its 100th postseason victory, Cleveland became just the fourth team to win an NBA Finals Game seven on the road.
Curry — who said beforehand he needed the best game of his career — scored seventeen points on 6-for-19 shooting, while Splash Brother Klay Thompson added fourteen points while making six of seventeen shots.
”I didn’t do enough to help my team win,” Curry said. “It will haunt me for a while.”