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Your support makes all the difference.The Golden State Warriors won their first NBA title since 1975 after a 105-97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers to win the series 4-2.
Despite a Herculean effort from LeBron James, who was one assist shy of his third triple-double of the series, the injury-hit Cavaliers did not have enough to stay with the multiple stars of the Warriors, who were the best team in the league all season.
Andre Igoudala, whose insertion into the starting line-up in Game 4 swung the series back into the Warriors' favour, was surprisingly named Finals MVP ahead of star team-mate Stephen Curry. Igoudala had 25 points in this win and earnt high praise for the way he defended James.
Curry also had 25 points, while defensive star Draymond Green recorded a triple-double.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr became the first rookie coach to win a title since Pat Riley with the LA Lakers; none of his Warriors squad had ever won a title before, either.
James averaged 35.3 points, 8.8 assists and 13.3 rebounds in the series, making him the first player in Finals history to lead both teams in all categories.
The 30-year-old has now lost four of the six Finals he has played in and Cleveland's 51-year wait for a professional sports title continues.
Momentum shifted for food in the third quarter when the Warriors outscored the Cavaliers 28-18 , quieting a rocking Cleveland crowd and opening a lead even the brilliant James couldn't overcome.
Golden State, having pushed its lead out to 15 points in the closing stages, allowed the Cavaliers to creep back within four points in the final minute and a remarkable comeback momentarily seemed possible, but the Warriors hung on.
James returned from Miami to Cleveland to deliver a title to his home region, but the 30-year-old, left to do most of the work by himself after All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love were injured in the post-season, came two wins shy.
James had 32 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists and was superbly dominant during the series, showing why he's the world's best player, but the Warriors were simply the better team.
Additional reporting from AP
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