OAKLAND, Calif. – The Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-120 Monday night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to capture their second championship in three years.
The win came three days after the Cavs snapped the Warriors' perfect streak this postseason. Before Cleveland's 137-116 home victory in Friday night's Game 4, Golden State was a perfect 15-0 and had a chance to become the first NBA team to go unbeaten in the playoffs. The Warriors swept the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs to earn their NBA Finals berth.
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This year's NBA Finals served as a rubber match between two star-laden teams, with the Warriors winning the title in 2015 and the Cavs becoming the first team in Finals history to successfully overcome a 3-1 deficit in winning last year's rematch.
LeBron James was playing in his seventh straight NBA Finals. He led the Miami Heat to four straight Finals appearances between 2011-14, winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013, and has returned the last three seasons with the Cavs. The series loss leaves James with a 3-4 record in NBA Finals appearances in his career so far.