Photo credit: @warriors

By Pearl Allison Lo

The Golden State Warriors were on the big stage following their defeat of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017. This year, Golden State knocked out Cleveland again with a 108-85 rout Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night at the Quicken Loans Arena.

The start of the game was familiar territory as the Warriors went into the game with a 3-0 advantage, but the result was unfamiliar as they found themselves with another title–their first ever back-to-back titles. It was Golden State’s sixth straight win of these 2018 playoffs.

For fans of the opposing team, perhaps more disappointing than the loss for the Cavs, is whether star LeBron James will stay or leave.

Still sporting a red eye from Game 1, James left the court with 4:03 left after playing a game-high 41 minutes and scoring 23 points. He left to praise from all, including his opponents and the crowds chants of “MVP” grew louder.

Speaking of MVP, Kevin Durant matched his team, receiving the NBA Finals accolade for the second straight year. Durant finished a +30 and earned his first career playoff triple double, with 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds along with a game-high 10 assists.

Teammate Stephen Curry, who held the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after the game, scored a 2018 playoff-high 37 points in 39 minutes.

In the first, after both teams scored, the Warriors went on an 11-0 run, seven points from Curry, which Cleveland then countered with an 8-0 run. Golden State had three fouls during the latter run, including a technical. The Warriors’ Klay Thompson left the court after his second foul.  

The Cavs’ last possession of the first was marked by four offensive rebounds, three missed shots and two blocks by Golden State.

Curry overcame his 11 point performance in Game 3 with 12 points in the first.

It took awhile for Golden State to get going in the second. Cleveland took advantage, gaining the lead for the first time, 39-38, with 7:12 left. At that point, the Warriors only had four points to the Cavaliers’ 14. The lead then continued to change basket by basket for a total of five times and then a sixth after free throws interrupted the pattern.

Golden State then held the lead the rest of the game after the 47-43 score with 4:36 left (Andre Iguodala hit a three). Curry had eight points with the help of two three’s and Cleveland missed three free throws.  

By the end of the second, both teams had scored 27 points apiece, canceling out any advantage for the Cavaliers.

In the third, Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson inadvertently helped with the Warriors’ then game-high 17 point lead, 67-52, when he put in a bucket for them. The points were credited to JaVale McGee.

When James made a free throw, the third score after (49-47), that would be the closest the Cavaliers ever got anymore.

Both teams’ field goal and three point shooting went down in the third but Golden State’s first bucket of the third, a Thompson jumper, would mark a double-digit lead for the rest of the game. Cleveland only scored 13 points in the quarter and the Warriors lead reached 21 points at the end.

Golden State’s lead’s largest margin would end at 28 points and occurred with 6:19 left, courtesy of Curry (102-74).

Game Notes: The last time the NBA Finals saw a sweep was in 2007, when James and the Cavs were the victims again. The Warriors finished a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line. Durant also had a a game-high-tying three blocks. Golden State will celebrate with their fans in person Tuesday at 11 am PDT.