As teams around the NBA are preparing for the league to restart for some form of a stretch run, the Golden State Warriors season is likely over. Prior to the season getting put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Warriors became the first team to be officially eliminated from playoff contention with a league-worst 15-50 record.
With Golden State’s playoff hopes already sealed for 2020, Warriors Wire is digging back into postseason history. Warriors Wire is highlighting standout performances and playoff matchups of the past that are worthy of a rewatch.
For the latest edition of “Warriors Playoff Rewind,” we looked at Kevin Durant’s first NBA Finals appearance as a member of the Golden State Warriors.
June 1, 2017
With each team winning a championship in their first two matchups in the Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers met with the Golden State Warriors for the third consecutive season. In the tiebreaker series, the Warriors looked a little different from previous seasons.
In his debut campaign roaming Oracle Arena, Durant started his first NBA Finals in Golden State with a bang. The former Texas Longhorn exploded against the Cavaliers for a game-high 38 points on 14-of-26 shooting from the field. Durant tacked on nine rebounds and eight assists.
The only other member of the Warriors to score in double-figures was Durant’s MVP teammate. Stephen Curry added 28 points, 10 assists and six boards.
LeBron James paced the Cavaliers with a near triple-double behind 28 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. However, it wasn’t enough as the Warriors cruised to a game one victory, 113-91.
Watch Durant and Curry combine for 66 points vs. James via Youtube:
With Durant taking home Finals MVP honors, the Warriors went on to knock off the Cavs in five games for their second title in three seasons.
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