Prior to the NBA season going on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Golden State Warriors became the first team in the league to be eliminated from playoff contention. As 22-teams prepare for the season to resume in Orlando, the Warriors will be on the outside looking in.
With their season officially over as the NBA begins its 22-team return plan, there will be no playoff action in the Bay Area for the first time in years. With no postseason hoops on Golden State’s schedule, Warriors Wire is digging through playoff history to find standout performances, historical moments and matchups worthy of a rewatch.
After winning back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018, the Warriors stamped their place in NBA history.
June 8, 2018
With three straight victories to start the 2018 NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors had the opportunity to sweep the Cavaliers to clinch back-to-back championship campaigns.
After jumping out to a nine-point lead in the first quarter, the Warriors coasting into halftime. Golden State came out of the locker room with one of their signature third-quarter flurries. The Warriors defense squeezed the Cavaliers, limiting Cleveland to only 13 points in the third quarter while Klay Thompson recorded 10-points of his own with a pair of 3-pointers. Golden State carried a 21 point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Stephen Curry capped off the Warriors 2018 championship with 12 of his game-high 37 points coming in the fourth quarter. During game four, Curry buried 7-of-15 shots from beyond the arc, while adding six boards, four assists, three steals and three blocks.
Kevin Durant tallied a triple-double against the Cavaliers with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 10 dimes. For the second straight title series, Durant earned a Finals Most Valuable Player nod.
In Golden State’s 108-85 win, the Warriors held LeBron James to his low of the series with 23 points on 7-of-13 from the field with zero 3-pointers.
Watch highlights from Golden State’s 2018 Finals victory over James and The Cavaliers via YouTube:
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