CLEVELAND -- The Golden State Warriors are on the verge of capturing back-to-back NBA titles, thanks to the singular brilliance of Kevin Durant.
On a night when Steph Curry and Klay Thompson were held to 21 points on 7-for-27 shooting from the field, Durant sizzled with 43 points, including a dagger 3 with 49.8 seconds to play as the Warriors went to win Game 3, 110-102, at the Quicken Arena.
Golden State now leads these Finals 3-0. In the history of the NBA playoffs, teams trailing 0-3 in a best-of-7 series are 0-131.
Game 4 returns to The Q on Friday night (Saturday morning in the Philippines).
LeBron James posted another triple-double --- his fourth this postseason --- with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. But he had little help besides Kevin Love, who had 20 and 13 rebounds, and Rodney Hood, who had 15 off the bench.
As he stands in the doorstep of a defeating sweep, LeBron had nothing but praise for Durant. "He'a an assassin...His ability to handle the ball, shoot the ball, make plays at his length, his size, his speed."
The Cavaliers took a 13-point lead in the second quarter but their offense slowed down in the second half where the Warriors outscored them 58-44. J.R. Smith finished with 13 and Tristan Thompson added eight points and 10 rebounds.
Cleveland out-rebounded Golden State 47-37 but the Warriors shot better from the field overall with 51.9 percent (42-of-81) while the Cavs swished just 40 of 92 for 43.5 percent.
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