Warriors Hold On to Beat Cavs in OT in Game 1 of NBA Finals
By NBC Sports Bay Area ••
OAKLAND -- The Warriors had to dig deep, and late, to overcome a wondrous effort by LeBron James and the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday night at Oracle Arena.
But with four players scoring in double figures, led by Stephen Curry’s 29 points, the Warriors outlasted Cleveland for a 124-114 overtime victory. Kevin Durant totaled 26 points, Klay Thompson had 24 and Draymond Green added 13.
Outscoring the Cavaliers 17-7 in OT, the Warriors shot 5-of-7 from the field while limiting Cleveland to 2-of-9.
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(L-R) LeBron James and Stephen Curry
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Kevin Durant #35 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors react as Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on in the first half during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drive to the basket against Jeff Green #32 and Larry Nance Jr. #22 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first quarter during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first quarter during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors reacts in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors controls the ball against Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first quarter during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 06: Stephen Curry #30 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors celebrate with Kevin Durant #35 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second half during Game Three of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 06: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a three pointer against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half during Game Three of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second half during Game Three of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 06: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first quarter during Game Three of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 06: Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second quarter during Game Three of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 06: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers attempts a layup against Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half during Game Three of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 06: Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors attempts a layup defended by Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half during Game Three of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 06: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors attempts a layup defended by JR Smith #5 and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter during Game Three of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
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Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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JaVale McGee #1 of the Golden State Warriors dunks against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers collides with Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a three pointer against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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Stephen Curry #30 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors celebrate after a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
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LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers attempts a layup defended by Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors talks with Kevin Durant #35 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
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Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts with Kevin Durant #35 against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
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Musician Carlos Santana plays the National Anthem prior to Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) drives to the basket as Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love (0) defends during the second half of Game 1 of basketball's NBA Finals Thursday, May 31, 2018, in Oakland, Calif.
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Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James reacts to a call during the second half of Game 1 of basketball's NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cavaliers in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, May 31, 2018.
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Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts between guard Jordan Clarkson (8) and Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant during the second half of Game 1 of basketball's NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, May 31, 2018.
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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates during overtime of Game 1 of basketball's NBA Finals between the Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, May 31, 2018.
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An official tries to separate Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during overtime of Game 1 of basketball's NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, May 31, 2018. The Warriors won 124-114.
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Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers guard George Hill (3) during the second half of Game 1 of basketball's NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, May 31, 2018.
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LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts against the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on May 31, 2018, in Oakland, California.
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Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors dunks against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on May 31, 2018, in Oakland, California.
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LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defended by Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on May 31, 2018, in Oakland, California.
NBC Bay Area
The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers square off in Game 1 or the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland Thursday night.
NBC Bay Area
The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers square off in Game 1 or the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland Thursday night.
NBC Bay Area
Fans show up to Oracle Arena in style for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
NBC Bay Area
Fans show up to Oracle Arena in style for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
NBC Bay Area
Fans show up to Oracle Arena in style for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
NBC Bay Area
The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers square off in Game 1 or the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland Thursday night.
James scored a game-high 51 points, along with eight rebounds and eight assists.
STANDOUT PERFORMER: None of the Warriors had a particularly phenomenal overall game, but Durant posted solid numbers across the board despite not shooting well. He also made
Durant’s line: 24 points (8-of-22 from the field, including 1-of-7 beyond the arc, 9-of-10 at the line), nine rebounds, six assists, three blocks and one steal. He played 46 minutes and finished a team-best plus-17.
TURNING POINT: With the teams tied at 107-107 at the end of regulation, the Warriors opened overtime with a 9-0 run, taking a 116-109 lead on a Shaun Livingston dunk with 2:14 left in OT.
The Cavaliers got no closer than seven over the remainder of the game.
INJURY REPORT: Warriors in-game: G Klay Thompson sustained a left leg contusion with 6:17 left in the first quarter, went into the locker room, but returned in the second quarter and remained in the game.
Warriors pregame: F Andre Iguodala (L lateral contusion/bone bruise) was listed as out.
Cavaliers: F Kevin Love (concussion protocol) was listed as questionable, upgraded to available Thursday morning and placed in the starting lineup.
WHAT’S NEXT: Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday at Oracle Arena. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.
