NBA Finals 2017: Warriors vs. Cavs scores and results

The Golden State Warriors are NBA champs for the second time in three years, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games.

By Matt Watson and Eric Stephen Updated Jun 13, 2017, 12:06am EDT

The Golden State Warriors are the 2017 NBA champions after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, winning the series clincher, 129-120, in front of a raucous Oracle Arena crowd.

The Warriors missed their opportunity to become the NBA’s first team to finish the postseason with a perfect 16-0 record after dropping Game 4 in Cleveland. But in a way that’s fitting, giving the champs a second chance at completing the drill with a 3-1 series lead after their devastating collapse in the 2016 NBA Finals.

The difference this time? Kevin Durant, who met every “championship or bust” expectation laid upon him when signing as a free agent last summer by scoring at least 31 points in each game of the Finals, including a team-high 39 points in Game 5, to earn 2017 NBA Finals MVP honors. It took that kind of effort to outshine LeBron James, who became the first player to average a triple-double in the Finals.

These two teams made history with their third straight pairing in the NBA Finals, with the Warriors winning in 2015, falling just short after a record-setting 73-win campaign in 2016, and continuing their dynasty this season. Might a fourth matchup be on the books? The Warriors are clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the league, and when dialed in, the Cavs are the top challengers in the East, so it’s difficult expecting anything less.

Until then, relive the 2017 NBA Finals with SB Nation’s coverage from each game.

Game 5: Warriors 129, Cavs 120

June 12, 2017 | Oracle Arena, Oakland, Calif. | Warriors win 4-1 | Box Score

Kristian Winfield: “After holding off the Cavaliers, 129-120, in Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals, the Warriors have solidified their standing as not only NBA champions, but one of the best-assembled teams in league history. Golden State now threatens to become a dynasty, one signaled when the franchise signed Kevin Durant to a free-agent contract last summer. Their investment returned fruitfully when it mattered most, as Durant became the most efficient player in league history to average 30 or more points in the NBA Finals.” — Kevin Durant propels Golden State to NBA Finals victory

Paul Flannery: What Stephen Curry sacrificed, and what he won
Tom Ziller: You can hate the Warriors, but you can’t deny their greatness
The Warriors should stay together for a long time. Blame the NBA for that.
Charlotte Wilder: The 27 best moments from the 2017 NBA Finals
Winfield: Kevin Durant is the most efficient scorer in NBA Finals history
The Finals MVP almost always goes to the winning team. Is that fair?
Ricky O’Donnell: Kevin Durant is already one of the best players ever
Zito Madu: It doesn’t matter that LeBron James lost in the NBA Finals
Matt Ellentuck: KD slamming beers wearing ski goggles is just perfect
James Dator: Durant and mom Wanda got the celebration they waited for
Golden State of Mind: Warriors win Finals with a gentleman’s sweep

Game 4: Cavaliers 137, Warriors 116

June 9, 2017 | Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland | Warriors lead 3-1 | Box Score

NBA: Finals-Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland was able to avoid a sweep, starting out on fire and never looking back. The Cavaliers set an NBA Finals record with 49 points in the opening quarter, on their way to an 86-point first half. That handed Golden State their first loss of the postseason after 15 consecutive wins, but the Warriors are still in the driver’s seat, up 3-1 in the NBA Finals. Just like last year.

Tim Cato: “We love technically sound, proficient basketball, and we got that earlier in the series. But sometimes you just want to let loose in a grungy dive bar. That was Game 4, and we couldn’t have asked for anything more. And like that, after dreading this Finals series coming to a close with nothing but Warriors dominance to show for it, we suddenly have more basketball ... and we’re excited for it. At least I am. The past 92 minutes we’ve seen in Cleveland have been absolutely ridiculous, but it’s still basketball. It’s not quite over yet.” — That ridiculous Game 4 was exactly what the NBA Finals needed

Paul Flannery: This is why the Warriors need Kevin Durant
Cato: Game 4 was the Cavs’ Big 3 at their best. Can they do it again?
Draymond Green got ejected, then didn’t in Game 4’s weirdest moment
Matt Ellentuck: Refs take responsibility for Green/Kerr technical foul confusion
Alex Kirshner: The referees were a disaster in Game 4
7 reasons Game 4 was a beautiful mess of epic proportions
Tristian Thompson might be back
Cleveland’s first-half shot chart was full of fire
Harry Lyles, Jr.: Kyrie Irving went from bad to irreplaceable to force Game 5
Tom Ziller: Kyrie Irving’s reputation has changed, but has his game?

Game 3: Warriors 118, Cavs 113

June 7, 2017 | Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland | Warriors lead 3-0 | Box Score

Tim Cato: “In the end, Game 3 was everything neutrals wanted. For the entire game, the Cavaliers provided the fireworks. They hustled until their joints were bruised and their hips were throbbing and every loose ball that they could have was dived after or reached towards, no matter how unlikely they’d catch up to it. The Warriors had their moments, too, but they were rewarded by a roaring Cleveland crowd. And yet, it didn’t matter for Cleveland. In the end, Goliath still won and this is a 3-0 series.” — Warriors vs. Cavs Game 3 was everything we wanted

Game 2: Warriors 132, Cavs 113 | Live Blog

June 4, 2017 | Oracle Arena, Oakland, Calif. | Warriors lead 2-0 | Box Score

LeBron James tallied his eighth career triple-double in the NBA Finals, tying Magic Johnson for the most all time. But Steph Curry countered with the first of his postseason career (32 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) — and his all-around excellence, combined with that of Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, helped the Warriors turn a slight 3-point lead at halftime into a 19-point rout.

Kristian Winfield: “For three quarters, it seemed Game 2 could have gone either way. The second installment to one of the most predictable anticipated NBA Finals in history started like a game of tug-of-war, each side testing the other’s strength first. But it ended how many expected: the Warriors were just too fast, too accurate, too smothering defensively and, in the end, up 2-0 on the Cavaliers, now only two wins shy of their second championship ring in three years. — The Warriors absorbed the Cavs’ best shot and still won by 19

Paul Flannery: Draymond Green won’t get fooled again
Matt Ufford: Who could the Cavs add to keep up with the Warriors?
Tom Ziller: Can the Warriors go 16-0?
This is why Durant left Westbrook and the Thunder
The Warriors are lucky to have such a stacked team. So is LeBron.
Harry Lyles, Jr.: Steph Curry cooked LeBron (and double-dribbled)
LeBron is tragically helpless against the Warriors
Remember: Cavs were beat worse in Games 1 and 2 last year
Zito Madu: KD makes the Warriors so incredibly unfair
Matt Ellentuck: KD, Curry and LeBron were freaking incredible
LBJ shoots done a reporter’s dumb question | So did Draymond
Tim Cato: Steve Kerr returned from ailing back to coach Game 2
Golden State of Mind: Curry, Klay mix up Kyrie Irving and J.R. Smith
Fear the Sword: On Kevin Love showing up, and the Cavs still needing more

Game 1: Warriors 113, Cavs 91 | Live Blog

June 1, 2017 | Oracle Arena, Oakland | Warriors lead 1-0 | Box Score

After falling painfully short in the 2016 NBA Finals, Golden State signed Kevin Durant to be a difference maker on the biggest stage. And dang, did he deliver, with 38 points, eight assists and eight rebounds in his first Finals appearance since losing to LeBron James and the Miami Heat in 2012.

Paul Flannery: “Make note of how he operates with such grace in the space afforded by his skilled teammates, and it becomes a reminder of just how obscenely talented the Warriors have become. Comment on their fluid passing and unselfish movement, and it feels like a backhanded slap at his former team. Durant can’t win with the public right now, which is its problem as much as his. So he has no other choice than to continue piling up victories.” — Kevin Durant’s Warriors are becoming unbeatable

Flannery: Are the Warriors too good?
Mike Prada: How Draymond and Durant protect Curry on defense
The solution to the Cavs’ defensive woes is to fix their offense
Tim Cato: 5 improvements the Cavs must make in Game 2
Why Warriors coach Mike Brown is also being paid by the Cavs
Kristian Winfield: LBJ was anything but the King defending Curry, Durant
James Dator: Rihanna and Kevin Durant have NBA Finals beef
Golden State of Mind: Warriors crush Cavs to take 1-0 lead
Fear the Sword: 3 things we learned watching Game 1

Warriors vs. Cavs news and coverage

SB Nation NBA is your home for the national perspective, with the Warriors fans at Golden State of Mind and Cavs fans at Fear the Sword going deep from the local view.

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2017 NBA playoffs results and scores

The NBA playoffs started with 16 teams, but for the third year in a row, the Warriors and Cavs were the last ones standing. Take a look to see how we ended up in the same spot yet again.

Eastern Conference first round

No. 1 Celtics vs. No. 8 Bulls (Series preview)

Game 1 - Sun., Apr. 16: Chicago 106, Boston 102 (recap)
Game 2 - Tue., Apr. 18: Chicago 111 Boston 97 (recap)
Game 3 - Fri., Apr. 21: Boston 104, Chicago 87 (recap)
Game 4 - Sun., Apr. 23: Boston 104, Chicago 95 (recap)
Game 5 - Wed., Apr. 26: Boston 108, Chicago 97 (recap)
Game 6 - Fri., Apr. 28: Boston 105, Chicago 83 (recap)

No. 2 Cavaliers vs. No. 7 Pacers (Series preview)

Game 1 - Sat., Apr. 15: Cleveland 109, Indiana 108 (recap)
Game 2 - Mon., Apr. 17: Cleveland 117, Indiana 111 (recap)
Game 3 - Thu., Apr. 20: Cleveland 119, Indiana 114 (recap)
Game 4 - Sun., Apr. 23: Cleveland 106, Indiana 102 (recap)

No. 3 Raptors vs. No. 6 Bucks (Series preview)

Game 1 - Sat., Apr. 15: Milwaukee 97, Toronto 83 (recap)
Game 2 - Tue., Apr. 18: Toronto 106, Milwaukee 100 (recap)
Game 3 - Thu., Apr. 20: Milwaukee 104, Toronto 77 (recap)
Game 4 - Sat., Apr. 22: Toronto 87, Milwaukee 76 (recap)
Game 5 - Mon., Apr. 24: Toronto 118, Milwaukee 93 (recap)
Game 6 - Thu., Apr. 27: Toronto 92, Milwaukee 89 (recap)

No. 4 Wizards vs. No. 5 Hawks (Series preview)

Game 1 - Sun., Apr. 16: Washington 114, Atlanta 107 (recap)
Game 2 - Wed., Apr. 19: Washington 109, Atlanta 101 (recap)
Game 3 - Sat., Apr. 22: Atlanta 116, Washington 98 (recap)
Game 4 - Mon., Apr. 24: Atlanta 111, Washington 101 (recap)
Game 5 - Wed., Apr. 26: Washington 103, Atlanta 99 (recap)
Game 6 - Fri., Apr. 28: Washington 115, Atlanta 99 (recap)

Western Conference first round

No. 1 Warriors vs. No. 8 Trail Blazers (Series preview)

Game 1 - Sun., Apr. 16: Golden State 121, Portland 109 (recap)
Game 2 - Wed., Apr. 19: Golden State 110, Portland 81 (recap)
Game 3 - Sat., Apr. 22: Golden State 119, Portland 113 (recap)
Game 4 - Mon., Apr. 24: Golden State 128, Portland 103 (recap)

No. 2 Spurs vs. No. 7 Grizzlies (Series preview)

Game 1 - Sat., Apr. 15: San Antonio 111, Memphis 82 (recap)
Game 2 - Mon., Apr. 17: San Antonio 96, Memphis 82 (recap)
Game 3 - Thu., Apr. 20: Memphis 105, San Antonio 94 (recap)
Game 4 - Sat., Apr. 22: Memphis 110, San Antonio 108, OT (recap)
Game 5 - Tue., Apr. 25: San Antonio 116, Memphis 103 (recap)
Game 6 - Thu., Apr. 27: San Antonio 103, Memphis 96 (recap)

No. 3 Rockets vs. No. 6 Thunder (Series preview)

Game 1 - Sun., Apr. 16: Houston 118, Oklahoma City 87 (recap)
Game 2 - Wed., Apr. 19: Houston 115, Oklahoma City 111 (recap)
Game 3 - Fri., Apr. 21: Oklahoma City 115, Houston 113 (recap)
Game 4 - Sun., Apr. 23: Houston 113, Oklahoma City 109 (recap)
Game 5 - Tue., Apr. 25: Houston 105, Oklahoma City 99 (recap)

No. 4 Clippers vs. No. 5 Jazz (Series preview)

Game 1 - Sat., Apr. 15: Utah 97, Los Angeles 95 (recap)
Game 2 - Tue., Apr. 18: Los Angeles 99, Utah 91 (recap)
Game 3 - Fri., Apr. 21: Los Angeles 111, Utah 106 (recap)
Game 4 - Sun., Apr. 23: Utah 105, Los Angeles 98 (recap)
Game 5 - Tue., Apr. 25: Utah 96, Los Angeles 92 (recap)
Game 6 - Fri., Apr. 28: Los Angeles 98, Utah 93 (recap)
Game 7 - Sun., Apr. 30: Utah 104, Los Angeles 91 (recap)

Eastern Conference Semifinals

No. 1 Celtics vs. No. 4 Wizards (Series preview)

Game 1 - Sun., Apr. 30: Boston 123, Washington 111 (recap)
Game 2 - Tue,. May 2: Boston 129, Washington 119 (recap)
Game 3 - Thu., May 4: Washington 116, Boston 89 (recap)
Game 4 - Sun., May 7: Washington 121, Boston 102 (recap)
Game 5 - Wed., May 10: Boston 123, Washington 101 (recap)
Game 6 - Fri., May 12: Washington 92, Boston 91 (recap)
Game 7 - Mon. May 15: Boston 115, Washington 105 (recap)

No. 2 Cavaliers vs. No. 3 Raptors (Series preview)

Game 1 - Mon., May 1: Cleveland 116, Toronto 105 (recap)
Game 2 - Wed., May 3: Cleveland 125, Toronto 103 (recap)
Game 3 - Fri., May 5: Cleveland 115, Toronto 94 (recap)
Game 4 - Sun., May 7: Cleveland 109, Toronto 102 (recap)

Western Conference semifinals

No. 2 Spurs vs. No. 3 Rockets (Series preview)

Game 1 - Mon., May 1: Houston 126, San Antonio 99 (recap)
Game 2 - Wed. May 3: San Antonio 121, Houston 96 (recap)
Game 3 - Fri. May 5: San Antonio 103, Houston 92 (recap)
Game 4 - Sun. May 7: Houston 125, San Antonio 104 (recap)
Game 5 - Tue. May 9: San Antonio 110, Houston 107 (recap)
Game 6 - Thu. May 11: San Antonio 114, Houston 75 (recap)

No. 1 Warriors vs. No. 5 Jazz (Series preview)

Game 1 - Tues., May 2: Golden State 106, Utah 94 (recap)
Game 2: Thurs., May 4: Golden State 115, Utah 104 (recap)
Game 3: Sat., May 6: Golden State 102, Utah 91 (recap)
Game 4: Mon., May 8: Golden State 121, Utah 95 (recap)

Eastern Conference finals

No. 1 Celtics vs. No. 2 Cavaliers

Game 1 - Wed., May 17: Cleveland 117, Boston 104 (recap)
Game 2 - Fri., May 19: Cleveland 130, Boston 86 (recap)
Game 3 - Sun., May 21: Boston 111, Cleveland 108 (recap)
Game 4 - Tue., May 23: Cleveland 112, Boston 99 (recap)
Game 5 - Thu., May 25: Cleveland 135, Boston 102 (recap)

Western Conference finals

No. 1 Warriors vs. No. 2 Spurs

Game 1 - Sun., May 14: Golden State 113, San Antonio 111 (recap)
Game 2 - Tue. May 16: Golden State 136, San Antonio 100 (recap)
Game 3 - Sat. May 20: Golden State 120, San Antonio 108 (recap)
Game 4 - Mon. May 22: Golden State 129, San Antonio 115 (recap)