The Golden State Warriors will have the chance to sweep the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017-2018 NBA Finals on Friday, and Kevin Durant is a big reason why.
Golden State fended off the Cavaliers down the stretch in Game 3, and Durant was virtually unstoppable in that time period and for pretty much the entire game. The nine-time NBA all-star tied his playoff career-high with 43 points, and also chimed in with 13 rebounds and 7 assists in the 110-102 Warriors win.
Durant’s biggest shot of the game came with 49.8 seconds left when he hit a 33-foot three-pointer to put the Warriors up six. LeBron James followed up Durant’s three with a gifted layup, and then Draymond Green had an easy dunk off of a Stephen Curry assist to further show that Durant’s cold-blooded three was truly a dagger.
The three by Durant is drawing similarities between the three-pointer he hit last year in Game 3 in Cleveland as well. Durant had 31 points that game, and went onto win his first NBA Finals MVP Award. It’s likely that either he or Curry will be given that honor if the Warriors finish off the sweep on Friday.
By having at least 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in the game, Durant became just the sixth player in NBA history to register those marks in a road NBA Finals game. The other five are James, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, John Havlicek, and Cliff Hagan.
Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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