Update: The Golden State Warriors win their first NBA championship since 1975. Final Score: 105:97
The end of the NBA Finals is almost here, with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors dominating over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-91. The Warriors have a chance to win it all on Game 6 Tuesday, but the Cavaliers will do their best to force a winner-take-all Game 7 at home in Cleveland.
According to a report from the Associated Press, the Warriors now have a 3-2 lead over the Cavaliers. If Cleveland wants to force a Game 7, it may take even more effort from James to make that possible, especially after he proclaimed in a postgame press conference on Sunday night that he was "the best player in the world."
"I've got to be better," James said, adding that he feels "confident" that his team has "enough to win it."
The Associated Press reported that should the Warriors win Game 6, it would be their first title since 1975. NBA MVP Curry managed to find his rhythm in the most recent game as well, scoring 17 of 37 points in the fourth quarter.
"He answered every one of James' big baskets with stunning buckets of his own as the game's two biggest stars played a finals version of 'H-O-R-S-E' to the delight of millions of TV viewers and a sonic crowd inside Oracle Arena," the Associated Press wrote.
However, Curry's efforts during Game 5 resulted in him being treated for dehydration. The Associated Press reported that he is expected to fully recover in time for Tuesday's game.
"We fought hard all year and put ourselves in good position now to go to Cleveland and hopefully close it out," Curry said. "We're confident."
James indicated that he will do everything humanly possible to get a decisive Game 7.
"'I don't put a ceiling on what I'm capable of doing," James said. "I know I'm shouldering a lot of the burden, but it is what it is."
According to Dan Favale of Bleacher Report, James needs more help from his team to make that scenario possible. He observed what happened during Sunday night's Game 5.
"It's a wonder the Cavaliers kept things close for most of the game at all," Favale wrote. "James' second-best teammate has changed regularly, switching from Matthew Dallevedova to Timofey Mozgov to [Tristan] Thompson. If this series is to see a Game 7, he'll need more consistent help from more than one player."
Favale also noticed a change in strategy from the Warriors.
"Instead of fighting through nail-biters, the Warriors have seized control," Favale wrote. "They're dictating the pace of play and lineup styles. They're drilling threes with unmatchable efficiency (24-of-56 through Games 4 and 5)."
As for his analysis on who will win Game 6, Favale predicted that the Warriors could take the championship, given the odds facing Cleveland.
"Injuries and a puddle-deep rotation continue to shape the narrative surrounding each performance, and they've yet to score more than 100 points through five tilts," Favale wrote of the Cavs. "James isn't getting the required help on offense, and the Warriors are forcing them to play a smaller and faster brand of basketball with which they're not entirely familiar."
Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Cavaliers and Warriors will air Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on ABC. Because it will be aired via broadcast, online viewers can freely stream the game on WatchESPN.com or through the WatchESPN app.
