Warriors withstand James, take 3-2 lead over Cavs in finals

 By ANTONIO GONZALEZ | Associated Press – 1 hour 14 minutes ago

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry came off a screen, dribbled behind his back and crossed over Matthew Dellavedova. He stepped back and swished a 3-pointer, then pounded his chest and pointed to the roof, seemingly controlling the sellout crowd of 19,596 on his fingertips.

One more win and the MVP will really have a moment to celebrate.

Curry made seven 3-pointers and scored 37 points, and the Warriors withstood another brilliant performance from LeBron James to outlast the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-91 on Sunday night for a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals.

 

"It was a fun moment, but it will only mean something — and I'll probably have a better answer for that question after we win that championship — but signature moments only come for players who are holding the trophy," said Curry, who also had seven rebounds and four assists before being treated for dehydration.

      

Curry was spotted rubbing his head and leaning over in a hallway after the game. The Warriors said Curry was receiving fluids in the locker room, watching highlights and should be fine.
With a sellout crowd rocking and roaring in their golden-yellow shirts, Curry and his teammates took control of the game — and possibly the series — in the final minutes. Curry connected inside and out — sometimes way out — to help the Warriors pull away and get in a position they haven't been in 40 years.

The Warriors will try to win their first title since 1975 on Tuesday night in Cleveland, which hasn't won a major sports championship in 51 years. Game 7, if necessary, would be in Oakland on Friday night. "I feel confident because I'm the best player in the world," said James, who has carried Cleveland as much as he could.

The four-time MVP had 40 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, slowing down the pace the way only he can. He made 15 of 34 shots in 44 minutes.

It was James' second triple-double of this series. Bu the depleted Cavs, without injured starters Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, tired again late with a rotation that has gone just seven or eight deep.
"He has the ball in his hands a lot. Stick with the program. Don't get discouraged if he makes shots. He's going to," Curry said of James. "Over the course of 48 minutes, we hope we wear him down to make it very tough on him."