Kevin Durant pours in an #NBAPlayoffs career-high 43 PTS, along with 13 REB & 7 AST, to fuel the @warriors Game 3 W! #DubNation #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/eJvGCA0xg0
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2018
Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2149645/golden-state-warriors-place-one-hand-nba-championship-they-edge Other Sport
Golden State Warriors place one hand on NBA championship as they edge to victory over Cleveland Cavaliers in game three
The Warriors have an inspired Kevin Durant to thank for their win in Cleveland with the 29-year-old nailing 43 points.
Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James shoots as Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green defends during the game three of 2018 NBA Finals. Photo: AP
Kevin Durant scored 43 points, and the Golden State Warriors overcame a slow start on Wednesday night to defeat the Cavaliers 110-102 in game three of the NBA Finals.
Golden State, trying to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the third time in four years, lead the best-of-seven series, 3-0.
Game four is Friday night in Cleveland.
Neither team led by more than three points in the fourth quarter until Stephen Curry drained a 3-pointer with 2:38 remaining for a 101-97 Warriors edge. LeBron James then made a three of his own to make it a one-point game before Andre Iguodala, making his return after missing the previous six games due to a bruised bone in his left knee, converted a dunk to increase the lead to 103-100.
Durant then buried a 3-pointer from 33 feet out with 49.8 seconds remaining to essentially ice the game.
“That was amazing what he did out there tonight,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Durant afterwards. “Some of those shots, I don’t think anybody in the world can hit those but him.”
James led the Cavaliers with 33 points. He added 10 rebounds and 11 assists for a triple-double, his fourth of the play-offs. 
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James secured a fourth triple-double of the play-offs. Photo: AP
Rodney Hood, who sat out three games before playing four minutes of garbage time in game two of the Finals, came off the bench to score 15 points for the Cavaliers.
Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue after practice on Tuesday said getting off to a fast start would be critical. He also wanted his team to be more physical than they were in the two games played on Golden State’s floor to start the series.
The Cavs led 14-4 with 7:57 left in the first quarter, a complete flip from game two when the Warriors jumped to a 15-6 lead with 8:12 left in the first quarter. The Cavaliers never recovered, even though more than 44 minutes remained.
The difference on Wednesday was the Warriors chipped away at the Cavaliers’ lead and tied the score 26-26 on a pull-up jumper by Kevin Durant with 32.6 seconds left in the opening quarter. 
Stephen Curry had an off night for the Golden State Warriors, but sank a crucial three down the home straight. Photo: AFP
The Cavaliers regained control in the second quarter by dominating the glass and playing smothering defence on Curry.
Curry scored 33 points and was 9-of-17 on 3-point attempts in Golden State’s 122-103 victory in game two. He had just two points in the first half of game three and was 0-for-5 on 3-point attempts when the Warriors went to the locker room at half-time trailing 58-52. Curry finished with 11 points.
As they’ve done throughout the play-offs, the Warriors surged in the third quarter, outscoring the Cavaliers 31-23 to take an 83-81 lead into the fourth quarter. Durant scored 10 points in the third quarter.