NBA's Golden State Warriors triumph over Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7, securing a spot in the NBA Finals
The Golden State Warriors will host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, as they aim to become the first repeat champions since the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013.
In a thrilling Western Conference finals series, the Warriors overcame a 3-1 deficit to secure their place in the championship showdown. The decisive Game 7 saw Stephen Curry score a game-high 36 points, leading the Warriors to a 96-88 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Warriors' path to victory was not easy. They had to fight back from a 13-point deficit in the first half and an 8-point deficit in the third quarter to secure the win. Klay Thompson contributed significantly to the comeback, making 6 3-pointers and scoring 21 points.
Curry's performance was impressive, as he made all 3 free-throws following a foul on a 3-point attempt and produced a 3-pointer that put the Warriors up by 10 with 26.8 seconds to play. Thompson and Draymond Green combined for back-to-back 3-pointers, giving the Warriors an 88-77 lead with 4:44 to play.
Draymond Green finished with 11 points and a team-high 9 rebounds, while Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 27 points and 7 rebounds. Russell Westbrook had 19 points and 13 assists, but connected on just 7 of 21 shots from the field. The Thunder shot 38.2 percent from the field, which contributed to their loss against the Warriors.
Meanwhile, LeBron James and the Cavaliers have also advanced to the finals, having won the Eastern Conference title. The Cavaliers are aiming to avenge their loss to the Warriors in last year's championship series.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will face the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, attempting to dethrone the defending champions. The Warriors have now won 74 games in the current season and are determined to add another title to their collection.
