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+ "page_name": "2016 NBA Finals - Wikipedia",
+ "page_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_NBA_Finals",
+ "page_snippet": "They became the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3\u20131 deficit in the Finals and the fourth team to win the series after losing the first two games. This also marked the first time since 1978 that Game 7 was won by the road team and as of 2023, this is the most recent NBA Finals series ...The win gave the Cavaliers their first NBA championship, ending the Cleveland sports curse. They became the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3\u20131 deficit in the Finals and the fourth team to win the series after losing the first two games. This also marked the first time since 1978 that Game 7 was won by the road team and as of 2023, this is the most recent NBA Finals series to feature a Game 7. Because of Cleveland's comeback, these Finals are widely regarded as among the greatest in NBA history. They became the first NBA Champion to clinch all their playoff series on the road since the 1999 San Antonio Spurs, as well as the first road team to win a Finals Game 7 since the 1978 Washington Bullets. The Cavaliers won their first championship in franchise history, ending a 52-year pro sports championship drought for the city of Cleveland (whose previous victory was when the 1964 Cleveland Browns defeated the Baltimore Colts in the NFL Championship game), as well as 26-year drought for the State of Ohio (whose previous championship was when the 1990 Cincinnati Reds defeated the Oakland Athletics in the World Series). In Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, the Warriors defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 96\u201388, becoming only the 10th team in NBA history to overcome a 3\u20131 series deficit, and advancing to a second straight NBA Finals for the first time since 1947 and 1948. ... The Warriors won the regular season series 2\u20130. For the first time since 2004, a new scheduling format was instituted for the Finals. In the previous years, the Finals were played in a Thursday\u2013Sunday\u2013Tuesday scheme. However, the league changed its scheduling to ensure an extra day off for both teams when traveling between the two cities. The 2016 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2015\u201316 season and conclusion of the 2016 playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the defending NBA champion and Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors four games to three in a rematch of the previous year's Finals.",
+ "page_result": "\n\n\n\n2016 NBA Finals - Wikipedia\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJump to content\n
The win gave the Cavaliers their first NBA championship, ending the Cleveland sports curse.[1][2] They became the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3\u20131 deficit in the Finals and the fourth team to win the series after losing the first two games. This also marked the first time since 1978 that Game 7 was won by the road team and as of 2023, this is the most recent NBA Finals series to feature a Game 7. Because of Cleveland's comeback, these Finals are widely regarded as among the greatest in NBA history.[3][4]\n
LeBron James was named the Finals MVP (MVP), receiving all 11 Finals MVP votes, and was also the first player in NBA history to lead all players in a playoff series in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.[5][6] His stellar performance in the series, which included a clutch block in Game 7 on Andre Iguodala, helped it become known as one of the greatest NBA Finals of all time.[7]\n
This was Cleveland's second consecutive trip to the NBA Finals, and third overall, seeking to win their first ever NBA championship. This would also be the sixth consecutive NBA Finals appearance for LeBron James, the most for any player not part of the 1960s Boston Celtics, and the fifth for James Jones (who technically qualified for the 2011 NBA Finals along with James, but did not play).[8]\n
Despite holding the best record in the Eastern Conference at 30\u201311 midway through the season on January 22, 2016, the Cavaliers fired head coach David Blatt.[9] Associate head coach Tyronn Lue was then promoted to replace Blatt. General Manager David Griffin cited \"a lack of fit with our personnel and our vision\" as the reason for Blatt's firing.[10]\n
Cleveland finished the regular season with a 57\u201325 record, capturing the Central Division title and the top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. They then advanced to the Finals after sweeping both the Detroit Pistons in the first round and the Atlanta Hawks in the second round, and defeating the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games. The Cavaliers were the first team in history to go to two consecutive\nNBA Finals with rookie head coaches.\n
This was the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors' second consecutive trip to the NBA Finals and eighth overall. The Warriors broke the record set by the 1995\u201396 Chicago Bulls by finishing the regular season with a 73\u20139 record.[11] In addition, the Warriors broke numerous other NBA records, including most road wins (34), best start to a season (24\u20130) and longest regular-season home win streak (54 dating back to the 2014\u201315 season). They also became the first team to make over 1,000 three-pointers in the regular-season with 1,077, eclipsing the previous record of 933 set by the 2014\u201315 Houston Rockets.[12]\n
The Warriors were led by Stephen Curry, who was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the second straight season. The Splash Brothers twosome of Curry and Klay Thompson were the highest scoring duo in the league, combining to average 52.2 points per game.[13] Head coach Steve Kerr missed the first 43 regular season games because of a back injury. Assistant coach Luke Walton served as interim head coach during Kerr's absence and he led the Warriors to a 39\u20134 start.[14]\n
In the playoffs, the Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets in the first round and the Portland Trail Blazers in the conference semifinals in five games each. Curry missed six games in the first two rounds due to injuries. He missed two games after tweaking his right ankle in Game 1 against the Rockets. In his first game back in Game 4, he sprained his right knee and was sidelined for two weeks, missing four games.[15][16] In Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, the Warriors defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 96\u201388, becoming only the 10th team in NBA history to overcome a 3\u20131 series deficit, and advancing to a second straight NBA Finals for the first time since 1947 and 1948.[17]\n
For the first time since 2004, a new scheduling format was instituted for the Finals. In the previous years, the Finals were played in a Thursday\u2013Sunday\u2013Tuesday scheme. However, the league changed its scheduling to ensure an extra day off for both teams when traveling between the two cities. This, along with the designated travel day, took place after Games 2, 4, 5, and 6 in subsequent finals. This scheduling change was necessary as a result of the National Hockey League instituting a new scheduling format for its championship series that went into effect beginning in 2016.[18]\n
The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 104\u201389 in Game 1 to take a 1\u20130 series lead. The Cavaliers led 68\u201367 before the Warriors broke the game open with a 29\u20139 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to take a 96\u201376 lead. Cleveland cut the deficit to within eleven points at 98\u201387 after an 11\u20132 run, but Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson nailed back-to-back three-pointers to essentially seal the victory for Golden State. While Curry and Thompson had a rough night combining for 20 points, the Warriors got a lift from its bench, outscoring the Cavaliers' bench 45\u201310.[19]Shaun Livingston scored his playoff-career high 20 points to lead Golden State, while Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 26 points. LeBron James fell one assist shy of a triple-double (23 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists).[20]\n
The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 110\u201377 in Game 2 to take a 2\u20130 series lead. Cleveland took a 28\u201322 lead about two minutes into the second quarter, but Golden State answered with a 20\u20132 run while outscoring the Cavs 30\u201316 the rest of the period. During the run, the Cavaliers' Kevin Love suffered a head injury while attempting to grab a defensive rebound. Love stayed throughout the remainder of the period but did not play the second half.[21] The Warriors continued to dominate Cleveland from there, outscoring the Cavaliers 58\u201333 in the final two quarters. Draymond Green led all scorers with 28 points, including 5 of 8 from three-point range. Curry and Klay Thompson added 18 and 17 points, respectively, while drilling four threes each.[22]\n
With their victory, the Warriors posted the highest winning margin in the first two Finals games with a 48-point differential.[23] James led the Cavs with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals, surpassing John Stockton for fourth on the all-time playoff steals list. However, he also committed 7 turnovers in the loss.[24]\n
The Cavaliers avenged their lopsided defeat to Golden State by routing the Warriors 120\u201390 in Game 3 to cut the series deficit to 2\u20131. The Cavaliers scored the game's first nine points en route to outscoring the Warriors 33\u201316 after one quarter. Golden State rallied to trim Cleveland's lead as low as seven points on a couple of occasions before the Cavs settled for a 51\u201343 halftime lead.[25] In the second half, Cleveland continued to extend their lead and outscored Golden State 69\u201347.[26] Love did not play due to a concussion.[27] James led all scorers with 32 points. Irving added 30 points for the Cavs. Curry led the Warriors with 19 points, while drilling four threes. Harrison Barnes also contributed 18 points in 33 minutes of play.[28]\n
The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 108\u201397 in Game 4 to take a 3\u20131 series lead. After averaging just 16 points in the first three games of the series, Curry scored 38 and was 7 of 13 on three-pointers.[29] The Warriors made 17 three-pointers, then an NBA record for a single Finals game.[30] They made only 16 two-point field goals, the first time in Finals history a team made more shots from three-point range.[31] Klay Thompson added 25 points and four three-pointers for Golden State.[30] It was the Warriors' 88th win of the season, which broke the 1995\u201396 Chicago Bulls record of 87 for most wins in an NBA season (regular-season and postseason combined).[32][33]\t\n
Green and James had to be separated in the closing minutes of the game, when Green fell to the ground and James stepped over him.[34]\t\nFeeling disrespected, Green swung his arm and appeared to make contact with James' groin.[35]\n
The Cavaliers defeated the Warriors 112\u201397 in Game 5 to narrow the Warriors' series lead to 3\u20132. James and Irving each scored 41 points to become the first teammates in Finals history to score 40 or more in the same game. James also added 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks, while Irving had 6 assists of his own.[36] After Game 4, Green was assessed a Flagrant Foul 1 for his contact with James that was ruled \"unnecessary\" and \"retaliatory\", and James was given a technical foul for taunting.[36][37] Having accumulated his fourth flagrant foul point in the playoffs, Green was suspended for Game 5,[37] becoming the first player to be suspended from playing in a Finals game since Jerry Stackhouse in 2006.[38] Green watched the game from a luxury box in the nearby Oakland Alameda Coliseum, where the Oakland Athletics were also playing a game at the same time, hosting the Texas Rangers.[39][40][41]\n
Warriors center Andrew Bogut suffered a season-ending injury to his left knee in the second half when he jumped to block a layup attempt by Cavs guard J. R. Smith and came down awkwardly on Smith.[42]\n
\nLeBron James charging at Stephen Curry during Game 6.\n
The Cavaliers defeated the Warriors 115\u2013101 in Game 6 to even the series 3\u20133. The Cavaliers scored the game's first eight points en route to outscoring the Warriors 31\u201311 after one quarter. Golden State rallied to trim Cleveland's lead as low as eight points on a couple of occasions before the Cavs settled for a 59\u201343 halftime lead, with Tristan Thompson having his best performance of the series, registering a double-double in the first half alone. In the second half, Cleveland continued to extend their lead and tied the series.[43] LeBron James led the Cavs with a historic performance of 41 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks while only committing 1 turnover. Kyrie Irving added 23 points, while Tristan Thompson had 16 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 30 points, drilling six threes, and Klay Thompson added 25 points. Back from suspension, Green was held to just eight points on 3\u20137 shooting.[44][45]\n
James scored 18 straight points for Cleveland from the end of the third quarter to the 7:00 mark of the fourth. Late in the game with the Cavaliers up by 13, he blocked a Curry shot from behind, and afterward had some words for him.[46] With 4:22 left, Curry received his sixth foul and fouled out of the game. He then threw his mouthpiece into the stands in frustration, resulting in a technical foul and his ejection from the game.[47] Curry was the first MVP to foul out of an NBA Finals game since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000.[48] The Cavaliers became the third team to fall behind 3\u20131 and force Game 7 (and the first in 50 years). James was the first player to have consecutive 40-point games in the Finals since, coincidentally, Shaquille O'Neal in the 2000 Finals.[43] Following the game, Curry and Warriors head coach Steve Kerr were fined $25,000 each for their actions and public officiating criticism.[49]\n
This season's Finals marked the first time in NBA history in which both teams entered Game 7 with the same total points scored through six games (610 points each). The Cavaliers defeated the Warriors 93\u201389 in Game 7 to win the series 4\u20133. Game 7 was close, with 20 lead changes and 11 ties. This was the only game in the series to have a final margin of fewer than 10 points. At halftime, the Warriors were ahead 49\u201342. In the second half, the Cavaliers outscored the Warriors 51\u201340 as the Warriors failed to score a basket during the last 4:39 of the game. In the closing minutes of the 4th quarter, LeBron James delivered what became known as \"The Block\" on a layup attempt by Andre Iguodala with the score tied at 89 and 1:50 remaining in the game. Kyrie Irving made a go-ahead 3-point field goal over Stephen Curry to give Cleveland a 92\u201389 lead with 0:53 remaining in the game.[50] Before Kyrie Irving's 3-point field goal, both teams were tied at 699 points scored apiece in this series.[citation needed] Immediately after Irving's 3-pointer, Golden State brought the ball up-court, opting not to call a timeout, and although Golden State got a preferred switch and matchup of Curry on Kevin Love, Love made arguably \"the biggest defensive stop of the entire NBA season\", and forced Curry into a contested 3-pointer, which he missed.[51][52] After LeBron James hurt his right wrist on a dunk attempt in which he was fouled by Draymond Green, he virtually clinched the title for the Cavaliers by making one of two free throws, putting them 4 points ahead with only 10.6 seconds left in the game. The Cavaliers fouled Draymond Green with 6.5 seconds remaining. Stephen Curry received the ensuing inbounds pass, pump faked and shot a three-pointer over Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert. The attempt missed, and was rebounded by Marreese Speights of the Warriors who then missed a three-point attempt as time expired.[53] Draymond Green put up his best performance of the Finals, leading all scorers with 32 points, including 6 of 8 from three-point range to go along with 15 rebounds and 9 assists. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson added 17 and 14 points, respectively. LeBron James led all Cavaliers with 27 points and became only the third player ever in NBA history to record a triple double in an NBA Finals Game 7 by adding 11 assists and 11 rebounds.[54] Kyrie Irving added 26 points for Cleveland.[55][56]\n
The Cavaliers became the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3\u20131 series deficit to win the NBA Finals.[57][58] They became the first NBA Champion to clinch all their playoff series on the road since the 1999 San Antonio Spurs, as well as the first road team to win a Finals Game 7 since the 1978 Washington Bullets. The Cavaliers won their first championship in franchise history, ending a 52-year pro sports championship drought for the city of Cleveland (whose previous victory was when the 1964 Cleveland Browns defeated the Baltimore Colts in the NFL Championship game), as well as 26-year drought for the State of Ohio (whose previous championship was when the 1990 Cincinnati Reds defeated the Oakland Athletics in the World Series). LeBron James was named the unanimous Finals MVP, becoming only the fifth player in NBA history to earn the award three times or more.[59][60] He also was the overall leader in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks during the series, a feat that had never been accomplished in an NBA playoff series.[61] Tyronn Lue became the 14th coach to win an NBA championship as a head coach and player.[62]\n
This also marked the first time an NBA Finals went to a Game 7 under the 2-2-1-1-1 format since it was reinstated in 2014.\n
On July 13, Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals received the 2016 ESPY award for Best Game.\n
In the United States, the NBA Finals aired on ABC with Mike Breen as play-by-play commentator, and Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson serving as color commentators. TNT's Craig Sager made an appearance for Game 6 as a sideline reporter, his first appearance at the NBA Finals, and his last game before he died later that year in December. ESPN Radio aired it as well and had Kevin Calabro and Hubie Brown as commentators. ESPN Deportes provided exclusive Spanish-language coverage of The Finals, with a commentary team of \u00c1lvaro Mart\u00edn and Carlos Morales.[63]\n
The Cavaliers and Warriors also met in the following two NBA Finals, the first time in any of North America's four major professional sports leagues that the same two teams met for the championship four years in a row.[78] The Warriors, who added Kevin Durant in the 2016 offseason, defeated the Cavaliers in five games in 2017 and a four-game sweep in 2018. Durant was named the Finals' MVP in both series.\n
The Warriors made it to a fifth consecutive Finals in 2019, which they would lose to the Toronto Raptors in six games. Three years later, they made it to their sixth Finals in eight seasons and defeated the Boston Celtics in six games.\n
James left the Cavaliers in the 2018 offseason to join the Los Angeles Lakers. He would lead the Lakers to a title in 2020 and win Finals MVP that year.\n
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+ "page_last_modified": " Sun, 17 Mar 2024 10:49:36 GMT"
+ },
+ {
+ "page_name": "NBA FINALS 2015 | NBA.com",
+ "page_url": "https://www.nba.com/watch/list/collection/nba-finals-2015-2",
+ "page_snippet": "The Warriors held off LeBron James and the Cavs for 108-100 OT win in Game 1. Stephen Curry had 26 points and eight assists \u00b7 The Warriors even the NBA Finals and beat the Cavaliers 103-82 in Game 4. Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala scored 22 points apiece for Golden StateStephen 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 for a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals. The Warriors even the NBA Finals and beat the Cavaliers 103-82 in Game 4. Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala scored 22 points apiece for Golden State. Stephen Curry and Finals MVP Andre Iguodala scored 25 points apiece, while Draymond Green recorded a triple-double, and the Warriors using a barrage of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to put Cleveland away.",
+ "page_result": "NBA FINALS 2015 | NBA.com
",
+ "page_last_modified": ""
+ },
+ {
+ "page_name": "2015 NBA Finals: Winners And Losers",
+ "page_url": "https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2015/06/17/2015-nba-finals-winners-and-losers/",
+ "page_snippet": "The Bay Area's love affair with a team that just won 83 out of 103 regular season and playoff games could help grease the wheels on getting a new building, although resistance remains. Stephen Curry reacts during Game Six of the 2015 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.Here\u2019s a look at some of the winners and losers from the 2015 NBA Finals. ... The NBA's regular season MVP was not the most dominant player on the floor, with James holding the edge, and his teammate, Iguodala, won the Finals MVP, but Curry introduced his breathtaking game to a new audience, which doesn\u2019t typically tune in to NBA games until the Finals. It was the first time in NBA Finals history one player led both teams in points, rebounds and assists. James was often the first, second and third option for Cav\u2019s offense. He scored or assisted on 70 of the Cavaliers 91 Game 5 points. Iguodala won the MVP in a 7-4 vote over James, but many felt James deserved to be the first MVP on a losing squad since Jerry West in 1969. ... An NBA Finals featuring two of the league\u2019s marquee teams and two of its biggest stars is just what the doctor ordered for Igoudala was listed as 125-1 odds before the Finals to win the MVP. The win will boost the value of the Warriors, which currently stands at $1.3 billion, seventh-highest in the NBA. The team is shooting to get a new arena built in San Francisco in time for the 2018-19 season. The Bay Area's love affair with a team that just won 83 out of 103 regular season and playoff games could help grease the wheels on getting a new building, although resistance remains. Who's up and who's down after the 2015 NBA Finals.",
+ "page_result": "2015 NBA Finals: Winners And Losers
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The Golden State Warriors won their first NBA title in 40 years Tuesday night with a 105-97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers to close out the six-game series. Andre Iguodala took home the MVP award with averages of 16 points, 6 rebounds and four assists per game, along with tough defense on LeBron James. Igoudala was listed as 125-1 odds before the Finals to win the MVP.
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The win will boost the value of the Warriors, which currently stands at $1.3 billion, seventh-highest in the NBA. The team is shooting to get a new arena built in San Francisco in time for the 2018-19 season. The Bay Area's love affair with a team that just won 83 out of 103 regular season and playoff games could help grease the wheels on getting a new building, although resistance remains.
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Stephen Curry reacts during Game Six of the 2015 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo... [+] by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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Here\u2019s a look at some of the winners and losers from the 2015 NBA Finals.
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WINNERS
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Stephen Curry
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The NBA's regular season MVP was not the most dominant player on the floor, with James holding the edge, and his teammate, Iguodala, won the Finals MVP, but Curry introduced his breathtaking game to a new audience, which doesn\u2019t typically tune in to NBA games until the Finals.
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Curry is the NBA\u2019s top-ranked player on appeal, aspiration, influence and trust, according to data from brand analysis and research firmRepucom. His aspirational score ranks seventh out of 3,652 celebrities in Repucom\u2019s database. The only thing missing is awareness with only 30% of people recognizing his name or image entering the playoffs (James and Kobe Bryant are at 90%). The Finals bumps up his awareness making him even more appealing for sponsors.
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Andre Iguodala
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Iguodala started Game 4 for the Warriors after coming off the bench every regular season and playoff game before that during the 2015-16 season. He provided an instant spark in helping lead the Warriors to three straight wins. The reward: the NBA Finals MVP award. He is the first player to not start every Finals game and win the award. Iguodala is an 11-year veteran with one All-Star game nod and is mostly known for his lockdown defense. A Finals MVP trophy on your mantle is a nice addition to his resume.
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LeBron James
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James had a historic series averaging 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game while playing nearly every minute. It was the first time in NBA Finals history one player led both teams in points, rebounds and assists. James was often the first, second and third option for Cav\u2019s offense. He scored or assisted on 70 of the Cavaliers 91 Game 5 points. Iguodala won the MVP in a 7-4 vote over James, but many felt James deserved to be the first MVP on a losing squad since Jerry West in 1969.
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ABC
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An NBA Finals featuring two of the league\u2019s marquee teams and two of its biggest stars is just what the doctor ordered for \n Walt Disney \n -owned ABC. The NBA had its best Finals ratings since Michael Jordan roamed the courts. The average of 19.2 million viewers per game through the first five games was up 25% over last year. The only blemish is no Game 7, which would have delivered massive ratings and millions in ad revenue.
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LOSERS
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Cleveland
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The city continues a historic championship drought that is now at 144 sports seasons and counting. The last title for a Cleveland sports franchise in the major sports was the Browns who won the 1964 NFL title in the pre-Super Bowl age. San Diego ranks second with 107 title-less seasons.
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J.R. Smith
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The enigmatic shooting guard helped the Cavaliers reach the Finals, but he was MIA for much of the series when the Cavs needed a second option with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love sidelined. The Cavaliers were outscored by 61 points with Smith on the floor, including by 27 in 27 minutes in a Game 4 stinker. Smith wasn't exactly locked-in during coach David Blatt's halftime speech.
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LeBron James
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James delivered an NBA Finals performance for the ages and his legacy grew in many ways by leading the overmatched Cavaliers to two wins against a superior Warriors team. But James is playing a different game than everyone else in the NBA. He is playing for a spot on the NBA\u2019s Mount Rushmore. It is hard to separate the all-time greats like Jordan, Magic, Bird and Russell. But four losses in six Finals appearances do not help LeBron\u2019s case. He'll have another shot. Las Vegas already has the Cavs as the heavy favorites to win the 2016 NBA title, but James will be 31 at the end of the year with more than 1,000 games already on his odometer.
",
+ "page_last_modified": ""
+ },
+ {
+ "page_name": "Warriors Defeat Cavs in Game 6 to Win NBA Championship | NBA.com",
+ "page_url": "https://www.nba.com/warriors/gameday/20150616/recap",
+ "page_snippet": "In a fitting end to a spectacular, record-breaking season, the Warriors defeated the Cavs 105-97 in Game 6 on Tuesday night to win their first NBA ...In a fitting end to a spectacular, record-breaking season, the Warriors defeated the Cavs 105-97 in Game 6 on Tuesday night to win their first NBA Championship in 40 years. In a fitting end to a spectacular, record-breaking season, the Warriors defeated the Cavs 105-97 in Game 6 on Tuesday night to win the NBA Finals 4-2. Draymond Green recorded a triple-double, Stephen Curry notched 25 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Andre Iguodala recorded 25 points, five boards and five assists on his way to being named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.",
+ "page_result": "\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Warriors Defeat Cavs in Game 6 to Win NBA Championship | NBA.com
In a fitting end to a spectacular, record-breaking season, the Warriors defeated the Cavs 105-97 in Game 6 on Tuesday night to win their first NBA Championship in 40 years.
For the first time in 40 years, the Golden State Warriors are NBA Champions.
In a fitting end to a spectacular, record-breaking season, the Warriors defeated the Cavs 105-97 in Game 6 on Tuesday night to win the NBA Finals 4-2. Draymond Green recorded a triple-double, Stephen Curry notched 25 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Andre Iguodala recorded 25 points, five boards and five assists on his way to being named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.
It took a little while for the Warriors to settle in, but once they did, they sure looked good. The Cavs opened the game on 7-2 run. Then, the Warriors found their groove. Stephen Curry scored all nine of his first quarter points in a span of 4:15, a stretch in which the Warriors regained the lead by way of an 11-1 run. Then, Andre Iguodala took the reigns. After missing his first three shots of the game, Iguodala sank three of his next four, including a three-pointer to put the Dubs up 23-15 with just over two minutes left in the period. That trey began an 8-0 Warriors\u2019 run to close the quarter, as the Dubs headed into the second frame holding a 28-15 lead. Ball movement proved to be the key to Golden State\u2019s early success, as the Dubs recorded assists on 11 of their 12 first quarter field goals. Cleveland didn\u2019t do themselves any favors, as the Warriors notched 14 points off the Cavs\u2019 nine turnovers.
",
+ "page_last_modified": ""
+ },
+ {
+ "page_name": "2015 NBA playoffs - Wikipedia",
+ "page_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_NBA_playoffs",
+ "page_snippet": "For the first time in NBA playoff history, both conference finals teams, the Warriors of the West and the Cavaliers of the East, held commanding 3\u20130 series leads. Cleveland went on to the finals, sweeping the Atlanta Hawks 4\u20130 to make their first NBA Finals since 2007, while Golden State won ...For the first time in NBA playoff history, both conference finals teams, the Warriors of the West and the Cavaliers of the East, held commanding 3\u20130 series leads. Cleveland went on to the finals, sweeping the Atlanta Hawks 4\u20130 to make their first NBA Finals since 2007, while Golden State won their series 4\u20131 defeating the Houston Rockets en route to their first NBA Finals since 1975. Cleveland went on to the finals, sweeping the Atlanta Hawks 4\u20130 to make their first NBA Finals since 2007, while Golden State won their series 4\u20131 defeating the Houston Rockets en route to their first NBA Finals since 1975. For the first time since the inaugural Basketball Association of America season in 1946\u201347, two rookie coaches, David Blatt of the Cavaliers and Steve Kerr of the Warriors, met each other in the NBA finals. Like the Conference Semifinals, the team that took a 2\u20131 series lead (the Cleveland Cavaliers), went on to lose the series. For the first time since the inaugural Basketball Association of America season in 1946\u201347, two rookie coaches, David Blatt of the Cavaliers and Steve Kerr of the Warriors, met each other in the NBA finals. Like the Conference Semifinals, the team that took a 2\u20131 series lead (the Cleveland Cavaliers), went on to lose the series. The Golden State Warriors won their first championship since 1975. Andre Iguodala was named NBA Finals MVP despite not starting in a game until the NBA Finals. The Golden State Warriors won their first championship since 1975. Andre Iguodala was named NBA Finals MVP despite not starting in a game until the NBA Finals. Within each conference, the three division winners and the five non-division winners with the most wins qualified for the playoffs. The seedings are based on each team's record; however, a division winner is guaranteed to be ranked at least fourth, regardless of record. The 2015 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2014\u201315 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors defeating the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Andre Iguodala was named NBA Finals MVP. For the first time since 2005\u201306, all teams from a particular division made the playoffs (in this case, all five teams from the Southwest Division).",
+ "page_result": "\n\n\n\n2015 NBA playoffs - Wikipedia\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJump to content\n
For the first time since 2005\u201306, all teams from a particular division made the playoffs (in this case, all five teams from the Southwest Division).\n
\nThe Los Angeles Clippers hosting the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the First Round series at the Staples Center.\n
The San Antonio Spurs made their 18th straight playoff appearance, while the Golden State Warriors (third straight playoff appearance) entered the playoffs as the first seed of their respective conferences.\n
Despite making the Western Conference Finals the previous year and winning 45 games this season, the Oklahoma City Thunder missed the playoffs due to a tie-breaker with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans themselves made their first playoff appearance since 2011, and their first as The Pelicans.\n
The Atlanta Hawks entered their eighth consecutive postseason (continuing the longest active streak in the Eastern Conference) with the top seed in the Eastern Conference.[1]\n
The Cleveland Cavaliers made their first postseason appearance since 2010, the final season of LeBron James' first stint with the Cavaliers. On the other hand, James' former team, the Miami Heat, missed the playoffs after making the previous year's Finals, becoming the first team to do so since the 2005 Lakers. Miami had qualified for the playoffs for six consecutive seasons before missing this year, also reaching the NBA Finals four consecutive times. The Heat and their fellow Floridian team, the Orlando Magic, both missed the playoffs in the same season for the first time since 1993.\n
Despite making the Eastern Conference Finals last season, the Indiana Pacers failed to make the playoffs by virtue of losing a tie-breaker to the Brooklyn Nets.\n
Despite starting their respective seasons in a rebuilding mode, both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence. Bucks head coach Jason Kidd became the first head coach to lead two teams to the playoffs in his first two seasons, having led the Nets to the playoffs the previous season.[2]\n
The first round of the playoffs saw a record six teams take a 3\u20130 lead in their respective series, the first time it had happened since the first round expanded to a best-of-seven series in 2003.[3]\n
The fifth seed defeated the fourth seed in both conferences for the third straight year.[4][5][6]\n
Game 7 between the Clippers and Spurs ensured a 16th straight postseason in which at least one Game 7 was played; 1999 was the last postseason to not feature a Game 7.\n
The San Antonio Spurs became the first defending champions to be eliminated in the first round since the 2011\u201312 Dallas Mavericks. This was only the second time it had happened since 2000.\n
With the Spurs being eliminated in the first round, none of the eight teams remaining at the beginning of the Conference Semifinals had previously won an NBA championship in the 21st century. Entering the Conference Semifinals, of the teams who had previously won an NBA championship, the Chicago Bulls had the shortest drought at 17 years, having most recently won an NBA championship in 1998, while the Atlanta Hawks had the longest overall drought at 57 years, having won their only previous championship in 1958 when the franchise was based in St. Louis.\n
All teams that held a 2\u20131 series lead within the first three games of their respective second round series had gone on to lose that series.\n
The Cavaliers\u2013Bulls series was notable for two game winning baskets by both teams\u2019 star players.\n
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Game 3: Derrick Rose hitting a wide open three pointer to win the game for the Chicago Bulls.
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Game 4: LeBron James making a catch and shoot two pointer to win the game for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
\n
With their Game 7 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, the Houston Rockets became the ninth team in NBA history to come back from 3\u20131 series deficits to win the conference semifinals, and only the second franchise to do it twice. They had first achieved that goal 20 years ago against the Phoenix Suns. The Boston Celtics are the only other franchise to twice make this comeback, doing it in 1968 and 1981. Overall, twelve teams have achieved the feat, with the Golden State Warriors doing it in the Western Conference Finals and Cleveland Cavaliers doing it in the NBA Finals the following season. The Denver Nuggets did it twice in 2020.\n
With their series win over the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2009.\n
With their series win over the Washington Wizards, the Atlanta Hawks made the Conference Finals (then called the Division Finals) for the first time since 1970. Since 1970, they had lost all 15 Division or Conference Semifinal series they participated in.\n
With their series win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Golden State Warriors made their first conference finals appearance since 1976, while the Houston Rockets made their first conference finals appearance since 1997. The Hawks, Warriors, and Rockets were the three NBA teams which had been waiting for the longest time for a return to the conference finals prior to this postseason.\n
For the second straight year, the No. 1 seed faced the No. 2 seed in the Conference Finals, and for the fourth time since 2000.\n
For the first time in NBA playoff history, both conference finals teams, the Warriors of the West and the Cavaliers of the East, held commanding 3\u20130 series leads. Cleveland went on to the finals, sweeping the Atlanta Hawks 4\u20130 to make their first NBA Finals since 2007, while Golden State won their series 4\u20131 defeating the Houston Rockets en route to their first NBA Finals since 1975.[7][8]\n
Like the Conference Semifinals, the team that took a 2\u20131 series lead (the Cleveland Cavaliers), went on to lose the series.\n
The Golden State Warriors won their first championship since 1975. Andre Iguodala was named NBA Finals MVP despite not starting in a game until the NBA Finals.\n
Within each conference, the three division winners and the five non-division winners with the most wins qualified for the playoffs. The seedings are based on each team's record; however, a division winner is guaranteed to be ranked at least fourth, regardless of record.\n
Each conference's bracket is fixed; there is no reseeding. All rounds are best-of-seven series; the team that has four wins advances to the next round. As stated above, all rounds, including the NBA Finals, are in a 2\u20132\u20131\u20131\u20131 format. Home court advantage in any round does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead to the team with the better regular season record. If two teams with the same record meet in a round, standard tiebreaker rules are used. The rule for determining home court advantage in the NBA Finals is winning percentage, then head-to-head record, followed by record vs. opposite conference.\n
If there are more than two teams tied, the team that wins the tiebreaker gets the highest seed, while the other teams were \"re-broken\" from the first step until all ties were resolved. Since the three division winners were guaranteed a spot in the top four, ties to determine the division winners had to be broken before any other ties.\n
As the 2014\u201315 regular season proceeded into February 2015, the ninth-place team in the Western Conference had a better record than the eighth-place team in the East. This led NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to suggest changing the playoff format, where the top 16 teams throughout the entire league would qualify, regardless of division or conference.[9] Silver then stated that the league might not be able to implement such changes until the 2016\u201317 season at the earliest.[10]\n
On March 3, the Atlanta Hawks became the first team to clinch a playoff spot. This was the earliest a team had clinched a playoff spot since the 1995\u201396 Chicago Bulls clinched on March 2.[11] The Golden State Warriors became the first Western Conference team to clinch a playoff spot on March 16.\n
Memphis had home court advantage in the first round despite not being a higher seed as they had a better regular season record than their opponent, but did not have the best record of the non-division-champion playoff teams in the West. This rule was changed as a result of this season's playoffs. The southwest division, which the Grizzlies are a part of, also had all five teams make the playoffs this year. This had only happened 3 times before.\n
During the final minute of the game, Derrick Rose drove inside then passed to Pau Gasol who laid it in as he was fouled. Gasol would then make the free throw and tie the game at 90. Then, when Rose tried to win the series for Chicago, he crossed but then was stripped by Khris Middleton. He then attempted a half court shot, which was blocked by Jimmy Butler when timeout was called. With 1.3 seconds left, Jared Dudley found the lead pass for Jerryd Bayless, due to a defensive breakdown by Rose, who then hit the game-winning lay-up at the buzzer, allowing the Bucks to stave off elimination for at least one more game.\n
After Anthony Davis split a pair of free throws, Curry missed an attempted game-tying three, but Marreese Speights grabbed the offensive rebound and Curry hit another three to tie the game at 108. The Warriors would win in OT.\n
In Game 1, the Clippers had a dominant game. It was close in the first half, but the Clippers pulled away in the second half. Chris Paul scored 32 points, while Blake Griffin scored 27 points. This helped the Clippers win 107\u201392.\n
Game 2 was much closer, requiring overtime. The Spurs won 111\u2013107 in the Staples Center, tying the series 1\u20131, led by Tim Duncan's 27 points.\n
In Game 3, the Spurs completely controlled the offense, and never trailed. They won 100\u201373 with Kawhi Leonard scoring 32 points. In Game 4, the Clippers won 114\u2013105. Chris Paul scored 34 points and 7 assists.\n
It was a tight game in Game 5 in the Staples Center, especially in the 4th quarter. At the end of the game, DeAndre Jordan tipped the ball in; however, the refs called goaltending. The Spurs prevailed 111\u2013107, led by Tim Duncan's 24 points and 11 rebounds.\n
In Game 6, Spurs Tim Duncan, Manu Gin\u00f3bili, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard along with Clippers Chris Paul and Blake Griffin struggled offensively. The Spurs gave up a 10-point lead, allowing the Clippers to win 102\u201396.\n
Game 7 was a very tight game, featuring 31 lead changes and 19 ties. In the first half, Chris Paul injured his hamstring, but returned in the third quarter, concluding that quarter with a buzzer beater 3-pointer, giving them a 79\u201378 lead. The fourth quarter was a nail-biter, with the Spurs leading in the beginning and the Clippers at the end. With 1 second left in the game, Chris Paul hit the game winner, and the Clippers moved on to the second round by a meager two-point margin. The final score was 111\u2013109.\n
The Hawks rallied from a 19-point deficit heading into the final period to tie the score at 101 with a basket. On the ensuing possession, Paul Pierce, who was double-teamed, hit a fadeaway jumper off the backboard at the buzzer to give the Wizards a 103\u2013101 victory and a 2\u20131 lead in the series. After the game, when ESPN analyst Chris Broussard asked Pierce if he called bank on that shot, he responded, \"I called game!\"\n
With 8.3 seconds left, Kyle Korver inbounded the ball to Dennis Schroder, who drives for the layup that was blocked by John Wall, then Al Horford gets the offensive rebound and hits the game-winning layup with 1.9 seconds left. John Wall then misses the half-court buzzer beater, and the Hawks take the 3\u20132 series lead.\n
The Hawks were up by 3, with 6.4 seconds to go. Bradley Beal's inbound pass went to John Wall, who tried to get open with time running down, then he passed to Paul Pierce who hit an off-balanced game-tying 3. But when officials reviewed the play, the clock reached 0:00 before Pierce released the ball and therefore the shot did not count. The Hawks won the series and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1970.\n
This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Wizards (formerly known as the Bullets) winning three out of the first four meetings.\n
The Bulls led wire to wire to go up 1\u20130 in the series, leading by as many as 16 points in the second quarter. The Cavs rallied to tie the game early in the third quarter. However, the Bulls went on a 15\u20130 run in the third quarter to regain control before holding off the Cavs late in the 4th quarter. \n
Facing the possibility of going down 2\u20130 heading to Chicago, the Cavaliers blew out the Bulls in Game 2, leading wire to wire as they evened the series 1\u20131. The Cavs outscored the Bulls by 20 points in the first quarter and never looked back. The Bulls got no closer than 11 for the rest of the game. LeBron led the Cavs with 33 points on 13/29 shooting while Irving chipped in 21 points. \n
J.R. Smith returned to the lineup after missing the first two games due to suspension. This was a very competitive game that saw neither team lead by more than 8 points. Trailing 94\u201393, LeBron James missed a go-ahead layup with under 24 seconds to play. Taj Gibson was fouled and made two free throws to make it 96\u201393 Bulls. James found Smith, who hit the game tying three to make it 96\u201396. The Bulls called timeout on their final possession of regulation. Rose shot a deep three that went off the backboard and into the basket, giving the Bulls a 99\u201396 win and a 2\u20131 series lead. Rose led the Bulls with 30 points. LeBron led the Cavs with 27, but he continued to struggle with his shot and Jimmy Butler's defense, going 8/25 for the game and 1/7 on threes.\n
United Center, Chicago Attendance: 22,256 Referees: Scott Foster, Jason Phillips, Tom Washington
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Looking to go up 3\u20131 and take complete control of the series, the Bulls went up 37\u201329 early in the second quarter. However, the Cavs scored 16 unanswered points to go up 45\u201337 before settling for a 49\u201345 halftime lead. The Bulls dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Cavs 23\u201312. They led by as many as 11 points before settling for a 68\u201361 lead heading into the 4th quarter. Led by J.R. Smith and Timofey Mozgov, the Cavs would rally, opening the 4th quarter on a 19\u20135 run to take an 80\u201373 lead with just under 5 minutes to play. With just under 40 seconds to play, LeBron hit two consecutive free throws to put the Cavs up 84\u201379. Butler hit a three on the Bulls' next possession, cutting the deficit to 84\u201382. The Cavs were forced to burn three consecutive timeouts as they were unable to inbound the ball. Once they inbounded the ball, James tried to burn the clock down as he was double teamed by Rose and Dunleavy. However, James swung his arm at Dunleavy and committed an offensive foul, giving the ball back to the Bulls with 14 seconds remaining. Rose tied the game with a layup to even the game at 84\u201384 with 8 seconds remaining. James rushed down the court and tried to score the go-ahead layup but was blocked. The ball went out of bounds with 1.5 seconds remaining. On the Cavs' final possession, Matthew Dellavedova inbounded the ball to James. James fired a jumper over Butler that went through the hoop as the buzzer sounded, giving the Cavs an 86\u201384 win. The Cavs regained homecourt advantage as they evened up the series at 2\u20132. James led the team with 25 points (10/30 shooting) while Rose led the Bulls with 31 points on 11/23 shooting. \n
This game was particularly controversial due to a timeout that wasn't called late in the game. After Rose made the layup to tie the game at 84\u201384, Cavaliers head coach, David Blatt, attempted to call timeout. However, the Cavs were out of timeouts. Calling a timeout without having one would have resulted in a technical foul and possession of the ball would go to the Bulls. Tyron Lue held back Blatt and prevented him from getting that timeout. None of the officials noticed Blatt signaling timeout as James ran up the court for what would eventually lead to his game winning buzzer beater.\n
Following the game, the NBA officiating report revealed that Blatt should have been charged with a timeout that would have drawn a technical and Cavs turnover.\n
The Bulls scored the first 8 points of the contest and led 18\u20138 early in the first quarter. However, the Cavs closed the first quarter on a 17\u20136 run to take a 25\u201324 lead into the 2nd quarter. The Cavs' momentum carried over into the 2nd quarter as they built a 54\u201344 halftime lead. James, who had struggled mightily with his shooting throughout the series, scored 24 points on 10/12 shooting in the first half. The Cavaliers controlled the third quarter and led by 9 after three quarters. Early in the 4th quarter, Dellavedova fell down, and Gibson's legs got tangled up with his. Gibson, attempting to break free, kicked Dellavedova. Gibson was charged with a flagrant 2 and ejected. The Cavs went up by as many as 17 points in the 4th quarter and led 97\u201382 with just over 6 minutes to play. However, the Bulls would rally, going on a 17\u20134 run to make it 101\u201399 Cavs with just over one minute to play. Trailing by 2, Butler attempted a three that would have given the Bulls to lead. However, he missed. James ran the clock down and missed a shot on the Cavs' next possession. However, Shumpert grabbed the offensive rebound. With 20 seconds remaining, and trailing by 2, the Bulls were forced to foul. However, the Cavs made their free throws and closed the game out, winning 106\u2013101 and taking a 3\u20132 series lead. James led the Cavaliers with 38 points and 12 rebounds to go along with 6 assists and 0 turnovers. Butler led the Bulls with 29 points. Rose scored 12 points in the first quarter on 5/9 shooting. He had only 5 points on 2/15 shooting in the final three quarters, including 0 made baskets in the second half. \n
After three consecutive contests came down to the final minute, the Cavaliers finally finished off the Bulls, eliminating them 94\u201373 at the United Center to win the series 4\u20132. The Bulls led 40\u201338 halfway through the second quarter. However, the Cavs closed the half on a 20\u20134 run, leading by 14 at halftime. The Cavs never relinquished control, leading by double digits for the entire second half and going up by as many as 27 points in the 4th quarter. Irving was forced out of the game after suffering an injury in the second quarter. However, Dellavedova led the way, scoring a playoff career high and season high 19 points to lead the Cavaliers. James had 15\u20139\u201311, one rebound shy of a triple double. Butler led the Bulls with 20 points. The Bulls scored 31 points in the 1st quarter. However, they were held to 42 points in the final three quarters, including 29 in the second half.\n
It was the 4th time in the last 6 seasons that the Bulls were eliminated by a team with LeBron James on its roster.\n
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Regular-season series\n
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Cleveland won 3\u20131 in the regular-season series\n
The Rockets recovered from a 3\u20131 deficit for the first time since 1995. Game 6 was one for the books as the Rockets overcome a 19\u2013point deficit, going on an incredible 49\u201318 run including a 40\u201315 run in the 4th quarter to end the game. The Clippers missed 14 straight shots as Josh Smith and Corey Brewer dominated much of the 4th quarter combining for 29 points. The 4th quarter spark led Houston to a decisive Game 7, and they completed one of the greatest comebacks in NBA playoff history. This was the ninth time in NBA history a team has come back from a 3\u20131 deficit to win a series.\n
The Clippers would ultimately suffer the same fate in 2020, in which they relinquished a 19-point lead in Game 6, and eventually blew a 3\u20131 series lead to the lower-seeded Denver Nuggets.\n
Philips Arena, Atlanta Attendance: 18,489 Referees: Scott Foster, Pat Fraher, Jason Phillips
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The Cavaliers defeated the Hawks 97\u201389, stealing homecourt advantage and taking a 1\u20130 series lead. LeBron led the team with 31 points while J.R. Smith chipped in 28 points, going 8/12 on threes and setting a Cavaliers franchise record for made threes in a playoff game. The game was tied 63\u201363 in the 3rd quarter. However, the Cavs, led by Smith's hot shooting, went on a 22\u20134 run (including an 11\u20130 run to start the fourth quarter) as they went up 85\u201367 and seized control. The Hawks would attempt to mount a rally, cutting an 18-point deficit down to 4 with under 50 seconds remaining. However, James drove through the lane and made a dunk to put the Cavs up 6. After Paul Millsap missed a three that would have made it a one possession game with 23 seconds remaining, the Cavs made their free throws to close it out.\n
With Irving sitting out due to injury, the Hawks were in a great position to even up the series. However, the Cavaliers blew out the Hawks and took a commanding 2\u20130 series lead, winning 94\u201382. The Cavs led 54\u201349 at halftime. Coming out of halftime, the Cavs seized control, outscoring the Hawks 30\u201317 in the third quarter, leading by as many as 20 before settling for an 84\u201366 lead heading into the 4th quarter. The Cavs scored only 10 points in the final period, but the Hawks trailed by double digits for the entire quarter and failed to make a significant run, managing 16 points. LeBron James led the way for the Cavs, scoring 30 points while having 11 assists and 9 rebounds. Dennis Schroder led the Hawks in scoring with 13 points off the bench. It was the first time this season that the Hawks had lost consecutive home games. The game was memorable when Hawks' 3-point specialist Kyle Korver sprained his right ankle after the Cavs' Matthew Dellavedova fell on his right leg while attempting to dive for a loose ball. This injury kept Korver out for the rest of the postseason and would require surgery in the off-season along with an injured elbow that bothered him for most of the season.\n
In a pivotal Game 3, LeBron James got off to an awful start, going 0/9 in the first quarter as the Hawks led 24\u201321. Near the end of the second quarter, Al Horford and Matthew Dellavedova got tangled up on the floor. Horford, who had scored 15 points on 7/10 shooting in the first half, swung his elbow at Dellavedova. He received a Flagrant 2 foul and was ejected. The Hawks led 49\u201348 at halftime. However, the Cavs would dominate the third quarter again, outscoring the Hawks 33\u201327 to take a 5-point lead into the 4th quarter. The Cavs led by as many 10 in the 4th quarter, leading 88\u201378. However, the Hawks, led by Jeff Teague, would go on a 26\u201312 run, taking a four-point lead with just under 1:45 to play. The Cavs scored the final four points of regulation to tie up the game. The Hawks had the final possession of regulation. However, Teague's potential game winning three missed at the buzzer, and the game went into overtime. With just under one minute to play in overtime, the Hawks trailed 109\u2013108. Teague hit a three pointer over Thompson to put the Hawks up 111\u2013109. On the Cavs' next possession, James attempted a jumper that rimmed out. However, Thompson grabbed the offensive rebound and passed it back to James. James went behind the three point line and shot a three that went down, putting the Cavs back ahead 112\u2013111. Out of the timeout, the Hawks turned it over on their next possession. On the Cavs' next possession, James ran the shot clock down before driving into the paint and making a layup to put the Cavs up 114\u2013111. The Hawks had two chances to tie the game and potentially force a second overtime, but Shelvin Mack missed both game tying three point attempts, sending the Hawks to their third straight loss as the Cavs went up 3\u20130 in the series. James recorded his 51st career triple-double (12th of the postseason) with 37 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists. Teague led the Hawks with 30 points. \n
After missing the last two games against the Hawks, Irving made his return to the lineup.\nThe Cavaliers routed the Hawks by 30 points, dominating from start to finish. The Cavs led 32\u201320 after the first quarter and never looked back. After leading by 17 at halftime, the Cavs controlled the entire second half. The Cavs led 85\u201360 heading into the fourth quarter, a quarter where very few starters logged minutes. The Cavaliers went on to win 118\u201388 as the franchise clinched their second Eastern Conference Championship in franchise history and returned to the Finals for the first time since 2007. The Atlanta Hawks became the first #1 seed to be swept in the Conference Finals since the Nets swept the Pistons in the 2003 Conference Finals. LeBron James and James Jones also became the first non-Celtics to appear in five consecutive NBA Finals series.\n
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Regular-season series\n
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Atlanta won 3\u20131 in the regular-season series\n
In Game 5, James Harden set an NBA playoff record for turnovers, with 12. The record was previously held by John Williamson of the New Jersey Nets with 11 in 1979.[25]\n
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Regular-season series\n
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Golden State won 4\u20130 in the regular-season series\n
ESPN, TNT, ABC, ESPN2 and NBA TV broadcast the NBA Playoffs nationally. In the first round the regional sports networks affiliated with the teams can also broadcast the games. Throughout the first two rounds, TNT televises games Saturday through Thursday, ESPN televises games on Friday and Sunday, and ABC televises select games on Saturday and Sunday, usually in the afternoon. NBA TV and ESPN2 televises select games in the first round. TNT televises the Eastern Conference Finals and ESPN the Western Conference Finals. ABC televises the NBA Finals for the 13th consecutive year.\n
ESPN Radio has exclusive national radio rights to broadcast the playoffs in the United States. They broadcast mostly ABC games during the first two rounds, all of the conference finals, and the NBA Finals.\n
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