On the one-year anniversary of the Golden State Warriors winning the 2014-15 NBA title over the Cavaliers in Cleveland, the Cavs made sure the Warriors wouldn't be celebrating on their home court again this year. They used a fast start and a heroic performance from LeBron James to secure the 115-101 win, forcing a Game 7.
Cleveland opened the game on a monstrous 31-9 run to build what looked like an insurmountable lead. Golden State was able to cut the lead to eight halfway through the second quarter, but the Cavs responded with another huge run to lead 59-43 at the break.
Cleveland would push that lead to as many as 24 points in the third quarter, but the game was far from over. Golden State went on a 33-16 run after that point to get within seven, but that was as close as they would get. James led Cleveland's effort to keep the Warriors at bay from that point on and iced the victory.
Stephen Curry (30 points) and Klay Thompson (25 points) did what they could to carry the Warriors, but they didn't get much help from their teammates. Leandro Barbosa (14 points) was the only other player to score in double figures.
Curry also now has 28 made three-pointers in this series, a new NBA Finals record, but also fouled out for the first time all season. He went on an animated tirade directed at the ref after, during which he threw his mouthpiece at a fan.
WATCH: Stephen Curry Ejected, Throws Mouthpiece At Fan
The Cavs were led by another monstrous performance from LeBron, who finished with 41 points (including 18 in a row at one point), 11 rebounds and eight assists. He's the first player to have back-to-back 40-point games (or more) in the NBA Finals since Shaquille O'Neal.
Kyrie Irving followed up his 41-point performance in Game 5 with 23 points, while Tristan Thompson added a big double-double (15 points, 16 rebounds).
Game 7 will be back in Oakland on Sunday. Tip off is set for 8:00 pm ET on ABC.
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