Lopez officially traded from Nets to Lakers for Russell, Mozgov

Brook Lopez played in three arenas, for nine coaches and with numerous teammates.

He also survived numerous trade rumors.

On Thursday, his nine-year career with the Brooklyn Nets officially ended when he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for guard D'Angelo Russell and center Timofey Mozgov.

Russell was the second pick of the Lakers two years ago out of Ohio State. He averaged 13.2 points as a rookie and improved to 15.6 points last season as the Lakers won 26 games.

"We are extremely excited to welcome D'Angelo and Timofey to our Brooklyn Nets family," Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement released by the team. "D'Angelo is a versatile young guard with a bright future and we are enthusiastic about continuing his development along with our young nucleus, while Timofey will provide a veteran presence who can contribute on both ends of the floor. Both are great fits within Kenny's system."

Also going to the Lakers are the rights to forward Kyle Kuzma, who was drafted with the 27th pick.

The Nets drafted Lopez with the 10th overall pick in 2008 when the team still played in the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J. He played two seasons in Newark before the team moved to Brooklyn in 2012.

"We would also like to thank Brook for all of his contributions to the team over his nine seasons with the Nets," Marks said. "As the franchise's all-time leading scorer and longest-tenured player, he has been an exemplary member of the organization and always represented the Nets with class both on the court and in the community. We wish Brook and his family nothing but success in the future."

Lopez appeared in 562 games with the Nets and averaged 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists in 32.2 minutes. Last season, he averaged 20.5 points and expanded his game to include 3-point shooting while becoming the longest tenured-player in franchise history.

He was in rumors when the Nets tried to get Dwight Howard from Orlando in 2012 and again in 2015 when the team attempted to get Reggie Jackson from Oklahoma City

"To Brook Lopez, a huge personal thank you for your integrity and commitment to the team over the last nine years," Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said in a statement.

Lopez also surpassed Buck Williams as the franchise scoring leader with 10,444 points, and he is the Nets' career leader in blocked shots with 972.

Mozgov made his NBA debut with the New York Knicks in 2010 and was sent to Denver in February 2011 in the Carmelo Anthony deal. He won a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.

In 423 games with the Knicks, Denver, Cleveland and the Lakers, Mozgov has averages of seven points and five rebounds. In the first season of four-year, $64 million contract, the 30-year-old averaged 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 54 games.

Kuzma averaged 10.1 points in 96 games during three seasons with Utah. Last season, he led the Utes in scoring (16.4 points) and rebounding (9.3).

Timberwolves acquire All-Star Butler from Bulls

Jimmy Butler is being reunited with Tom Thibodeau.

Moments before the Los Angeles Lakers made Lonzo Ball the second pick of Thursday's NBA draft, multiple outlets reported Butler was going to be dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed the trade later in the evening.

Butler was dealt for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the rights to Lauri Markkanen. Also going to Minnesota are the rights to Justin Patton, who was picked at No. 16 by the Bulls.

Butler was the 30th overall pick by the Bulls in 2011 out of Marquette. He averaged a career-high 23.9 points last season as the Bulls were 41-41 and qualified for the postseason as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Thibodeau coached Butler from 2011 to 2015 before being fired. He joined the Timberwolves last season with the dual title of coach and head of basketball operations.

Last season, the teams worked on a potential deal for Butler, but talks collapsed based on the belief that Chicago's demands were too high. Instead, the Bulls dealt Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks for Robin Lopez and hoped to regain some of the success they experienced in Thibodeau's tenure.

By obtaining Butler, the Timberwolves are taking on the final three seasons of the $95 million deal he signed after the 2014-15 season. They had approximately $24 million available on their salary cap after waiving injured center Nikola Pekovic on Tuesday.

LaVine is coming off a torn ACL but was showing steady improvement. Before getting hurt, LaVine shot 46 percent and averaged a career-high 18.9 points and shooting a career-best 45.9 percent.

Since entering the league as Minnesota's first-round pick from UCLA in 2014, LaVine has averaged 13.7 points per game and shot 44.5 percent.

Dunn was Minnesota's first-round pick last season and averaged 3.8 points on 37.7 percent shooting in 78 games.

Markanen averaged 15.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in his only season at Arizona. The 7-footer became the highest-ever draft pick from Finland.

Patton averaged 12.9 points and 6.1 rebounds. The 7-footer shot 57.3 percent and was the Big East freshman of the year.

Draft: 76ers tab Fultz No. 1, Ball goes to Lakers at No. 2

NEW YORK -- For the last four years, the mantra of the Philadelphia 76ers has been "trust the process."

As the anticipation intensified and commissioner Adam Silver said the 76ers "were on the clock," fans at Barclays Center began chanting to express their excitement to another young piece being added to Philadelphia.

With about 90 seconds left in the Sixers' allotted five minutes, Markelle Fultz officially became the first overall pick in Thursday's draft.

The former Washington point guard averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 25 games. In his only collegiate season, Fultz shot 47.6 percent from the field, made 41.3 percent of his 3-point attempts, reached double figures 24 times and set a school record for points by a freshman with 579.

"I'm very excited really, just like the fans in Philly, how they back up their players and everything like that," Fultz said. "And I'm just looking forward to going in there and giving it my all and hopefully changing the program around."

The performance at Washington capped a meteoric rise on the amateur level for Fultz. Cut from the varsity team as a sophomore at DeMatha Catholic High School in 2013 because he was only 5 feet 9, Fultz dominated opponents on the junior varsity level and then continued his stellar performances in his final two years at high school.

"I figured out I had a chance to make it there (the NBA) probably (in) my 11th grade," he said. "I just realized that I was doing stuff that other kids weren't doing and it just started to work out for me."

When Fultz was cut from the high school team, the Celtics had recently acquired the pick from the Brooklyn Nets in July 2013. The Celtics were looking to rebuild after six seasons with Kevin Garnett paired with Paul Pierce and the Nets were looking to win instantly in their second season in Brooklyn.

Neither side anticipated the deal would become so lopsided in favor of the Celtics, but the Nets posted the league's worst record last season, setting in motion the chain of events leading Fultz to become a 76er.

Fultz was all set to become a Celtic, but on Monday the pick was officially dealt to Philadelphia. The deal was first reported on Saturday and when it was apparent the trade was going to occur, Fultz quickly worked out for the 76ers after a short drive from Maryland.

"That morning I woke up, I didn't know where I was going," Fultz said. "I didn't know (who) I was working out for."

Last season, the 76ers held the top pick for the first time since drafting Hall of Famer Allen Iverson in 1996 and selected Ben Simmons. Simmons injured a foot in training camp and never played while the Sixers improved their win total by 18 games to 28.

Now they are hoping for more with the trio of Fultz, Simmons and entertaining center Joel Embiid.

After Fultz was picked, fellow freshman Lonzo Ball was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the second pick. The Lakers used their third straight No. 2 pick on Ball, who averaged 14.6 points and led the nation with 7.6 assists per game in his only season at UCLA.

Ball was projected to be picked by the Lakers' new front office of Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka. It became even more apparent the Lakers were going to select him once D'Angelo Russell was traded to Brooklyn for Brook Lopez.

The Celtics used the third pick on Duke's Jayson Tatum but also were reportedly in talks with Indiana for Paul George.

The Suns picked fourth for the second straight year and selected Josh Jackson from Kansas. In his only season in college, Jackson averaged 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds.

Sacramento was the only team with two lottery picks.

The Kings' first pick at No. 5 was guard De'Aaron Fox of Kentucky and they selected Zach Collins of Gonzaga at No. 10 with the pick obtained from New Orleans for DeMarcus Cousins. They later traded the rights to Collins to the Trail Blazers for North Carolina's Justin Jackson (selected with the No. 15 pick) and the 20th pick.

Orlando selected Florida State forward Jonathan Issac at No. 6 and Minnesota picked Arizona forward Lauri Markkanen, who is heading to Chicago as part of the deal that sent Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves.

At No. 8, the Knicks picked French point guard Frank Ntilikina, who heard a mix of cheers and boos from fans. Before Sacramento used its second top-10 selection, Dallas made North Carolina State point guard Dennis Smith the ninth pick.

The first surprise might have been Malik Monk falling out of the top 10. Monk, who averaged 19.8 points in his only season at Kentucky, went at No. 11 to the Charlotte Hornets.

Luke Kennard was the second Duke player selected when the Detroit Pistons took him at No. 12 to improve a team that posted the third-worst 3-point percentage last season. Kennard averaged 19.5 points and shot 43.8 percent from long range.

Denver picked Louisville's Donovan Mitchell at No. 13 and sent the guard to the Utah Jazz for Trey Lyles and the No. 24 pick.

Bam Adebayo became the third Kentucky player picked when the forward went to the Miami Heat at No. 14.

Portland picked Jackson at No. 15. The Trail Blazers traded him and the 20th pick to the Sacramento Kings for the rights to Collins.

The Bulls picked Creighton's Justin Patton at No. 16 and sent him to Minnesota in the Butler trade.

Milwaukee picked Michigan's D.J. Wilson at No. 17, Indiana selected UCLA forward T.J. Leaf with the 18th pick, Atlanta used the 19th pick on Wake Forest forward John Collins and Portland chose Duke's Harry Giles at No. 20, who was then traded to Sacramento.

At No. 21, Oklahoma City selected Terrance Ferguson, who played in Australia after initialing committing to Arizona out of high school. Brooklyn picked Jarrett Allen out of Texas at No. 22, Toronto picked Indiana forward OG Anunoby with the 23rd pick and Utah picked Syracuse's Tyler Lydon at No. 24 though he was traded to Denver.

Latvian center Anzejs Pasecniks was picked by Orlando at 25 and he was then traded to Philadelphia. Portland picked Purdue forward Caleb Swanigan at No. 26. Utah forward Kyle Kuzma went to Brooklyn at No. 27, and he was included in the D'Angelo Russell-Brook Lopez deal with the Lakers.

North Carolina forward Tony Bradley went No. 28 to the Lakers, though he was reportedly traded to the Utah Jazz for the 30th pick and a second-round pick. The San Antonio Spurs picked Colorado point guard Derrick White at No. 29 and Utah ended the first round by taking Villanova guard Josh Hart though he was reportedly sent to the Lakers.

Below are the picks from the second round. Announced trades denoted with a letter.

31. A -- Charlotte (from Atlanta via from Brooklyn) -- G -- Frank Jackson, Duke

32. Phoenix -- G Davon Reed, Miami (Fla.)

33. Orlando (from Los Angeles Lakers) -- G -- Wesley Iwandu, Kansas State

34. Sacramento (from Philadelphia via New Orleans) -- G Frank Mason, Kansas

35. B -- Orlando -- F Ivan Rabb, California

36. Philadelphia (from New York via Utah and Toronto) -- F Jonah Bolden (Australia)

37. Boston (from Minnesota via Phoenix) -- F Semi Ojeleye, SMU

38. C -- Chicago (from Sacramento via Cleveland) -- F Jordan Bell, Oregon

39. Philadelphia (from Dallas) -- G Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State

40. New Orleans -- G Dwayne Bacon, Florida State

41. Atlanta -- G Tyler Dorsey, Oregon

42. D -- Utah (from Detroit) -- C Thomas Bryant, Indiana

43. Houston (from Denver) -- F Isaiah Hartenstein (Lithuania)

44. New York (from Chicago) -- G Damyean Dotson, Houston

45. E -- Houston (from Portland) -- F Dillon Brooks, Oregon

46. Philadelphia (from Miami via Atlanta) -- G Sterling Brown, SMU

47. Indiana -- C Ike Anigbogu, UCLA

48. Milwaukee -- G Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina

49. Denver (from Memphis via Oklahoma City) -- F Vlatko Cancar (Slovenia)

50. Philadelphia (from Atlanta) -- F Mathias Lessort, (France)

51. Denver (from Oklahoma City) -- G Monte Morris (Iowa State)

52. F --New Orleans -- G Edmond Sumner, Xavier

53. Boston (from Cleveland) -- G Kadeem Allen, Arizona

54. Phoenix (from Toronto) -- F Alec Peters, Valparaiso

55. Utah -- G Nigel Williams-Goss, Gonzaga

56. Boston (from LA Clippers) -- G Jabari Bird, California

57. Brooklyn (from Boston) -- F Alexandar Vezenkov (FC Barcelona)

58. New York (from Houston) -- G Ogunjen Jaramaz (Mega Bemax, Serbia)

59. San Antonio -- F Jarron Blossingame, Clemson

60. Atlanta (from Golden State via Philadelphia and Utah) -- F Alpha Kaba (France)

A -- Traded to Pelicans for Dwayne Bacon and financial considerations

B -- Traded to Memphis for a future second-round pick

C -- Traded to Golden State for financial considerations

D -- Traded to the Lakers along with Josh Hart for the rights to Tony Bradley (No. 28)

E -- Traded to Memphis for a future second-round pick

F -- Traded to Indiana for financial considerations

2017 NBA Draft Complete Results

First round:

Philadelphia 76ers (from Nets via Celtics):Markelle Fultz, PG (Washington)
Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, PG (UCLA)
Boston Celtics (from Kings via Sixers):Jayson Tatum, SF (Duke)
Phoenix Suns: Josh Jackson, SF (Kansas)
Sacramento Kings (from Sixers):De’Aaron Fox, PG (Kentucky)
Orlando Magic: Jonathan Isaac, F (Florida State)
Chicago Bulls (from Timberwolves): Lauri Markkanen, PF (Arizona)
New York Knicks: Frank Ntilikina, PG (France)
Dallas Mavericks: Dennis Smith Jr., PG (North Carolina State)
Portland Trail Blazers (from Pelicans viaKings): Zach Collins, F/C (Gonzaga)
Charlotte Hornets: Malik Monk, G (Kentucky)
Detroit Pistons: Luke Kennard, SG (Duke)
Utah Jazz (from Nuggets): Donovan Mitchell, G (Louisville)
Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo, C (Kentucky)
Sacramento Kings (from Trail Blazers):Justin Jackson, SF (North Carolina)
Minnesota Timberwolves (from Bulls):Justin Patton, C (Creighton)
Milwaukee Bucks: D.J. Wilson, PF (Michigan)
Indiana Pacers: T.J. Leaf, PF (UCLA)
Atlanta Hawks: John Collins, PF (Wake Forest)
Sacramento Kings (from Grizzlies via Trail Blazers): Harry Giles, C (Duke)
Oklahoma City Thunder: Terrance Ferguson, G/F (Australia)
Brooklyn Nets (from Wizards): Jarrett Allen, C (Texas)
Toronto Raptors (from Clippers): OG Anunoby, F (Indiana)
Denver Nuggets (from Jazz): Tyler Lydon, F (Syracuse)
Philadelphia 76ers (from Raptors viaMagic): Anzejs Pasecniks, C (Spain)
Portland Trail Blazers (from Cavaliers):Caleb Swanigan, F/C (Purdue)
Los Angeles Lakers (from Celtics viaNets): Kyle Kuzma, PF (Utah)
Utah Jazz (from Rockets via Lakers): Tony Bradley, C (North Carolina)
San Antonio Spurs: Derrick White, G (Colorado)
Los Angeles Lakers (from Warriors viaJazz): Josh Hart, SG (Villanova)

Second round:

New Orleans Pelicans (from Nets viaHornets): Frank Jackson, SG (Duke)
Phoenix Suns: Davon Reed, SG (Miami)
Orlando Magic (from Lakers): Wesley Iwundu, SG (Kansas State)
Sacramento Kings (from Sixers): Frank Mason, PG (Kansas)
Memphis Grizzlies (from Magic): Ivan Rabb, F/C (Cal)
Philadelphia 76ers (from Knicks): Jonah Bolden, PF (Serbia)
Boston Celtics (from Timberwolves):Semi Ojeleye, F (SMU)
Golden State Warriors (from Kings viaBulls): Jordan Bell, PF (Oregon)
Los Angeles Clippers (from Mavericks viaSixers): Jawun Evans, PG (Oklahoma State)
Charlotte Hornets (from Pelicans):Dwayne Bacon, SF (Florida State)
Atlanta Hawks (from Hornets): Tyler Dorsey, SG (Oregon)
Los Angeles Lakers (from Pistons viaJazz): Thomas Bryant, C (Indiana)
Houston Rockets (from Nuggets): Isaiah Hartenstein, F/C (Lithuania)
New York Knicks (from Chicago):Damyean Dotson, SG (Houston)
Memphis Grizzlies (from Trail Blazers viaRockets): Dillon Brooks, SF (Oregon)
Milwaukee Bucks (from Heat via Sixers):Sterling Brown, SG (SMU)
Indiana Pacers: Ike Anigbogu, C (UCLA)
Los Angeles Clippers (from Bucks):Sindarius Thornwell, SG (South Carolina)
Denver Nuggets (from Grizzlies): Vlatko Cancar, PF (Serbia)
Philadelphia 76ers (from Hawks):Mathias Lessort, F/C (France)
Denver Nuggets (from Thunder): Monte Morris, PG (Iowa State)
Indiana Pacers (from Wizards viaPelicans): Edmond Sumner, PG (Xavier)
Boston Celtics (from Cavaliers): Kadeem Allen, PG (Arizona)
Phoenix Suns (from Raptors): Alec Peters, PF (Valparaiso)
Utah Jazz: Nigel Williams-Goss, PG (Gonzaga)
Boston Celtics (from Clippers): Jabari Bird, SG (Cal)
Brooklyn Nets (from Celtics): Aleksandar Vezenkov, F (Spain)
New York Knicks (from Rockets): Ognjen Jaramaz, PG (Serbia)
San Antonio Spurs: Jaron Blossomgame, F (Clemson)
Atlanta Hawks (from Warriors): Alpha Kaba, C (Serbia)

Gasol, Lee to opt out of deals with Spurs

Pau Gasol will decline a $16.2 million contract option for next season and become a free agent, but he is expected to re-sign with the San Antonio Spurs on a long-term deal, according to multiple reports.

The 36-year-old center intends to negotiate a lower annual salary so that the Spurs are able to offer free agents more money this offseason, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

The Vertical first reported Gasol's decision to opt out.

Gasol averaged a career-low 12.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks over 64 games (39 starts) in his first season with the Spurs last season.

The 16-year Spanish veteran has career averages of 17.9 points, 9.4 boards and 1.7 blocks in 1,119 games with the Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies.

Gasol is a six-time All-Star and a two-time NBA champion.

Former All-Star David Lee is also expected to opt out of his deal with San Antonio. Lee's option for next season is worth $1.6 million. The 34-year-old averaged 7.3 points and 5.6 rebounds in 79 games last season.

Knicks are considering trade of Porzingis

Kristaps Porzingis may not be long for New York as Knicks president Phil Jackson is considering trading the 7-foot-3 Latvian and has been fielding trade calls ahead of Thursday's NBA Draft, according to multiple reports.

Porzingis, 21, has not been in contact with anybody within the Knicks' front office since the end of the season. He skipped exit meetings with Jackson and the team due to his frustration with the Knicks' dysfunction.

The former fourth-overall draft pick in 2015 has averaged 16.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks over 138 games in his first two seasons with the Knicks. Last season, Porzingis averaged a career-high 18.1 points, 7.2 boards and two blocks in 66 contests.

New York missed the playoffs after going 31-51 and finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference.

Porzingis' brother, Janis, who works for Porzingis' primary agent Andy Miller, reiterated last week the forward's desire to remain in New York.

"Despite how the Knicks are treating their players, Kris wants to stay in New York," Janis Porzingis said via ESPN. "He loves the city and he loves the fans and he wants to win with this team.

"If he's going to be traded, he's going to play out his contact and decide his future on his own."

If Jackson decides to trade Porzingis, he is eyeing Arizona forward Lauri Markkanen as a possible replacement. Jackson had dinner with Markkanen on Monday night in New York and is considering drafting him with the Knicks' No. 8 overall pick on Thursday, The Vertical reports.

Pistons C Baynes opts out of contract

Aron Baynes is set to become a free agent as the Detroit Pistons center will decline his $6.5 million player option, according to The Vertical.

Pistons president and coach Stan Van Gundy has said repeatedly that he expected the 30-year-old Baynes to opt out and seek a better deal, the Detroit Free Press reports.

The 6-foot-10 Baynes averaged 4.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in 75 games (two starts) last season with the Pistons.

He has career averages of 5.2 points and 4.1 boards in 295 games over five seasons with the Pistons and San Antonio Spurs.

Baynes entered the league in 2009 and signed with the Spurs as an undrafted free agent, spending three seasons with San Antonio before signing with Detroit.

Pacers reportedly talking with Lakers on George deal

The Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers have begun discussing the possibilities of a Paul George trade, according to multiple reports.

George recently relayed to the Pacers that he won't re-sign with the club after the 2017-18 season and added that he hopes to sign with the Lakers as a free agent.

With Thursday's NBA draft approaching, Indiana is investigating whether it can trade the four-time All-Star forward to the Lakers either before the draft or on draft night.

The Pacers are apparently asking for the No. 2 overall pick in the draft that belongs to the Lakers, as well as forward Brandon Ingram, who was the No. 2 overall pick in last season's draft.

The Lakers aren't interested in that scenario as they have the knowledge that George could be had on the free-agent market 13 months from now.

Indiana also has engaged in talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Other teams reported to have interest are the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards.

George, who averaged a career-best 23.7 points last season, has a major preference in joining the Lakers as he grew up in Southern California.

The 27-year-old George is from Palmdale, Calif., a desert town about 60 miles north of Los Angeles.

If George hits free agency, he will be eligible to sign a four-year, $130 million contract.

If George remained with the Pacers, he could receive a five-year, $177 million extension.

George has an 18.1 scoring average in parts of seven NBA seasons. He recovered from a serious compound fracture of his right leg in the summer of 2014 while playing for USA Basketball to regain his star status.

Celtics, 76ers finalize deal to swap top picks

The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers made their agreed-upon trade official Monday, a deal that will see the teams swap the Nos. 1 and 3 picks in Thursday night's NBA Draft.

The 76ers acquired the top overall pick from Boston in exchange for their No. 3 selection and a future first-round pick, according to statements released by both teams.

The Celtics and 76ers had agreed on the parameters of a deal on Saturday night after Philadelphia held a workout with point guard Markelle Fultz, who will become the fourth No. 1 overall pick in franchise history by the 76ers on Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

"We are very pleased with the outcome of this trade, which puts us in the enviable position of selecting first overall in consecutive draft years," Philadelphia president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo said. "History suggests that No. 1 has the greatest odds of producing franchise-level talent and we are confident that this year's draft class has that very potential. Thursday night will see us take another significant step toward building a successful and sustainable basketball program."

Boston, with leading scorer Isaiah Thomas already manning the point guard position, was equally thrilled to drop down two spots and receive what they expect to be a high first-round pick in either 2018 or 2019.

"We're thrilled to be able to select what we expect be an impact player with the third pick in this year's very talented draft class, while also adding a highly valuable future asset as we continue to build towards Banner 18," Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said.

Boston will receive the 2018 first-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers -- if that selection falls between the No. 2 to No. 5 range. Otherwise, the Celtics will have a choice of first-rounders in 2019 -- either from Sacramento or Philadelphia, whichever pick is higher.

Philadelphia will pair Fultz, a high-scoring point guard out of the University of Washington, with Ben Simmons, last year's No. 1 overall pick who missed the entire season with a foot injury.

In his only season with Washington, the 6-foot-5, 186-pound Fultz averaged 23.2 points and 5.9 assists. He shot 47.6 percent, averaged along with 5.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals over 25 games during his freshman season with the Huskies, who posted a 9-22 record.

Boston, meanwhile, could potentially own the draft rights to seven first-round selections over the next three seasons.

The Celtics have been linked with either Josh Jackson of Kansas or Jayson Tatum of Duke at No. 3, although multiple media outlets reported the team may be willing to deal the pick.

Lonzo Ball of UCLA is expected to go No. 2 to the Lakers, although the sides have yet to reach agreement on a deal. Ball hosted a second workout for the Lakers on Friday.

HIGHLIGHTS: The very best of the Warriors 2017 championship parade

Watch the best moments from the 2017 Golden State Warriors championship parade.

Courtesy CSN Bay Area.

WATCH LIVE: Golden State Warriors Championship Parade

Watch the Golden State Warriors' championship parade from the Bay Area.

Courtesy of CSN Bay Area.

2 out of 3 ain't bad: Warriors top Cavs for another title

(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- After the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers traded championships in 2015 and 2016, they could never agree on one key thing.

Who was the better team?

The third time around, there was no doubt.

The Warriors used a 28-4 flurry in the second quarter to take a lead they never relinquished, then relied on the scoring of Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry down the stretch to hold off the Cavaliers en route to a 129-120 victory Monday night, claiming their second NBA championship in seasons.

Durant, the MVP of the Finals, had 39 points, and Curry added 34 for the Warriors, who captured the best-of-seven series 4-1 against the defending champions.

"We did it together," said Durant, a first-time champion. "Call us a super team, but it's been a lot of super teams that hasn't worked. We came together and we continued to just believe in each other and we sacrificed, and we're champions now."

Golden State completed an unprecedented 16-1 run through the NBA playoffs, registering the second-best average playoff point differential (plus-13.5) in league history.

Completing a perfect 9-0 run at home during the postseason, the Warriors became the first San Francisco Bay Area team to win a championship at home since the Oakland Athletics won the 1974 World Series.

"This is history," Warriors forward Andre Iguodala said. "We're going down as one of the best teams ever, and that's a special thing you cannot take away from us."

Led by LeBron James' game-high 41 points, the Cavaliers hung within 108-102 with 8:29 to play on a 3-pointer by Kyle Korver.

However, Iguodala assisted a Durant dunk and added one of his own off a Curry feed, reopening a double-digit lead and making the final 7:42 an extended celebration among the Oracle Arena fans.

"Golden State (was) the best team this year," James said. "They showcased that throughout the postseason, and we were another opponent in their way.

"We left everything on the floor, and it still wasn't enough."

Durant shot 14 of 20 overall and 5 of 8 on 3-pointers, hitting three of his threes during the critical second-quarter run that lasted more than seven minutes and turned a 41-33 deficit into a 61-45 advantage.

Curry shot 10 of 20, converted 12 of his 15 free throw attempts, found time for six rebounds and completed a double-double with a game-high 10 assists.

When the game became two-on-two, Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue observed, his team had little chance.

"They started to go with the pick-and-roll with Steph Curry and Durant, which might be one of the most unstoppable pick-and-rolls in our league," Lue said. "And they waited until late to do it. That's a tough play to stop."

The Warriors, who were playing a Game 5 for the first time in the postseason, shot 51.1 percent from the field and 36.8 percent on 3-pointers.

Iguodala chipped in with 20 points off the bench and Draymond Green had a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double for the Warriors, who topped 100 points for the 17th straight time in the playoffs.

"There was never any question in my mind that this was going to work," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of the addition of Durant to a Curry-led core that already was good enough to make consecutive Finals. "This was the culmination of a year where (Durant and Curry) grew together and learned each other's games and got better and better all year. It was phenomenal to be a part of."

James collected a game-high 13 rebounds, eight assists and two steals to go with his 41 points in becoming the first player ever to average a triple-double in the Finals.

"I have no reason to put my head down," said James, who finished with averages of 33.6 points, 12.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists in the five-game series. "I have no reason to look back at what I could have done or what I shouldn't have done or what I could have done better for the team. I left everything I had out on the floor every single game for five games in this Finals, and you come up short."

Kyrie Irving, fighting through back tightness late in the game, had 26 points and J.R. Smith 25 for the Cavaliers, who, like the Warriors, were competing in their third straight Finals.

The Cavaliers shot 53.4 percent from the field and 45.8 percent on 3-pointers, but were outrebounded 42-40 and outscored 23-15 at the free-throw line.

"A lot of guys cried because they wanted it bad," Lue reported of the postgame scene in the Cleveland locker room. "That's all you can ask."

NOTES: The Warriors' .941 winning percentage in the playoffs (16-1) bettered the previous mark of .938 established by the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers, who went 15-1. ... The highest average point differential in NBA playoff history remains plus-14.5, set by the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks. ... The championship was the 17th won by a San Francisco Bay Area franchise in baseball, basketball or football. The Warriors have three, trailing the San Francisco 49ers (five) and Oakland Athletics (four). ... Cavaliers SF LeBron James played in his 217th career postseason game, moving past C Shaquille O'Neal for seventh place on the all-time list.

Cavs cling to life with record-setting effort vs. Warriors

(TSX / STATS) -- CLEVELAND -- A chance at perfection ended, the Golden State Warriors find themselves in the same spot in the NBA Finals as they were at this time a year ago.

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Warriors 137-116 in Game 4 of the Finals on Friday night to avoid elimination. Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 40 points and LeBron James broke all kinds of records as he posted a triple-double.

The loss ended the Warriors' bid for a perfect 16-0 run through the playoffs, which had never been done. Golden State leads 3-1 in the series as it shifts back to Oakland, Calif., for Game 5 on Monday night.

"The magnitude of the games, especially the last game, it hit me in a very deep place," said Irving, who made 15 of 27 shots from the floor and drained seven 3-pointers -- tied for second most in a Finals game. "Glad that we got the monkey off our back in terms of just getting one win in this series in terms of going against this great team."

Golden State whiffed at its chance to pop champagne in Cleveland's visiting locker room for the second time in three seasons -- something the Warriors openly discussed as a goal: celebrating at The Q.

"I didn't hear it, but some of the other guys heard it and told me that that they wanted to celebrate on our floor once again and they wanted to spray champagne in our locker rooms, and I think it came from Draymond (Green), which is OK, that's Dray anyway," James said. "So I just told guys, I didn't stress anything besides just live in the moment. Live in the moment."

The Cavs set Finals records with 86 points in the first half, 49 in the first quarter, and 3-pointers in a game (24). James finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for his ninth triple-double, passing Magic Johnson for first place in Finals history.

Kevin Love added 23 points for Cleveland and J.R. Smith finished with 15 points.

Kevin Durant led the Warriors with 35 points. Green added 16 points and 14 rebounds and Stephen Curry was 4 of 13 for 14 points.

"Just one of those games," Curry said. "Not going to overreact to one."

The Cavs became the first team in NBA history to recover from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals last season. No team has come back from 3-0 in the playoffs.

"Believeland is not going to give up and we're going to keep fighting," Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. "We're going to keep scrapping."

The Warriors still have ample chances to win their second title in three seasons over the Cavs, something they failed to do last season.

"Different team, man, different team," Curry said. "Obviously, we haven't felt this feeling walking off the court with a loss in a while, but we have done a good job bouncing back and being resilient all year."

The third quarter was easily the most chaotic of the Finals. It started with 6:18 left in the quarter when Green appeared to pick up his second technical.

Instead of an automatic ejection, however, Green stayed in the game because officials insisted the first technical given to him -- with 1:55 left in the first quarter -- was actually assessed to Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

And with 1:10 left in the quarter, Zaza Pachulia and Kyle Korver were tied up on a loose ball. In the scrum, Pachulia appeared to kick Iman Shumpert -- who was standing over him -- once and punch him twice. Instead of an ejection for Pachulia, however, he and Shumpert were slapped with technicals.

The quarter closed with a 3-ball from Curry with 12 seconds to go, answered by one from James with 2.7 seconds remaining. The Cavs led 115-96.

Cleveland led 86-68 at halftime and were up by as many as 22. The 86 points were the most in a half in NBA Finals history.

A Durant 3-pointer at the buzzer brought the Warriors a little closer. Irving was up to 28 points and James had already registered 22 points, six rebounds and eight assists. The Cavs made 13 3-pointers.

The Cavaliers set a Finals record with 49 points in the first quarter and led by 16 when it was over. James had two foul shots with 2.9 seconds left and missed one, otherwise Cleveland would've hung 50 on the Warriors.

Four players -- Green, Klay Thompson, Curry and Andre Iguodala -- were whistled for two fouls in the first quarter. The Cavs took 22 free throws in the quarter but only made 14. They were 17-of-26 from the line at halftime.

"That was pretty much the factor (the fouls) in that first quarter," Curry said. "The aggressor usually gets the whistle and they were the aggressor."

NOTES: LeBron James said his mother, Gloria, did not want him to return to Cleveland and play for the Cavaliers in 2014, according to cleveland.com. James made the disclosure in a production for his online platform for athletes, Uninterrupted, in which he, Warriors star F Draymond Green, rapper 2 Chainz, and James' inner circle sat around at a barbershop during All-Star weekend in New Orleans. James said his mom didn't want him to leave the Miami Heat for the Cavs because of the letter Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert wrote to fans the night James bolted for the Heat in 2010. ... James passed Michael Jordan for third place in NBA Finals scoring history with his first basket and for first in free throws in the Finals. Jordan scored 1,176 points and connected on 1,463 free throws in six Finals. ... When the Warriors received 31 points from Kevin Durant and 30 from Klay Thompson in Game 3, it was the first time a team had two players score 30 points in consecutive Finals games since Elgin Baylor and Jerry West did it with the Los Angeles Lakers in Games 6 and 7 of the 1962 Finals.

NBA prospect Jeanne diagnosed with career-threatening disorder

(TSX / STATS) -- Jonathan Jeanne, a 19-year-old prospect from France and possible first-round pick in the 2017 NBA Draft later this month, has been diagnosed with a career-threatening genetic disorder.

The 7-foot-2 center has Marfan syndrome, which affects the connective tissues of the body, his agent told The Vertical on Thursday.

Jeanne underwent an MRI while participating in the Chicago draft combine last month that showed an abnormality in his spine that required follow-up examinations, agent Bouna Ndiaye told The Vertical. Jeanne completed medical, physical and genetic testing at the Cleveland Clinic and received the results Thursday.

Jeanne is not expected to receive clearance for future NBA workouts before the June 22 draft. His agent said Jeanne remains hopeful he can resume his basketball career after extensive medical supervision.

Jeanne's condition is not unprecedented, with former 7-1 Baylor standout Isaiah Austin being diagnosed with Marfan syndrome before the NBA Draft in 2014. He was cleared to return to basketball late last year.

Jeanne has played professionally overseas since 2013 and spent the 2016-17 season in the top Pro-A league in France.

Warriors look to finish off sweep of Cavaliers

Stats, LLC

(TSX / STATS) -- CLEVELAND -- One team is trying to make history, the other desperately hoping to avoid a repeat of it.

The Golden State Warriors hold a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals over the Cleveland Cavaliers and can finish the sweep for their second title in three seasons with a win in Game 4 on Friday night.

The Warriors aren't just looking for another championship. They've won 15 straight playoff games, and can become the first team in NBA history to navigate the playoffs without a loss.

The Cavaliers, meanwhile, were swept out of the Finals 10 years ago this month. It was LeBron James' first Finals, and his team was sawed in half by the San Antonio Spurs, who were in the midst of a streak of three titles in six seasons.

Seven Finals and three championships later, James is facing the same fate.

"I think it's just part of my calling to just go against teams in the midst of a dynasty," James said on Thursday. "This has been the best team in our league the last three years. They won a championship, and last year it was the greatest regular-season team we had played, probably one of the best postseason teams that everybody's ever seen as well, but we were just able to overcome that. And they're playing like one of the best teams once again."

James, who is averaging a triple-double in the 2017 Finals (32 points, 12.3 rebounds, 10.3 assists), and the Cavs edged the Warriors in Game 7 last year after falling behind 3-1, becoming the first team to ever overcome such a deficit in the Finals. No NBA team has ever recovered from a 3-0 hole in the playoffs.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who played for a couple dynasties himself with the Chicago Bulls and Spurs, was on the 72-win Chicago team in 1996 that built a 3-0 lead over the Seattle SuperSonics in the Finals. Seattle took the next two games before losing in Game 6.

"In the end you just want to win," Kerr said. "The other stuff doesn't really matter. People can talk about it in historical context, but you just get it done, win the series and let everybody else talk."

The Warriors have been led in the Finals by Kevin Durant, the ground-shaking free-agent acquisition from last season who was the 2014 MVP and has perhaps reshaped the Golden State-Cleveland rivalry forever.

Durant lost to James and the Miami Heat when he was with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 Finals, and didn't make it back until this year.

Durant is averaging 34 points in this series and scored 14 points in the fourth quarter of Game 3 -- a 118-113 win for the Warriors in which they trailed by six with three minutes left. He has also taken pressure off of Stephen Curry, who struggled in the first two Finals series against Cleveland but has been brilliant this time around.

The Warriors signed Durant to a two-year, $55 million deal, and before the ink was dry they were an immediate favorite to beat the Cavs in the Finals. Now, there's one more win to come before the prophecy comes true.

"I didn't envision anything but just being around good people and getting better every single day," Durant said. "That's exactly what happened throughout the season. I didn't talk to these guys when I made my decision and say we better make it to The Finals and be up in the series around this time, this exact date, or I'm not coming.

"I mean, it was just let's just have some fun playing ball, let's just all get better and let's see what happens."

The Warriors popped champagne inside the bowels of Quicken Loans Arena in 2015, having clinched the series in six games. The Cavs could at least momentarily stall Golden State's momentum, and keep their visitors' locker room dry, by breaking up the Warriors' perfect playoffs with a win Friday.

But after a draining loss to the Warriors in Game 3, the Cavs will have to guard against a letdown, not to mention Golden State's vaunted lineup that was built to dominate for years.

"We'll see what happens," James said. "Obviously you never know what's going to happen, but as it stands right now, they look pretty good, as far as the future."

Durant-led rally brings Warriors to brink of history

(TSX / STATS) -- CLEVELAND -- The Golden State Warriors are one win from a sweep, from revenge, from history.

Kevin Durant, the difference in the 2017 NBA Finals, led the Warriors with 31 points, and Golden State mounted a furious comeback to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-113 in Game 3.

The Warriors, down by six with less than two minutes remaining, scored the game's final 11 points.

Up 3-0 in the best-of-seven series, the Warriors can win their second title in three seasons and become the first team in NBA history to go through the playoffs without a loss with a win in Game 4 on Friday night in Cleveland.

Golden State is now 15-0 this postseason. That is the longest winning streak in the playoffs in any major North American professional sport.

"It's not done," Durant said. "Closeout game is always the toughest. We have to be even better in Game 4 if we want to take this. It's an exciting time, but we still have a lot of work to do."

LeBron James scored 39 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out nine assists for Cleveland. Kyrie Irving added 38 for the Cavs, who went scoreless over the game's final 3:09.

Durant, meanwhile, scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer with 45.3 seconds left for a 114-113 advantage.

"Even when you're playing well, you got to play like A-plus-plus, because they're going to make runs and they're going to make shots and they got guys that's going to make plays," James said. "So we made enough plays tonight to still win the ballgame, but they made a couple more."

Klay Thompson had 30 points for the Warriors and Stephen Curry finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds. After committing 20 turnovers in Game 2, Golden State was again careless with the ball (18 turnovers for 22 Cleveland points).

And, again, it didn't matter.

After J.R. Smith drained a 3-pointer with 3:09 left for a 113-107 advantage, the Cavs missed eight shots. Kevin Love missed a layup, James a turnaround jumper, and Kyle Korver an open 3-point try in the corner.

"Obviously K.D. made some huge plays down the stretch," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "I thought Klay's defense on Kyrie was amazing. Overall, it was just an incredibly tough, resilient performance. It wasn't our smartest game that we have played all year, but it was maybe our toughest in terms of our ability to just hang in there.

"And nothing was really going our way, but we were still there. And we just had to kind of stay with it, and I thought our guys did a really good job of that."

Smith recovered from a poor first two games to score 16 for the Cavs. Love added nine points, 13 rebounds and six steals.

Last year, the Cavs recovered from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Warriors in seven games. The year before, Golden State fell behind 2-1 in the series but closed out a title in Game 6 in Cleveland.

After the comeback win Wednesday in a game in which they faced their toughest test, the Warriors hope to be popping champagne again at Quicken Loans Arena.

"It sets us up for hopefully a great night on Friday," Curry said.

The Warriors entered play as the best team in the NBA in the third quarter, and they outscored the Cavs by 24 in the third quarters of the first two games. Not this time. Irving erupted for 16 points in the period, and the Cavs held a 94-89 edge heading into the fourth.

It was Cleveland's first lead at the end of any quarter in this series. Love's 3-pointer at 8:59 gave the Cavs their first advantage at any point after the first quarter in this series, and Cleveland's 94-87 lead toward the end of the period was its largest of the series.

The Warriors closed the first quarter on a 10-0 run and led 39-32. They set an NBA record with nine 3-pointers in the period. Thompson was scorching with 16 points, while James countered with 16 for the Cavs.

With about six minutes left in the opening quarter, James was caught flush in the jaw by an inadvertent shoulder from teammate Tristan Thompson. James was rushing to the perimeter on defense, and Thompson moved back and the two collided, laying James out on the court. James remained in the game, and after the timeout scored on a drive to the hoop.

When the first half was over, James had 27 points and the Warriors had committed 12 turnovers, and yet Golden State still led 67-61. Irving drove the length of the floor and lobbed one high off the glass for a layup at the buzzer to get the Cavs to within six.

NOTES: Cavaliers F LeBron James passed Sam Jones (1,143 points), Bill Russell (1,151), and Elgin Baylor (1,161) for fourth place on the NBA Finals all-time scoring list in the first half. He passed Russell (315 assists) for third all time in Finals assists, too. ... The previous longest postseason winning streak in major North American sports was 14 games by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992 and '93. ... Country music stars and Columbus, Ohio, natives Rascal Flatts sang the national anthem. ... Urban Meyer, Ohio State football coach and friend of James, and PGA Tour star Bubba Watson were among the celebrities on hand. ... The last time the Warriors lost with F Kevin Durant healthy was Feb. 13 in Denver, prior to the All-Star break. ... According to Forbes Magazine, James is the second-highest paid athlete in the world in 2017, with salary and endorsements totaling $86.2 million. Golden State F Kevin Durant is fifth on that list at $60.6 million, and Warriors G Stephen Curry is eighth at $47.3 million.

Warriors-Cavaliers Preview

Stats, LLC

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves in the same place through two games in the NBA Finals they were at this point last season.

Blown out in Games 1 and 2 by the Golden State Warriors, looking for something to change in the first home game before the series is over for all intents and purposes.

Things turned out OK for the Cavs in 2016. They won Game 3 by 30 points and eventually became the first team in NBA history to recover from a 3-1 deficit to win the Finals.

"You understand the journey and how much of the energy it took from a mental and physical standpoint in order to come back from something like that," said Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving. "But you know it's definitely possible."

The Warriors have outscored Cleveland by 41 points through two games. They've blown the doors off of LeBron James and company in both games in the third quarters, outscoring the Cavs by 13 points in Game 1 and 11 on Sunday.

Kevin Durant wasn't wearing a Golden State jersey while his current teammates collapsed in last year's Finals. He has scored 71 points through two games. Harrison Barnes, the player Durant replaced in the Warriors' lineup, scored 65 for the whole series.

Durant is a former MVP in the prime of his career who was added to a roster that won an NBA-record 73 games last season before the stunning Finals defeat. He is partnered with Stephen Curry, a two-time MVP who has scored 60 points through two games and is coming off a triple-double in Game 2.

And the Warriors point to Game 3 as the initial turning point.

"I think it was the nature with which they won that game, the force that they brought," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "They blew us out. I don't remember what the final score was, but it wasn't close. And I thought that gave them confidence, gave their crowd confidence.

"We came back and won Game 4 in a great effort and had them right where we wanted them, but I think Game 3 gave them that confidence, and obviously everything changed in Game 5."

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said he is sticking with shooting guard J.R. Smith in the starting lineup despite his struggles. Smith has scored just three points in two games on 1-of-6 shooting.

Then again, Smith was scuffling through the first two games of last season's Finals and came back with 20 points in Game 3.

"I have the same confidence level I've had since I started playing this game," Smith said. "I feel like I can make any and every shot. I feel like I'm going to -- feel like I'm going to play well every time I step on the floor. Obviously that doesn't happen every time.

"My confidence has never dwindled, lacked, chipped, nothing. I feel like when I'm on the floor, I mean obviously Bron is Bron, but I feel like I'm one of the best players on the floor."

James is averaging a triple-double through two games, with 28.5 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. Twice during his career he has led the Cavs back from an 0-2 deficit in a playoff series -- in the 2007 Eastern finals against Detroit and of course last season.

James, who actually ended his protest of NBA podium interviews after Tuesday's practice by again taking reporters' questions on stage, said losses take "a mental toll."

"It's something I am accustomed to," James said. "It's something that I feel like is -- that it's OK for me to kind of always go back and know that I can refocus. I can get my guys ready, get myself ready. But you hate to continue to put yourself in these positions."

The Warriors are 14-0 to start the postseason. They're the first NBA team to ever do it. With a win in Game 3 they would pass the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins for the most consecutive playoff wins by any major professional sports team.

For what it's worth, no team has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit in the NBA playoffs. The Warriors are two wins from sweeping all four rounds, including the last one, against the defending champs.

"We want 15-0," Kerr said. "That's what we want. Are we 14-0 right now? We want 15-0. That's what we want. We literally have never once mentioned 16-0. To me it's a miracle that it's even a possibility. It's so hard to do.

"But we are here, we're more focused on what happened last year like in terms of we were up 2-0 and we came here and the series shifted. That's the important lesson, not any historical benchmarks or anything like that."

Curry's triple-double leads Warriors to Game 2 rout

(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Cleveland Cavaliers hoped Game 2 of the NBA Finals wouldn't look at all like Game 1.

And it didn't.

Except on the scoreboard.

Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry buried 3-pointers in a 13-point, five-possession flurry early in the fourth quarter Sunday night, and the Golden State Warriors pulled away from the Cavaliers en route to a 132-113 victory in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Curry recorded his first career postseason triple-double with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, helping Golden State, which won Game 1 by 22 points, take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

It is the first time in NBA Finals history that a team won each of the first two games by at least 19 points.

"A lot of positives," Curry said. "A total team effort tonight with how we played and withstood their first punch coming out."

The Finals shift to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Friday.

"They play well at home," Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said of the Warriors. "They won their first two games like they're supposed to. We get a chance to go home now to our home crowd, where we play well also. We got to go home and regroup."

Golden State's NBA-record-breaking 14th consecutive postseason win came in Steve Kerr's return to the Warriors' bench after the coach missed the previous 11 games while dealing the spinal-fluid issues.

LeBron James had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists in defeat, the eighth postseason triple-double of his career, equaling Magic Johnson's all-time record.

"What was the difference?" James said, repeating a question he was asked regarding last year's two consecutive wins in Oakland compared to two straight losses this week. "They're a different team."

After watching the Warriors use a 13-2 run to help build a 102-88 lead by the end of the third quarter, the Cavaliers retained hope when they held Golden State to just one field goal in the first 2:08 of the fourth quarter.

A 3-pointer by Kyrie Irving kept the Cavaliers within 108-97 with 8:41 to go before Thompson, who shot 3-for-16 in Game 1, ignited the game-breaking run with a 3-pointer.

Thompson followed by converting an inbounds play into a hoop, and Durant scored on a drive. Durant and Curry then knocked down 3-pointers 23 seconds apart to balloon the lead to 121-99 and render most of the final 6:18 as garbage time.

"The biggest thing for us is our defense has been amazing," Curry said. "Playing with a lot of energy. Playing smart. Trying to make them work for everything that they get."

Durant led the Warriors with 33 points and 13 rebounds, and he hit four of his eight 3-point attempts.

Three days after lamenting 42.5 percent shooting and 21 misses in 33 3-point attempts, Golden State shot 18-for-43 (41.9 percent) from 3-point range, outscoring the Cavaliers 54-24 from beyond the arc.

Curry and Thompson, who finished with 22 points, also connected on four 3-pointers apiece for Golden State, which shot 51.7 percent overall.

"Klay played so well in Game 1, without shooting well, and to me that usually indicates that the ball's going to go in," Kerr said of Thompson. "I just felt like he was poised to come out and make some shots tonight. I thought he was fantastic."

The Warriors won despite committing 20 turnovers, a stat that caught Kerr's eye.

"Tonight was a game based on talent. We had a lot of guys who played exceptionally well individually," Kerr said. "But heading to Cleveland, we're going to have to be a lot smarter. We play that same game in Cleveland, there's no way we win."

James' points came on 12-for-18 shooting for the Cavaliers, who shot 45 percent from the field but just 27.6 percent (8-for-29) from 3-point range.

The Warriors blocked seven shots, including five by Durant, who became just the third player since 1984 to have a 30-point, 10-rebound, five-block game in the NBA Finals.

"His defense was amazing, and we needed (it)," Kerr said of Durant, whose feat matched that of Hakeem Olajuwon in 1986 and Tim Duncan in 2003. "It was probably the key to the whole game."

Kevin Love had 27 points and Irving 19 on 8-for-23 shooting for Cleveland, which committed just nine turnovers one game after giving the ball away 20 times in the opener.

"We ride or die with Kyrie," Love said. "Kyrie knows what he's capable of. So I would imagine Kyrie's going to come out and have a great Game 3."

After trailing by just three at halftime, the Cavaliers were still down just 86-82 after a layup by Irving with 5:41 left in the third period.

Cleveland then missed nine of its next 10 shots, and by the time Love converted an interior hoop with 54 seconds remaining in the period, the Warriors had built a 99-84 advantage.

NOTES: Warriors coach Steve Kerr hadn't been on the bench since Game 2 of the Warriors' first-round sweep over the Portland Trail Blazers. He said before the game: "The intention is to coach tonight and the rest of the series." ... The game was the first in NBA Finals history in which two players -- Warriors PG Stephen Curry and Cavaliers SF LeBron James -- recorded triple-doubles. ... The Warriors' 132 points were the most in an NBA Finals game since the Los Angeles Lakers scored 141 in Game 2 of the 1987 Finals. ... The Warriors' 18 3-pointers were an NBA Finals record, topping the 17 they recorded in Game 4 of last year's Finals. ... Golden State G Klay Thompson played in his 78th career playoff game, breaking a tie with SG Jeff Mullins for the most in franchise history. ... The Cavaliers wore their sleeved black jerseys for the first time since Games 5 and 7 of last year's Finals, a pair of games they won in Oakland. ... Before the game, the National Basketball Coaches Association presented its annual Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award to co-winners Al Attles, who led the Warriors to their first West Coast championship in 1975, and Hubie Brown, a Hall of Fame honoree in 2005.

Curry, Durant help Warriors rout Cavs in Game 1

(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- Same teams, same result.

The Golden State Warriors won Game 1 of the NBA Finals over the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third consecutive year Thursday night, running away in the third quarter for a 113-91 victory.

Stephen Curry bombed in a pair of 3-pointers in a 13-0 flurry to begin the second half, and Kevin Durant had a game-high 38 points, helping the Warriors record their 13th straight postseason win and grab the early edge in the best-of-seven series.

Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday night on the Warriors' home floor.

"We had an opportunity to win the first game of the series, get off to a good start; we were able to do that," said Curry, who finished with 28 points. "You're not going to see crazy celebrations. You're not going to see us getting ahead of ourself. We feel like we can play much better, especially offensively."

The teams are meeting in the NBA Finals for an unprecedented third straight year. Golden State used its Game 1 win as a springboard to the 2015 title, while the Cavaliers rebounded from their opening loss a year ago to dethrone the Warriors.

Both teams walked away from this Game 1 believing Game 2 would be even more important.

"Win one game. Now we look to Sunday to try to do it again," Curry said. "We have been here before and know there's a lot of work left to do. So, good start."

The Cavaliers, who entered the series with a 12-1 postseason record, believe they help themselves by allowing the Warriors to get off 20 more shots (106-86), which was equally a product of Golden State's 14 offensive rebounds and Cleveland's 20 turnovers.

"I pride myself on not turning the ball over, and I did it too much," said LeBron James, who gave the ball away eight times. "Twenty turnovers for 21 points on the road and 56 points (allowed) in the paint ... We did a great job covering the 3-point line, but other than that, they played a heck of a game."

The Warriors never trailed after the game's first eight minutes and led by as many as 10 in the first half before running away in the third quarter.

After the Warriors made only three 3-pointers in the first half en route to a 60-52 lead at the break, Durant buried a 26-footer on Golden State's first possession of the third period.

The Warriors padded their lead with a pair of 2-point hoops, then Curry buried his consecutive 3-pointers to complete the 13-point run and open a 73-52 lead.

"Obviously, K.D. scored and Steph scored," Warriors coach Mike Brown said. "But what you like about both those guys ... Steph had 10 assists. He also had six rebounds as your point guard. K.D. had eight assists and then eight rebounds."

The Cavaliers rallied within 80-68 with 3:06 remaining in the period, but Golden State wasn't finished with its 3-point-shooting barrage. Curry and Draymond Green each connected on one in a 13-1 run that created a 93-69 advantage in the final seconds of the period.

With Curry and Durant combining for 18, the Warriors had 31 assists on their 45 hoops. Green added two assists to go with nine points and a team-high 11 rebounds.

The Warriors shot 42.5 percent and committed only four turnovers.

James had 28 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists for Cleveland, which shot just 34.9 percent from the field.

"When you're playing a good team like this, you can't give them 20 more shots than you have," Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. "Having 20 turnovers and not being able to get back and get your defense set, they really take advantage of that, especially at home. They thrive off turnovers and getting out in transition."

Kevin Love grabbed 21 rebounds to complement 15 points for the Cavaliers. Kyrie Irving had 24 points.

"Definitely a lot of things we can correct," Irving said. "Twenty (turnovers) in the Finals, definitely not going to get it done."

The Warriors not only got their 3-point shooting going in the decisive third period, but also their defense.

After allowing the Cavaliers 52 points on 39.5 percent shooting in the first half, Golden State held Cleveland to 32 percent shooting and 20 points in the third period.

The Cavaliers also turned the ball over four more times, giving them 16 to that point of the game.

"The best thing about tonight, obviously, was just our defensive presence and effort for 48 minutes," Curry said. "We were really good in just being ourselves, playing Warriors basketball."

NOTES: Cavaliers SF LeBron James connected on two 3-pointers, the second of which moved him past SG Reggie Miller (320) for second place on the NBA's all-time postseason list. SG Ray Allen is the all-time leader with 385. ... The Finals feature 11 current or former All-Stars, the most since the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers met in 1983. ... Warriors coach Steve Kerr attended the game, met with commissioner Adam Silver, and stayed behind the scenes while continuing to deal with spinal-fluid issues. "I know that he wanted to, if he could, try to coach Game 1," replacement coach Mike Brown said before the game, adding that he had no idea whether Kerr might return for Game 2. ... At his State of the NBA press conference before the game, Silver noted he is in favor of changes in the draft lottery and minimum playing age, but said he is conflicted on the paucity of competitive games this postseason featured leading into the Finals. "The fan in me would love to see more competition at times," he said, "but on the other hand, I think we should also celebrate excellence."

NBA 2K17 Simulation of the NBA Finals 2017 Sees Warriors Win Epic Seven-Game Series

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in an epic seven-game series to capture their second NBA title in three years during an NBA 2K17 simulation of the NBA Finals 2017 run by 2K Games.

The trilogy, the third consecutive time the two teams have met in The Finals, featured a dominant Game 7 performance by the Warriors’ Kevin Durant, who scored a game-high 41 points and led his team to a 132-106 victory in the deciding game.

NBA 2K17 is currently the highest-rated and highest-revenue generating sports title in North America with nearly 9 million total copies sold.  Game 1 of the actual NBA Finals begins tonight night at 9:00 pm ET on ABC.

Here is complete game-by-game breakdown of NBA 2K17’s Finals simulation:

GAME ONE: Rust or Rest?

We learned a lot from Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Historically speaking, Game 1s haven’t been Golden State’s best friends. The Warriors came out with a bit of rust in Game 1 of this NBA Finals matchup while LeBron James and the Cavs looked as sharp as ever. As they proved in the Eastern Conference Finals, they elevate their game on the road arguably more than they do at home. And that’s exactly what they came out to prove in Game 1 as they beat the Warriors 112-95. The Cavs made it tough on the Warriors, slowing down the pace of the game and holding Golden State to just 43% shooting, and in doing so, handing Golden State their first loss of this year’s historic NBA Playoff run.

GAME TWO: REDEMPTION

Game Two was the moment where the Warriors fired back. Defeating the Cavs 119-87, they tied up the finals 1-1. Cleveland’s sloppy game resulted in 18 turnovers which the Warriors capitalized on. Kevin Durant shined in the game, contributing a whopping 45 points in the blowout.

This game reinforced why KD signed with Golden State in the biggest way possible.

GAME THREE: PROTECT THE LAND

With the series tied 1-1, Cleveland was focused on protecting home court, which is exactly what they did, defeating Golden State 93-89. This game, however, came down to the final moments. With 30 seconds to go the game was tied 89-89 when Kyrie Irving came up with yet another clutch three pointer. After the Warriors failed to answer, they fouled Tristan Thompson who was able to make one of two free throws to seal the victory for Cleveland in Game 3.

GAME FOUR: ANYTHING YOU CAN DO I CAN DO BETTER

The defending champs now found themselves heading into Game 4 with a 2-1 series lead. One more victory, and the Cavs could find themselves in control of the series with a commanding 3-1 lead. Problem was, the Warriors weren’t having any of that. Shooting a staggering 61%, Golden State put on a shooting clinic. A late run by Cleveland cut the deficit to 4 but wouldn’t be enough, , with the Warriors prevailing  116-111. Once again, this epic NBA Finals series was headed back to the Bay knotted at 2-2.

GAME FIVE: DUB NATION, STAND UP

The Warriors were focused and primed in Game 5, defeating the Cavs 110-84 and to take a 3-2 series lead. The Cavs struggled offensively, shooting just 32%. In contrast, Warriors fired on all cylinders to emerge victorious. Their three point shooting barrage (14 triples on 50% shooting)put the Cavs in a bad position early on in the game.

Golden State looked as sharp offensively as they had all season, and now were ONE win away from the NBA championship.

GAME SIX: NOT SO FAST

If NBA 2K has taught us anything about this simulation, it’s that this series has gone back and forth every single game. Game 6 was no different.

The Cavs dominated the Warriors 111-89. Despite a close game late in the third, Cleveland’s exceptional three point shooting and solid defense helped them take a commanding lead late in the game. A triple-double performance by LeBron James capped off an unbelievable fourth-quarter run and sealed Game 6 for the Cavs.

GAME SEVEN: ONE MORE TIME

The Warriors found themselves back in a Game 7 on their home court, a year after losing a heartbreaker at Oracle Arena to complete an epic Cavaliers comeback. The time for redemption was now and they were ready for the challenge. 

Simply put, the Warriors put on one of the greatest offensive and defensive displays in NBA history, absolutely crushing the Cavs in Game 7. Shooting 60% from the field, 59% from behind the arc, the Warriors claimed their 2nd championship in three years defeating the Cavs 132-106!

Kevin Durant had chased that elusive championship for years, and now he finally got it. His 41 points in Game 7 led the Warriors to a title.

What do the NBA Finals have in store? According to NBA 2K17, it’s another epic, 7 game series between these two elite squads.

How do you see it playing out?

Warriors, Cavaliers begin Round 3

Stats, LLC

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors both believe they have more to offer than in years past as they meet for the third consecutive year in the NBA Finals beginning Thursday night.

The Warriors, by virtue of having compiled the best record in the league during the regular season, will host Game 1. They hold the home-court advantage in the best-of-seven series.

Golden State also enjoyed the home-court edge in the 2015 and 2016 Finals, capturing the title two years ago on Cleveland's home floor in Game 6 before watching the Cavaliers celebrate in Oakland after Game 7 last season.

Having been held scoreless over the final 4:39 of the decisive Game 7 last year, the Warriors made the biggest splash of the NBA offseason when they signed high-scoring Kevin Durant in free agency.

Golden State has looked stronger than ever this postseason, having recorded consecutive four-game sweeps over the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs, becoming the first team in NBA history to reach the Finals with a 12-0 record.

Durant replaces Harrison Barnes, whose offensive struggles played a big role in the Warriors' failure to repeat as champions in 2016.

Despite often being left unguarded as the Cavaliers focused on stopping Warriors guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Barnes shot 5 of 32 over the final three games as Cleveland rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the series.

Durant is shooting 89 of 160 (55.6 percent) so far in the playoffs, connecting on at least half his shots in each of his past six games.

The first-year Warrior is aware the Cavaliers, who made a 12-1 run through the Eastern Conference playoffs, have been impressive defensively in the postseason. They have limited the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics to 45 percent shooting, ranking third in that category during the playoffs after being barely average (16th, 45.8 percent) in the regular season.

"They stepped it up a level in the playoffs defensively," Durant said of the Cavaliers. "It's not like there's going to be a lot of wide-open shots out there. But if we move the basketball and move our bodies, I think anybody can find a crack in the defense or some space to make a shot. But we've just got to take care of the basketball."

Three-point shooting played a critical role in Cleveland's success against the Warriors last June. The Cavaliers made 37.6 percent of their threes in their four wins, as opposed to just 26.1 percent in their three losses.

With in-season acquisition Kyle Korver having hit 22 of his 53 shots from beyond the arc (41.5 percent), the Cavaliers have been the most accurate 3-point shooting team in the 2017 playoffs, connecting on 43.5 percent.

"It's amazing. Especially since this is Year 14 for me, for this to happen now, this means so much," Korver said of his first trip to the Finals. "You work all summer, you work all season for so many years in a row hoping to get to this point. I don't think it's sunk in all the way yet, but it's really special."

Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday, also in Oakland.

The scene shifts to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 on June 7 and June 9.