IN KEVIN DURANT WE TRUST

Durant, Curry lead Warriors’ onrush (NBA Finals Game 1)

Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors dunking on a play against the Cleveland Cavaliers (In Kevin we trust) in Game One of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 1, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California.

2017.06.01 – In Kevin Durant we trust! A well deserve slogan after game one of the NBA Finals. Kevin Durant drove through the lane untouched for epic dunks. He dished off even when he could have slammed it home, he hit from long range and did it all on defense.

The Golden State Warriors put a dominant NBA Finals opener. Durant finished with 38 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and a zero-turnover night to lead Golden State past LeBron James and the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers, 113-91 on Thursday night in Game 1.

As this highly anticipated rematch tipped off at last, the biggest difference from last year was clear. “KD,” James said.

Stephen Curry did his share by scoring 28 points with six 3-pointers and 10 assists as this sure-to-be thrilling trilogy began, a long-expected, spectacular grand finale envisioned ever since that July day Durant left Oklahoma City to join the loaded Warriors.

OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 1: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors against LeBron James #23 and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game One of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 1, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California.

“We could be a lot better than we were tonight but in the Finals you get a `W,’ we’ll take it,” Durant said.

James wound up with 28 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists a day after dealing with bigotry far away from basketball. Someone painted a racial slur – the N-word – on the gate of his Los Angeles home, leaving James to address racism rather than his seventh straight Finals appearance or stopping KD.

James said he would do his best to be ready for the series opener when his mind was elsewhere, concerned for his wife and children back in Ohio.

“We did a great job of covering the 3-point line but other than that they played a hell of a game,” James said.

Durant punished Cleveland for leaving him free, taking the ball to the hoop for emphatic dunks as a man on a mission to deliver what he came for: a championship.

“One thing about KD is that he can get to the basket any time he wants,” said teammate Draymond Green. “He’s seven feet tall. So there’s usually never a bad shot that he takes because he sees right over people. … You could tell that their game plan was to take the ‘3’ away. When they do that, you got to drive the basketball.”

He had six slams in the first half alone for the Warriors, who at 13-0 are already the first team to go this far in a postseason unblemished.

“They’re the best I’ve ever seen,” Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said. “They’re 13-0. They’re constantly breaking records every year.” Cavaliers spoke respectfully after Game 1. But they also vowed a counter-punch.

“Getting a chance to see how they play, the style of play, how fast they play, you can’t really simulate that in practice,” Coach Lue said. “You really have to get out here and get a chance to do it firsthand. When we experience that, we’re able to adjust. We’re a lot better.”

James added: “There’s nothing that really needs to be said. We know we’re capable of playing a lot better. … So we look forward to the next one.” The focus will be on slowing Durant.

Once his night was finally done, Durant found mother Wanda at the end of the Warriors bench and held her in a warm embrace. He had won the first battle with King James. Warrior nation is saying “In Kevin we trust”.

OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 1: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors react to a play against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game One of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 1, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California.

“Those are two big household names, so we know you guys and the fans are going to want to see that and pick up on it,” said acting Warriors coach Mike Brown, facing a Cleveland franchise that fired him not once but twice. “I’m sure LeBron probably thinks he could play better, and you tip your hat off to KD.”

Kyrie Irving, who hit the deciding 3-pointer with Curry’s hand in his face last June as Cleveland rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to win its first championship, scored 24 points on 10-of-22 shooting.

“It’s more or less a heart thing, a prideful thing,” Irving said. “Going into Game 2, we’ll be a lot more settled in, a lot more better on the defensive end. Offensively, we still have to take good shots against this great team.”

Kevin Love grabbed 21 rebounds and scored 15 points, while Tristan Thompson was held scoreless and to four boards.

Durant’s only other Finals ended at the hands of LeBron and Miami in 2012. He shot 14 for 26 in his fifth 30-point performance this postseason, receiving a rousing ovation when he sat down for good with 2:16 remaining.

Curry sported a fresh haircut for the occasion and the two-time reigning MVP initially wore a black sleeve on his shooting arm to protect a tender elbow that still had some swelling, but he quickly removed it and found his stroke. He shot 11 for 22, 6 of 11 on 3s.

How Does Stephen Curry Train the Mind?

The sleeve didn’t feel right, but Curry joked of his arm wear, “As a little kid I always wanted to be like Allen Iverson and that was the only way I could really come close.”

This marks the first time in NBA history the same two teams played in three straight Finals.

Golden State finally warmed up after nine days off, while the Cavaliers had a six-day break since beating Boston in the Eastern Conference finals.

Warriors starting center Zaza Pachulia returned after missing the final two games at San Antonio with a bruised right heel and contributed eight points and six rebounds.

Golden State’s four turnovers tied an NBA Finals low. In collapsing in the Finals a year ago, the Warriors averaged 19.6 assists and 13.6 turnovers over three consecutive defeats.

As if to establish a new tone in Game 1, they had 31 assists and four turnovers. According to John Schuhmann, the advanced stats writer for NBA.com, that was an all-time franchise low (regular season or playoffs) for the Warriors since turnovers started being counted in 1977.

I should remind everyone that last year, the Warriors beat Cleveland in Game 1 by 20 points and Game 2 by 33 points. We all know what happened next. Warrior nation is saying “In Kevin we trust”. Stay tuned.

Game 2 in the series is Sunday at Oracle Arena with its deafening sellout crowd.

Read more at: Golden State Warriors Media Services / More AP NBA