Golden State on brink of first NBA title in 40 years

Season’s MVP Curry scores 37 points in Game Five win over the Cavaliers to go 3-2 up.

Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors
Warriors have a chance of clinching the title at home on Tuesday [EPA]

The Golden State Warriors won the battle of small-ball and defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-91 to move within a win of their first NBA title in 40 years.

Stephen Curry scored 37 points and the Warriors withstood a 40-point triple-double from LeBron James to grab a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Warriors can clinch their first championship since 1975 with a win in Game Six on Tuesday in Cleveland.

“It was a chess match and we both have a bunch of wings and guards that can fill a lineup,” Curry told reporters after connecting on seven three-pointers.

Their Game Five win was a battle of speed, with both teams benching their big men as a strategic move.

After the Warriors benched centre Andrew Bogut to return to their run-and-gun style in a 21-point Game Four victory, Cleveland responded by limiting starting center Timofey Mozgov to just nine minutes on Sunday.

The move kept Cleveland close deep into the fourth quarter until Andre Iguodala scored five straight points to put Golden State ahead 91-84 with less than four minutes remaining.

Curry, who scored 17 points in the fourth, added two late three-pointers and free throws to help seal the win.

Iguodala finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. James tallied 14 rebounds and 11 assists for his second triple-double of the series.

“I want to do whatever helps our team win and I haven’t been able to do that the last two [games],” James said.

“We weren’t good in Game Four, we can’t repeat that or they will raise the trophy for sure.”

James (L) scored 40 points in his side's loss [AP]
James (L) scored 40 points in his side’s loss [AP]
Source: Reuters