CHRISTOPHER CHUNG / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

SERIES MVP: The Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant celebrates the team’s NBA Finals victory with his mother, Wanda, after the Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 129-120, in Game 5 on Monday in Oakland.

It got tense. Then it got fun. And then it got nuts.The Warriors became the first Bay Area sports team to

win a championship on its home court or field since the 1974 A’s on Monday, and Oracle Arena nearly exploded in the process.

The 129-120 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals avenged a stunning collapse in last year’s Finals and restored the Warriors to the basketball’s pinnacle. Perhaps more than anything, the win vindicated Golden State’s signing of Kevin Durant last summer. Durant was brilliant again Monday, leading the Warriors with 39 points, and was named series MVP.

This was the second title in three years for the Warriors, but the first for veterans like Durant, David West, Zaza Pachulia, Matt Barnes and JaVale McGee, as well as rookie Patrick McCaw.

Golden State needed all hands on deck against the inspired Cav-aliers. Cleveland led by eight points in the second quarter Mon-day and kept it close into the fourth. LeBron James finished with 41 points. Ultimately, he didn’t have Durant’s supporting cast.

The Warriors finished the postseason 16-1, tied for the great-est playoff run in NBA history. It was an impressive feat when you consider that they were without head coach Steve Kerr for 12 games. When Kerr stepped back because of health issues, as-sistant coach Mike Brown took over.

This well-oiled machine just kept rolling. And now the War-riors are champions again.

“I feel great, and I’m ready to go pop some champagne,” power forward Draymond Green said while still on the court afterward.

The whole Bay Area could relate.

BACK ON TOP

By PHIL BARBER THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Golden State vs. Portland

Warriors win series, 4-0

Golden State vs. Utah

Warriors win series, 4-0

Golden State vs. San Antonio

Warriors win series, 4-0

Golden State vs. Cleveland

Warriors win series, 4-1

MORE ON PAGE A2, IN SPORTS AND ONLINE AT PRESSDEMOCRAT.COM

2017 NBA FINALS

SHOWING PLAYOFFS

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TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 2017 • SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA • PRESSDEMOCRAT.COM

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