OAKLAND (REUTERS) - Golden State's high-powered offence was too much for the Cleveland Cavaliers as the Warriors claimed a 122-103 victory in Game 2 of the National Basketball Association Finals on Sunday (June 3) to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant combined for 59 points in a wire-to-wire victory that puts the defending champions just two wins away from their third championship in four years.
Two-time league Most Valuable Player Curry ended with nine three-pointers, an NBA Finals record, while dishing out eight assists and grabbing seven rebounds in his 33-point performance.
Despite the offensive fireworks, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said it was an improved defensive effort that led to the win.
"We just played a more intense defensive game tonight than we did in Game 1," he told reporters. "It's not about scoring, it's about the defensive intensity.
"We're happy with the way we played. But we know this is just getting started."
Surprise starter JaVale McGee ignited the home crowd by hammering down some alley-oops to give the Warriors an early lead.
Coming off a tough loss in Game 1, the Cavs stayed within striking distance for most of the contest until a flurry of second-half three pointers by Curry overwhelmed the visitors and sealed the win.
LeBron James, who scored 51 points in Thursday's loss, faced a more dogged defence on Sunday but still managed 29 points on 10-20 shooting while playing nearly the entire game.
Cavaliers' forward Kevin Love provided a spark with 22 points but it was not enough to pressure the Warriors, who shot 57 per cent from the field and 41 per cent from behind the arc.
Cavaliers' coach Tyronn Lue said he was happy with how his team battled back from a 13-point half-time deficit to keep it a single-digit game for much of the third quarter.
"I was very proud of our guys, the way we competed in that third quarter because we could have let go of the rope down 13," he said.
"We came out, we fought. We kind of saw some things offensively that worked, so we have to continue to keep capitalising on that."
Kerr said the Warriors would not take their series advantage for granted, especially since they blew a 3-1 lead to the Cavaliers in the 2016 Finals.
"We've been here several times, I don't think I'll need to say much," Kerr said. "The guys in the locker room, they already know that. They know how hard it's going to be in Cleveland."
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday in Cleveland.
