NBA: Kyrie Irving helps Cavaliers stay alive in Finals and ruin Warriors' bid for perfect play-off record

Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals, on June 9, 2017. PHOTO: AFP

CLEVELAND (AFP) - Kyrie Irving scored 40 points and LeBron James added 31 as the defending champions Cleveland Cavaliers spoilt Golden State's bid for a perfect play-off championship run on Friday, downing the Warriors 137-116 in the National Basketball Association Finals.

Golden State still lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 with Game Five set for Monday in Oakland, California.

No team have escaped a 0-3 deficit to win an NBA play-off series but the Cavs made the greatest NBA Finals comeback last year from 1-3 down to beat the Warriors.

Opening the game with the highest-scoring quarter and half in NBA Finals history, the Cavaliers snapped Golden State's unbeaten play-off run at 15 games, still the longest play-off win streak in major North American professional sports history.

The Cavaliers became the first Finals team trailing 0-3 to force a fifth game since the 1996 Seattle SuperSonics. The only Finals team down 0-3 to force a seventh game were the 1951 New York Knicks.

James added 10 rebounds and 11 assists for his ninth career NBA Finals triple-double. That broke the record he shared with Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson. No one else has more than two.

Kevin Durant led Golden State with 35 points while Draymond Green added 16 points and 14 rebounds and Stephen Curry had 14 points. Kevin Love added 23 points for the Cavs.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.