Stephen Curry explodes for 38 points to push the Golden State Warriors to within one win of clinching their second NBA title in two years
Cleveland Cavaliers on the brink of series defeat after inspired performance from the Splash Brothers in Friday's Game 4
STEPHEN CURRY exploded for 38 points as the Golden State Warriors now sit just one game away from a second NBA title in a row.
After dropping game three in Cleveland against the Cavaliers - with Curry and fellow Splash Brother Thompson uncharacteristically quiet - Steve Kerr's side dismantled the hosts in Game 4 at the Quicken Loans Arena.
Right from the get-go, you could just tell Curry was in his regular season, MVP form, dropping shots from deep, chewing his mouthpiece and getting up in LeBron James' face.
And Curry, 28, went on to drop 38, while Thompson chipped in a handy 25 to launch the rampant Golden State to a 108-97 win.
Through the first three games, Curry had notched just 48 points in total, but he broke out of his funk in Game 4 by draining a whopping seven three-pointers, while Thompson added four of his own from deep.
On the night, the Warriors made 17 from beyond the arc - an NBA Finals record.
And Draymond Green - impressive himself on the night with nine points, 12 rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks - said he wasn't surprised by Curry's outburst.
He said: "All the slander... He's a competitor. He's been under a heavy microscope, and rightfully so.
"Two-time MVP, you're expected to have a great game in the Finals. He struggled the first three; tonight he was our guy."
Coach Kerr echoed that sentiment, saying: "He's Stephen Curry. He's the MVP for a reason.
"He doesn't have the size and strength to dominate a game physically, so he has to dominate with his skill, and that's not an easy thing to do because your shot sometimes isn't going to go in.
"Tonight they went in."
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Curry meanwhile, claimed it was nothing out of the ordinary, saying: "Business as usual.
"We answered the bell. We got back to who we are as a team."
Curry may have just provided the spark that leads Golden State to not only the 73-win regular season record - eclipsing Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls of 1995-96 - but also back-to-back titles.
They now sit just one win away - with Game 5 back at the Oracle Arena in Oakland.
The loss will be particularly disappointing for the Cavaliers, after blowing the Warriors out of the water - winning by 30 points - in Game 3.
Once again LeBron James and Kyrie Irving had solid outings, dropping 25 and 34 points respectively.
LeBron also tallied a superb 13 rebounds and nine assists, to go with two steals and three blocks.
But it wasn't enough. As so many teams found during the regular season - and earlier this post-season - when the Splash Brothers are firing on all cylinders, there's no stopping the Warriors.
But James is insistent that the Cavaliers can still come back, despite needing to ALL of the final three games - two of which are on the road - by taking it one game at a time.
He claimed: "Let's get one. We've already got to take a flight home anyways, so we might as well come home with a win and play on our home floor again."
The demoralising defeat at the Q was the Cavs' first home loss this post-season - entering the game 8-0.
But this just feels like the Warriors' year.
After their blip in the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder - going 3-1 down - they've surged back with a point to prove.
And boy has it been impressive to watch.
The next game will be Monday night, with the Warriors hoping to get it done in front of their own fans.