Warriors beat Cavaliers 89-83 in NBA Finals rematch

Stephen Curry provided a late fourth-quarter lift and the defending champion Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 89-83 Friday in a rematch of last season's NBA Finals.

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Curry sank back-to-back driving layups in the final minutes to answer consecutive slam dunks by LeBron James and shut down a Cleveland rally as Golden State improved the best start in NBA history to 28-1.

Curry scored 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out seven assists while Draymond Green had 22 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists for the Warriors, who also had 18 points from Klay Thompson and 16 more off the bench by Shaun Livingston.

James scored 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds but the Cavaliers fell to 19-8, 6-7 on the road, and saw their six-game win streak ended by the same team that beat them four games to two in last June's NBA Finals.

J.R. Smith had 14 points for Cleveland while Kyrie Irving added 13 and Kevin Love and Australian Matthew Dellavedova added 10 points each, Love also pulling down 18 rebounds.

The Warriors are on pace to have the winningest record in NBA history and Curry is on pace to break his own record from 3-point baskets in a season.

In a grinding game that produced their lowest scoring game this season, the Warriors improved to 14-0 at home this season with their 32nd overall home victory in a row. They shot only 41 percent from the floor but held Cleveland to 31 percent.

"That was a big win," Curry said. "We came out defensively and did what we were supposed to do. We were a little off offensively but if we can continue to do that, we'll be fine."

Curry missed part of the second quarter after aggravating a right calf injury he suffered Wednesday but said it was only a minor annoyance.

"Nothing serious," Curry said. "I should be back healthy Tuesday." Endi