Kevin Durant Leads Warriors to Victory in Game 3 of 2018 NBA Finals
The Cavaliers needed a home win to stay alive in the 2018 NBA Finals. Kevin Durant made sure that never happened. With a 43-point, 13-rebound night, Durant powered Golden State to a 110-102 win and a commanding 3-0 series lead.
On June 6, 2018, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-102 in front of 20,562 fans. Kevin Durant delivered one of the most efficient Finals performances in recent memory, scoring 43 points on 15-of-23 shooting while adding 13 rebounds and 7 assists. The Warriors took a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Golden State trailed by six at halftime, then flipped the game with a 31-23 third quarter. The Cavaliers leaned on LeBron James, who finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, but they had no answer for Durant’s mid-range isolation scoring. The win put the Warriors one victory away from a second straight championship.
Match Overview Table
| Information | Match Details |
|---|---|
| Event | 2018 NBA Finals, Game 3 |
| Game | Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Date | June 6, 2018 |
| Venue | Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio |
| Attendance | 20,562 |
| Winner | Golden State Warriors |
| Final Score | 110-102 |
| Broadcast | ABC, ESPN Radio |
Core Match Statistics Overview
| Team Metric | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals Made/Attempted | 43/83 | 38/85 |
| Field Goal Percentage | 51.8% | 44.7% |
| 3-Point Made/Attempted | 13/33 | 12/33 |
| 3-Point Percentage | 39.4% | 36.4% |
| Free Throws Made/Attempted | 11/16 | 14/18 |
| Free Throw Percentage | 68.8% | 77.8% |
| Rebounds | 38 | 44 |
| Assists | 28 | 24 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 12 |
| Steals | 7 | 7 |
| Blocks | 4 | 5 |
Three Point Shooting
- Golden State hit 13 threes at 39.4%, with Kevin Durant knocking down 6-of-9 from beyond the arc.
- Cleveland matched Golden State’s volume but shot only 36.4%, and J.R. Smith’s 3-of-6 was not enough to stretch the floor consistently.
Ball Movement and Assist Rate
- The Warriors recorded 28 assists on 43 made field goals, a 65.1% assist rate that exposed Cleveland’s slow rotations.
- Cleveland managed 24 assists on 38 makes, but many of those came from LeBron James initiating late-clock offense.
Rebounding and Second-Chance Points
- Cleveland won the glass 44-38, including 13 offensive rebounds, but converted those into only 12 second-chance points.
- Kevin Durant rebounds were a deciding factor because he grabbed 13 defensive boards to limit Cleveland’s extra possessions.
Period-by-Period Analysis
First Quarter: Cavaliers Edge Early
| Period | Warriors | Cavaliers |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 28 | 29 |
- Cleveland opened with aggressive drives from LeBron James and Kevin Love, building an early four-point lead.
- Kevin Durant kept Golden State close with 11 first-quarter points, attacking mismatches in the post.
- The Warriors committed three early turnovers, allowing Cleveland to generate transition looks.
Second Quarter: Cleveland Builds Halftime Cushion
| Period | Warriors | Cavaliers |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 | 24 | 29 |
| Halftime | 52 | 58 |
- Cleveland outscored Golden State 29-24 behind LeBron James’ playmaking and Rodney Hood’s bench scoring.
- Stephen Curry struggled badly, going 1-of-7 from the field in the quarter and 0-of-5 from three.
- Kevin Durant’s 15 first-half points kept the Warriors within six at the break.
Third Quarter: Kevin Durant Takes Over
| Period | Warriors | Cavaliers |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 | 31 | 23 |
| After Q3 | 83 | 81 |
- Golden State opened the third on a 10-2 run, forcing Cleveland into two quick turnovers.
- Kevin Durant scored 13 points in the quarter, including three consecutive mid-range jumpers over J.R. Smith.
- The Warriors held Cleveland to 42.1% shooting in the period and flipped the score to an 83-81 lead.
Fourth Quarter: Warriors Close Out
| Period | Warriors | Cavaliers |
|---|---|---|
| Q4 | 27 | 21 |
| Final | 110 | 102 |
- Kevin Durant added nine points and four rebounds in the final frame, including a dagger three with 49 seconds left.
- Golden State’s defense held Cleveland to 7-of-19 shooting in the fourth quarter.
- LeBron James scored eight points in the quarter, but Cleveland missed three critical threes in the final three minutes.
Detailed Team Player Statistics
Golden State Warriors Player Statistics
Kevin Durant
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Points | 43 |
| Assists | 7 |
| Rebounds | 13 |
| Steals | 1 |
| Blocks | 1 |
| FG | 15/23 |
| 3PT | 6/9 |
| FT | 7/7 |
Kevin Durant stats were ruthlessly efficient, shooting 65.2% from the field and 66.7% from three. His isolation scoring against Cleveland’s switching defense produced clean looks all night.
Stephen Curry
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Points | 11 |
| Assists | 6 |
| Rebounds | 5 |
| Steals | 1 |
| Blocks | 0 |
| FG | 3/16 |
| 3PT | 1/10 |
Curry had a rare off night from distance, but his six assists helped keep Golden State’s offense flowing. Cleveland’s aggressive traps forced the ball out of his hands.
Klay Thompson
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Points | 10 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Rebounds | 4 |
| Steals | 2 |
| Blocks | 0 |
| FG | 4/10 |
| 3PT | 2/5 |
Thompson provided steady two-way play, knocking down two threes and recording two steals. His defense on J.R. Smith limited Cleveland’s secondary scoring.
Draymond Green
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Points | 10 |
| Assists | 5 |
| Rebounds | 13 |
| Steals | 0 |
| Blocks | 1 |
| FG | 4/8 |
| 3PT | 1/2 |
Green controlled the defensive glass and pushed tempo after rebounds. His five assists helped Golden State generate early offense before Cleveland’s defense set.
Cleveland Cavaliers Player Statistics
LeBron James
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Points | 33 |
| Assists | 11 |
| Rebounds | 10 |
| Steals | 2 |
| Blocks | 2 |
| FG | 13/28 |
| 3PT | 4/6 |
| FT | 3/3 |
LeBron posted a triple-double and kept Cleveland competitive into the fourth quarter. His playmaking created open threes, but the Cavaliers shot just 36.4% from deep as a team.
Kevin Love
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Points | 20 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Rebounds | 13 |
| Steals | 1 |
| Blocks | 0 |
| FG | 8/18 |
| 3PT | 4/8 |
Love delivered a double-double and stretched the floor with four threes. His defensive rotations, however, were too slow to contain Durant’s pull-up game.
Rodney Hood
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Points | 15 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Rebounds | 3 |
| Steals | 1 |
| Blocks | 0 |
| FG | 6/11 |
| 3PT | 2/4 |
Hood provided a much-needed bench spark with 15 points in 25 minutes. His scoring kept Cleveland’s second unit afloat, but he could not sustain the late-game execution.
J.R. Smith
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Points | 13 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Rebounds | 4 |
| Steals | 1 |
| Blocks | 0 |
| FG | 5/10 |
| 3PT | 3/6 |
Smith hit three first-half threes to stretch Golden State’s defense. He cooled off after halftime and finished with only four points in the second half.
Statistical Leaders Summary Table
| Category | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers |
|---|---|---|
| Leading Scorer | Kevin Durant (43) | LeBron James (33) |
| Second Leading Scorer | Stephen Curry (11) | Kevin Love (20) |
| Top Rebounder/Defense | Kevin Durant (13) | Kevin Love (13) |
| Most Assists/Playmaker | Kevin Durant (7) | LeBron James (11) |
Analytical Breakdowns
Why Golden State Won
Kevin Durant Stats and Shot Selection
| Shooting Zone | Kevin Durant | Rest of Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Range FG | 9/12 | 5/14 |
| Points in Paint | 10 | 18 |
| Three-Point FG | 6/9 | 7/24 |
Durant’s 15-of-23 overall and 6-of-9 from three generated 43 points on only 23 shots. Golden State posted a 116.3 offensive rating when he was on the floor.
Kevin Durant Shooting Percentage and True Shooting Efficiency
| Efficiency Metric | Kevin Durant | LeBron James |
|---|---|---|
| True Shooting % | 82.5% | 56.3% |
| Offensive Rating | 132.5 | 105.4 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 5 |
| Plus/Minus | +18 | -2 |
Kevin Durant shooting percentage finished at 65.2% from the field and 85.7% from the line. His 82.5% true shooting rate dwarfed the rest of the high-volume scorers in the game.
Kevin Durant Rebounds and Defensive Impact
| Rebounding Category | Kevin Durant | Rest of Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive Rebounds | 13 | 25 |
| Contested Rebounds | 6 | 11 |
| Second-Chance Points Allowed | 4 | 8 |
Kevin Durant rebounds consistently ended Cleveland possessions. His ability to secure the defensive glass and immediately push tempo prevented Cleveland from setting its half-court defense.
Kevin Durant Assists and Playmaking Gravity
| Playmaking Metric | Kevin Durant | Rest of Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| Assists | 7 | 21 |
| Potential Assists | 11 | 24 |
| Passes Leading to FT | 2 | 5 |
Kevin Durant assists total of seven led the Warriors and highlighted his expanded playmaking role. Cleveland doubled him on the catch, and Durant responded by finding cutters and open shooters.
Why Cleveland Lost
Heavy Dependence on LeBron James
| Cavaliers Player | Points | Assists | Usage Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | 33 | 11 | 34.2% |
| Kevin Love | 20 | 3 | 24.5% |
| Rodney Hood | 15 | 2 | 19.8% |
| J.R. Smith | 13 | 1 | 16.3% |
LeBron accounted for 53 of Cleveland’s 102 points via points and assists. When he rested for seven minutes, the Cavaliers were outscored by 11 points.
Poor Three-Point Defense Against Kevin Durant
| Defender on Durant | Possessions | Durant Points |
|---|---|---|
| J.R. Smith | 18 | 14 |
| LeBron James | 12 | 11 |
| Jeff Green | 9 | 10 |
| Kevin Love | 7 | 8 |
Cleveland switched almost every screen, but Durant shot over smaller defenders or drove past slower bigs. His 6-of-9 three-point shooting crushed the Cavs’ rotations.
Late-Game Execution Failures
| Clutch Category | Cavaliers | Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| Final 5 Minutes FG | 3/10 | 6/9 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Points | 9 | 15 |
Cleveland missed three straight threes in the final 2:30, while Golden State closed on a 15-9 run. The Cavaliers abandoned attacking the rim just as Golden State tightened its defense.
Historical Context & Advanced Insights
Kevin Durant Game Log in the 2018 Finals Series Breakdown
| Game | Date | Result | Kevin Durant Points | LeBron James Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | June 1, 2018 | Warriors 124, Cavaliers 114 (OT) | 26 | 51 |
| Game 2 | June 3, 2018 | Warriors 122, Cavaliers 103 | 26 | 29 |
| Game 3 | June 6, 2018 | Warriors 110, Cavaliers 102 | 43 | 33 |
Kevin Durant’s game log shows a clear upward scoring trend in the first three games of the 2018 NBA Finals. His 43-point eruption in Game 3 was the highest-scoring game of the series to that point.
Advanced Statistical Insights
Golden State’s assist-to-field-goal ratio sat at 65.1%, while Cleveland finished at 63.2%. The raw numbers look close, but the timing of those assists separated the two teams. Durant assisted on seven made baskets and created another five open looks through his gravity. Cleveland’s offense became predictable late, with LeBron James forced to create nearly every shot in the fourth quarter.
Kevin Durant’s true shooting percentage of 82.5% came from a combination of efficient mid-range shot selection and perfect free throw shooting. He attempted 23 field goals and seven free throws, scoring 43 points in the process. That efficiency meant Golden State did not need heavy scoring from Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson to win. Cleveland’s LeBron James posted a 56.3% true shooting rate on 28 shots, which is solid but not enough to offset Durant’s explosive output.
Another key metric was offensive rating. Kevin Durant posted a 132.5 offensive rating, meaning Golden State scored 132.5 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor. LeBron James posted a 105.4 offensive rating. The gap reflected Durant’s lower turnover rate and better shot selection against a similarly aggressive defense.
The third quarter also highlighted a measurable defensive shift. Cleveland shot 50.0% in the second quarter but only 42.1% in the third. Golden State switched more aggressively on screens and doubled LeBron on drives, forcing the Cavaliers into contested late-clock shots. Cleveland’s offensive rating fell from 112.3 in the first half to 96.4 in the second half.
Game Implications & Key Lessons
What This Means for Golden State
- The 3-0 series lead made a second straight championship almost inevitable, as no NBA team had ever blown a 3-0 Finals lead.
- Kevin Durant’s scoring efficiency strengthened his case for Finals MVP, especially with Stephen Curry struggling from the field.
- Golden State’s ability to win on the road despite poor shooting from Curry showed the depth and flexibility of its offense.
What This Means for Cleveland
- Cleveland’s defense had no consistent answer for Kevin Durant’s mid-range and three-point scoring, a problem that would persist in a potential Game 4.
- The Cavaliers needed more reliable secondary scoring, as Rodney Hood and J.R. Smith could not sustain their first-half production.
- LeBron James’ triple-double was wasted because the supporting cast missed critical shots in the final five minutes.
Key Lessons
- Efficient shot selection beats volume scoring when a single player can shoot 65% from the field on high usage.
- Defensive rebounding from wings prevents second-chance opportunities and fuels transition offense.
- Switching defenses create mismatches, but a skilled isolation scorer like Kevin Durant can destroy that strategy.
- Late-game execution requires moving the ball, not settling for contested threes.
- A team’s second and third scorers do not need big point totals if the primary scorer is hyper-efficient.
- A 3-0 series lead is built on road wins, not just home-court dominance.
FAQ & Conclusion
Who won Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals?
The Golden State Warriors won Game 3, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-102 on June 6, 2018.
How many points did Kevin Durant score in Game 3?
Kevin Durant scored 43 points on 15-of-23 shooting, including 6-of-9 from three-point range.
What were Kevin Durant’s full stats in Game 3?
Kevin Durant stats included 43 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in 43 minutes.
Where was Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals played?
Game 3 was played at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, with an attendance of 20,562.
What were LeBron James’ stats in Game 3?
LeBron James recorded 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists for a triple-double, but the Cavaliers still lost.
Why did the Warriors win Game 3?
The Warriors won because Kevin Durant’s efficiency and the team’s 31-23 third-quarter run flipped the game, while Cleveland’s late-game shooting collapsed.
Final Takeaways
Kevin Durant’s 43-point masterclass showed why efficiency and shot selection outperform raw individual volume. Golden State won despite an off night from Stephen Curry because Durant scored from all three levels and controlled the defensive glass. Cleveland received a triple-double from LeBron James but lacked the late-game execution and secondary consistency to protect home court. The Warriors’ ball movement, third-quarter defense, and Durant’s shooting percentage created a near-identical formula that would lead to a second straight title.
