CLEVELAND: Golden State. Golden still.
Stephen Curry scored 37 points, Kevin Durant added 20 and a triple-double and the Warriors stamped themselves a dynasty after winning their second straight NBA title and third in four years Friday night, 108-85 over the Cleveland Cavaliers to complete a sweep and perhaps drive LeBron James from his home again to chase championships.
Overcoming obstacles all season long, the Warriors were not going to be denied and won the fourth straight finals matchup against Cleveland with ease.
It was the first sweep in the NBA Finals since 2007, when James was dismissed by a powerful San Antonio team in his first one. His eighth straight appearance didn't go well either, and now there's uncertainty where the superstar will play next.
James finished with 23 points and spent the final minutes on the bench, contemplating what went wrong and maybe his next move.
Act IV between the Warriors and Cavs featured a drama-filled and controversial Game 1. But from there on, Durant, Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and the rest of this California crew showed why they're the game's gold standard.
And they may stay that way.
Not wanting to give the Cavs or their fans any hope despite the fact that no team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit in the NBA playoffs, the Warriors built a nine-point halftime lead when Curry ignored a closeout by James and dropped a 3-pointer.
Then the league's best team tightened the screws on Cleveland in the third quarter, outscoring the Cavs 25-13 and prompting Golden State fans to begin those drawn-out "War-eee-orrss" chants that provide a perfect musical accompaniment to their 3-point barrages.
By the start of the fourth quarter, the only question was whether Curry would win his first NBA Finals MVP or if it would go to Durant for the second year in a row.
After surviving a rougher-than-usual regular season and beating top-seeded Houston in Game 7 on the road in the Western Conference finals, the Warriors withstood an overtime scare in Game 1 and joined an elite group of teams to win multiple championships in a four-year span.
Only Bill Russell's Boston Celtics, the "Showtime" Lakers and the Los Angeles squad led by Kobe and Shaq, and Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls have been as dominant in such a short period of time.
The Dub Dynasty.
Golden State Warriors sweep Cleveland Cavaliers for second straight NBA title
Golden State Warriors sweep Cleveland Cavaliers for second straight NBA title
- Stephen Curry scored 37 points, Kevin Durant added 20 and a triple-double and the Warriors stamped themselves a dynasty after winning their second straight NBA title and third in four years
- James finished with 23 points and spent the final minutes on the bench, contemplating what went wrong and maybe his next move
Al-Falih meets Chilean ministers to explore investment opportunities
RIYADH: Investment opportunities between Saudi Arabia and Chile are set to get a boost as officials from both sides convened for a roundtable meeting in Santiago on Saturday.
Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih engaged in substantive dialogue with various Chilean ministers and government officials to explore and amplify mutual financing possibilities.
The meeting underscored the necessity of cementing economic ties between the Kingdom and Chile in bolstering the private sectors of both countries and fostering partnerships in areas of shared interest.
Al-Falih met with Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveran, Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism Nicolas Grau and Minister of Public Works Jessica Lopez Saffie.
The meetings are part of the Saudi Ministry of Investment and its delegation’s intention to promote bilateral trade by introducing the Kingdom’s public and private sectors to Latin American countries to explore investment opportunities.
Al-Falih also signed a memorandum of understanding with Argentina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship on Saturday.
The agreement aims to boost cooperation between both parties to facilitate direct investments.
Furthermore, Al-Falih discussed several topics with Argentina’s minister around enhancing partnerships and collaborative investments in quality projects.
On Thursday, Al-Falih led a 60-member delegation to an investment forum in Uruguay’s capital Montevideo.
These initiatives are in line with the aim of the Saudi Ministry of Investment to attract quality investments that will empower sector growth, develop policies and improve the overall access to services through partnerships between the public and private sectors.
The ministry also endeavors to bolster collaborative initiatives with the private sector to drive social and economic transformation within the Kingdom under the strategic framework of Vision 2030.
It underscored its role as a facilitator and catalyst by enabling the involvement of both domestic and international private sectors to fuel economic growth.
Additionally, it emphasized its commitment to assisting these sectors in navigating and surmounting any challenges they may encounter in their interactions with pertinent bodies, both locally and globally.
