Warriors thump Cavaliers in NBA Finals rematch (AFP)

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