The Golden State Warriors have closed out Steven Adams and the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 96-88 win in Game 7 of the NBA Western Conference Finals to complete a remarkable comeback.
The Warriors will advance to their second consecutive NBA Finals appearance after fighting back from a seemingly insurmountable 3-1 deficit, claiming three straight wins to end the Thunder's season, just the 10th time in league history such a feat has been accomplished.
They'll again square off with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, this time with their full gamut of stars after Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love were forced to miss the 2015 Finals due to injury.
It was a predictably nervy start for both teams, New Zealand's own Steven Adams making his presence felt early with typically relentless activity on the offensive glass, helping generate second chance points for his side including one powerful dunk of his own.
Warriors lynchpin Steph Curry wasted no time finding his range with back-to-back three pointers, but the Thunder kept pace with some patient offense lead by self-professed 'professional scorer' Kevin Durant, the visitors edging to a 24-19 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Oklahoma City's ball movement helped the maintain their advantage through the second quarter - Durant combining effectively with Enes Kanter on the pick and roll while Dion Waiters penetrated and found open shooters.
In stark contrast the hosts struggled to find any rhythm on attack, Game Six hero Klay Thompson starting 0/7 from the field while the Thunder's size continued to create opportunities at the rim, their defensive pressure leaving no space for the Warriors' bevy of sharpshooters as they stretched to as much as a 13 point lead.
Thompson eventually found his stroke as Golden State made a run late in the quarter, pouring in four shots from beyond the arc as his side managed to close the deficit to six points at the half, 48-42.
Adams' first half contribution was a crucial one for the Thunder, hustling his way to seven points and eight boards.
The Warriors came out aggressively in the third quarter, Curry making the Thunder pay for switching as he drained a trio of three-pointers over larger defenders to spark a 15-2 run to lift his team ahead.
The Thunder's offense devolved into isolation plays as the Warriors turned up the defensive intensity, the hosts igniting from three-point range to explode to a 29-12 third quarter and an 11 point advantage entering the final stanza.
The Thunder offense settled back into the pick and roll as Westbrook and Durant stepped up to help cut the lead to five points.
But it was Curry then to the fore; the MVP taking the reins to orchestrate the Thunder's demise and see the Warriors through to the NBA Finals for a second straight year.
Curry finished with 36 points, 15 in the fourth quarter, including seven threes to go with eight assists. Durant was the pick of the Thunder with 27 points.
Adams posted nine points to go with nine rebounds, sparsely used down the stretch as Oklahoma City head coach Billy Donovan favoured his smaller line-up.
Game one of the NBA Finals takes place on Friday (NZT).
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