Basketball: Golden State win Game 1 of NBA Finals

NEW YORK

Golden State Warriors have won Game 1 of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals, beating Cleveland Cavaliers 104-89 at home on Thursday.

In front of its home crowd in Oakland, California, the defending champions took the lead in the best-of-seven-games series against the Eastern conference champions Cavaliers, which seek their first-ever NBA title.

As their two best scorers - two-time winner of the Most Valuable Player Award Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson - had a woeful start in the series, combining for a meager 20 points on 8-for-27 shooting.

Instead the Warriors' bench came through, namely Shaun Livingston who scored 20 points.

Meanwhile, for the Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving had 26 points and LeBron James added 23.

Game 2 will take place in Oracle Arena - home of the Warriors - at 8.00 p.m. EST (2400GMT) on Sunday.

The two teams had met in the NBA Finals last year. Golden State had taken home the Larry O'Brien championship trophy defeating Cleveland 4-2.