Basketball: Stephen Curry the star as Golden State take 2-0 lead

Stephen Curry hit a record nine three-pointers in Golden State s win yesterday. Photo / AP

Stephen Curry backpedalled in pure joy. He skipped, hollered and let it fly from everywhere with that feeling he gets there's no way it will miss - unwavering even with a defender's hand in his face.

Curry dazzled in outduelling LeBron James as the two superstars traded big shots and celebratory moves, hitting an NBA finals-record nine three-pointers and scoring 33 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 122-103 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers yesterday for 2-0 lead.

"It's hard to think back to all the games but he was tremendous - nine threes and he seemed to hit a big shot every time we needed one," Golden State coach Steve Kerr said. "He was fantastic."

Kevin Durant found his steady stroke to score 26 points to go with nine rebounds and seven assists while also handling much of the defensive duties against James.

Klay Thompson added 20 points playing on a tender left leg to put the defending champions two wins from a repeat title they have talked about since the season started in mid-October.

James followed up his 51-point performance in game one with 29 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds in a far tamer finals sequel - and a much more lopsided one - minus the utter craziness of a drama-packed opener three days earlier. Game three is on Thursday in Cleveland.

Kevin Love had 22 points and 10 boards for the cold-shooting Cavs, who will now try to gain some momentum back home.

Curry had the shot of the night with 7m 54s to play, making an off-balance swish from several feet behind the three-point arc over Love as the shot clock wound down, then backpedalling in pure joy.

Curry fell into the first row of fans with a baseline three again over Love and four-point play at the 5m 44s mark of the fourth.

"He makes tough shots, that's what he does," Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said. "Once he releases it and he sees the basket, he usually makes it."

James pointed with both hands after his three with 11m 04s remaining got his team within seven, before Curry answered from deep the next two trips down the floor.

Curry squatted low to admire his shot as it went in at one point and galloped back in joy after he hit two deep threes late in the first half.

They had a tense moment in the third, too.

James became irate at the officials for a no-call on Curry, who ran beneath the Cavs star and didn't let him land with 3m 54s remaining in the quarter as James caught Love's long pass and went out of bounds.

Lue was hit with a technical, saying afterwards he didn't say much but was on the court.

JaVale McGee scored 12 points, making all six of his shots in his first career NBA finals start as Kerr made a line-up switch that proved spot on.

The typically efficient Durant connected on 10 of 14 shots after going just 8 for 22 - 1 of 7 on threes - in the opener but still scoring 26 points.

James went 10 for 20, showing few signs his shot was altered by a bloodshot left eye. He had been taking antibiotics and using drops after being poked in the eye by Draymond Green in the first half of the opener, won 124-114 in overtime by Golden State.

- AP