Kevin W. Durant hit 33 points and also excelled in defence, making five blocks and three steals. Photo: Getty Images

Kevin W. Durant hit a game-high 33 points, while Wardell Stephen Curry II recorded his first play-off triple-double, with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

LeBron R. James made a record-equalling eighth play-off triple-double.

The Warriors, who welcomed back coach Steven D. Kerr after missing 11 games through back issues, have now won a record 14 straight play-off games.

The visitors trailed by just three points at half-time at Oracle Arena, before the Warriors outscored the Cavaliers 35-24 in a decisive third quarter.

Golden State beat Cleveland in the 2015 finals but were 2-0 and then 3-1 up last year, only to let their lead slip as the Cavaliers won their first NBA title.

Kerr returns

Kerr, a five-time NBA champion as a player, had been absent since game two of his side's first play-off series against Portland Trail Blazers after suffering complications from back surgery in 2015.

Assistant coach Mike Brown stepped in, completing 4-0 sweeps of Portland, Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs to reach the finals, with Kerr only announcing his return for this game hours before tip-off.

"For him to be out there when he has a built-in excuse not to because of the incredible pain he's under, it's amazing. It motivates us to win for him," said Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson, who hit 22 points.

Kerr, 51, led the Warriors to the 2015 title before last year's defeat and said his side would have to play "smarter" in game three of the best-of-seven series, which takes place in Cleveland on Wednesday (02:00 BST on Thursday).

"We play that same game in Cleveland, there's no way we win," said Kerr.

Double triple-double

A triple-double means a player has recorded a double-digit number in three of five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

Cavaliers small forward James, 32, made 29 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists to draw level with Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson on eight post-season triple-doubles. No other player has more than two.

"Right now, it means nothing, but it will mean something," said James.

"He's one of the greatest to play this game. When I'm done, I'll probably look back on it and say it was a cool feat."

With Curry also making a triple-double, it was only the second time in play-off history that opposing players have achieved the feat in the same game - the first coming in 1970 by New York Knicks' Walt Frazier and Milwaukee Buck's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.