OAKLAND (AP) — The Cavaliers are still alive in the NBA Finals, which are heading back to Cleveland.

On a record-setting night for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving the team who were only supposed to be there to make up the numbers dominated the champions-in-waiting.

James and Irving became the first team-mates to each top 40 points in the same NBA Finals game, and the Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors 112-97 last night.

James had 41 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists. Irving had 41 points on 17 for 24 shooting and added six assists for the Cavaliers.

Game six of the series is on Thursday night in Cleveland.

Klay Thompson scored 37 points and Stephen Curry had 25 for the Warriors, who were without the suspended Draymond Green for the game.

They lost Andrew Bogut early in the third quarter to a left knee injury.

Tied at 61-61 at the half Cleveland owned the second half, outscoring their hosts 51-36.

For James, it’s now 26 consecutive series with at least one road win, extending his NBA record.

Golden State now lead the series 3-2. The Warriors clinched last year’s title with a game six win in Cleveland.

If that is to happen this time around they will need to improve their shooting, which let them down in a big way at home when they needed it most.

Curry missed 13 of his 21 shots for the Warriors, continuing his miserable form in the finals, and the rest of the team were not much better.

The defending champions went more than three minutes without a point as the Cavaliers built up a double-digit lead after a strong third quarter when they lead 93-84 with 12 minutes remaining.

The end of the game was in stark contrast to the start where Golden State got off to a flyer and pulled away to a 19-15 lead midway through the opening quarter. Making light of the absence of Green the Warriors made the most of five Cavaliers turnovers, with Andre Iguodala, Green’s replacement in the starting line-up, contributing.

Still, the Cavaliers held on and were only 32-29 down at the end of the first quarter.

James was booed every time he touched the ball, something that Warriors fans started doing even in warm-ups. It was a clear response to Green’s suspension and the part James is seen as having played in it.

The loss of Green was one thing for the Warriors, the loss of Bogut quite another, and ultimately a blow they could not over come.

Bogut went down under the Cleveland basket after getting hit by the Cavaliers’ J.R. Smith early in the third quarter.

Bogut landed straight-legged after Smith fell into him. Bogut immediately grabbed at the knee in pain, and remained down for several seconds before play was eventually stopped.

The Warriors’ centre went straight to the locker room and did not return. He sprained his left knee and was scheduled to have an MRI late last night.

With him went the Warriors lead, and they never got it back.

James and Irving took charge and dragged the Cavaliers to a win that kept their finals hopes alive.

Cleveland are bidding to become the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals.