CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 09: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors speak after a foul in the third quarter in Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 9, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)Jason Miller/Getty Images

Kevin Durant Says Nature of Game Created Verbal Exchange with LeBron James

Alec NathanJun 9, 2017

Kevin Durant said his verbal exchange with LeBron James that resulted in double technical fouls in the third quarter of Friday night's Game 4 was spawned by "the aura of the game."

"We wasn't coming to blows," Durant told reporters after the 137-116 loss, according to Sports Illustrated's Ben Golliver. "We were just talking. ... The aura of the game created trash talk.

"You can't take emotion out of the game...the game of basketball created that," Durant addd, per ABC7.

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Durant was an active trash talker throughout Game 4, and his words weren't limited to James' airspace.

In the second quarter, Durant baited Cavaliers reserve Dahntay Jones into picking up a technical foul from the bench when the two started jawing.

Despite Durant's best efforts to rattle Cleveland with an NBA title on the line, the defending champions stood tall and retained that title for at least one more game.

Now it's on Durant, who led the Warriors with 35 points in Game 4, to lead the charge again when the Warriors head back to the Bay Area for Monday night's Game 5.