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

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. 

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.