Warriors leave Cavs gasping for life
Curry, Durant lead Golden State’s relentless attack in Game 2 rout
OAKLAND — Home might be all that can save the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Even that might not be enough, not the way the Warriors are operating.
For the second game in a row, albeit this time a little later in the game, the Warriors simply ran away from the Cavaliers in another demoralizing defeat for LeBron James and the defending champions, this one by a 132-113 count.
James was everything and more in this one for three quarters sitting down with 1:03 to go in that third frame already with a triple double but looking absolutely gassed. Like his team. It didn’t matter.
Despite his efforts with the triple-double, the Cavs took a 14-point deficit into the final quarter, and it would get worse as the Warriors improved their playoff run to 14-0.
James would finish up with 29 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds but that would pale to the Warriors’ dynamic duo of Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.
Curry had 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his first ever playoff triple-double. And if that wasn’t enough, Durant added 33 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
It makes one ask the question how dominant will James have to be when the series shifts back to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 Wednesday and Friday respectively.
While Durant and Curry are showing no signs of letting up, Klay Thompson continued his defensive prowess against Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving. Thompson also had 22 points while Irving could only counter with 19 for the Cavs.
Kevin Love turned in a strong effort for the Cavs with 27 points.
James was in full attack mode for most of the first 36 minutes. But he ran out of steam, finally exiting the scene with four minutes remaining and the game no longer in doubt.
The Cavs did tighten up their defence on Durant from Game 1, when he simply walked to the basket uncontested and dunked. There weren’t many gimmies for Durant in Game 2, but he still found a way to make his presence felt.
James was his normal dominating self early on. He began the night bullying his way to the basket past would-be defenders and continued that until the half ended with 18 points and 10 assists on his stat line.
Against any other team that kind of first half would have ended most games, but not when you’re playing the Warriors.
The Warriors may not have taken care of the basketball as well as they did in Game 1 but they did continue to score at a rate unlike most teams facing the Cavs.
And the bad news for the Cavs, the Warriors weren’t even firing on all cylinders.
The Cavs are never to be counted out and they are going home, but they are going to have to find another level if they want to make this one a series.