Perfection ruined
Record-breaking first quarter carries Cleveland
CLEVELAND - The Golden State Warriors’ run at perfection is over.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, who got 40 points from Kyrie Irving and a triple-double from LeBron James, used a blistering first quarter to jump out to a huge lead and then held off the Warriors off for a 137-116 victory in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, handing Golden State its first loss of the postseason.
The Cavaliers started strong as they ran out to a 49-33 lead after the first quarter. The 49 points were the most ever scored in a quarter in Finals history.
The previous mark was 47 points set by the Los Angeles Lakers in the third period against the Boston Celtics in 1984.
Kevin Love and Irving sparked the opening rampage with 14 and 11 points in the quarter, respectively.
The only blemish in the period for the Cavs was eight missed free throws.
The Cavaliers continued their assault on the record books in the second quarter as they led, 86-68, at the break. Their point total was the most in any half in Finals history. Philadelphia scored 81 against the Lakers in the second half on June 6, 1982.
The Milwaukee Bucks hold the all-time record with 87 in the second half against Denver on April 23, 1978.
When Cleveland was swept by San Antonio in the 2007 Finals, it topped the 86-point mark just once.
Irving had 28 points at the break and James scored 14 in the quarter and had 22 at half.
Golden State blew a chance to become the first team in NBA history to sweep through an NBA postseason.
Now the Warriors will try to join the 2000-’01 Lakers and the 1982-’83 Philadelphia 76ers as the only teams to suffer just one loss during a postseason.
Game 5 is set for 8 p.m. Monday in Oakland, Calif.