The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
CAVS BREAK STREAK
Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson tries to dunk as Golden State Warriors center Ja-Vale McGee defends during the first half of Game 4 of NBA Finals in Cleveland, Friday. The Cavaliers broke Golden State’s 15 game Playoff winning streak with a 137 - 116 win, bringing the series to 3-1. For more coverage,
There’s still a chance. It might be slim, but there is still a chance.
It took four games and a record-breaking first half, but the Cavaliers finally derailed Golden State’s runaway train in the playoffs.
Setting an NBA finals record for points in a quarter (49) and points in a half (86), the Cavaliers defeated Golden State, 137-116, in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 9 at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Warriors still lead the best-of-seven series, 3-1, and can wrap up the championship June 12 in Oracle Arena.
But there will be no sweep, and there will be no record for an undefeated postseason.
Golden State was aiming to become the first team in NBA history to go a perfect 16-0 in the playoffs.
Instead, it was the Cavaliers who made some history of their own, with their backs to the wall facing a three-game deficit.
Not only were their 49 points they scored in the first quarter an NBA Finals record, but Kevin Love’s 3-pointer late in the second quarter gave the Cavaliers a record 86 points at halftime.
Despite the record-setting first half, the game got tight in the second half.
After taking an 18-point halftime lead, 86-68, the Cavaliers had their lead trimmed down to 12 in the third quarter.
But James drained a 3-pointer before the buzzer to give the Cavaliers a 115-96 lead going into the fourth quarter.