Warriors take Game 1 in OT/
OAKLAND, California—Golden State overcame a big performance by LeBron James to beat Cleveland, 108-100, in overtime on Thursday to take the opening game of the NBA Finals.
In the NBA decider for the first time in 40 years, the Warriors rallied from an early 14point deficit, absorbed a Finals personal-best 44 points from James and shut down Cleveland in the extra session, when league MVP Stephen Curry stood tall for the Warriors.
“It was just a classic five minutes that we needed to get that win,” Curry said of the overtime.
James shot 18 of 38 from the field and had eight rebounds and six assists in 46 minutes. But the four-time MVP missed a long jumper in the dying seconds of regulation time which likely would have won it, and Cleveland missed its first eight shots of overtime.
Adding to the Cavs’ frustration, point guard Kyrie Irving limped to the locker room after aggravating his troublesome left leg in overtime. He did not return.
With Kevin Love already out, the Cavs can ill afford to lose Irving for Game 2 on Sunday in Oakland.
“You can see in the tone of my voice I’m a little worried,” said Irving, who buried his head in his hands at his locker and left on crutches.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he hopes Irving is able to play the remainder of the series.
“I mean that,” Kerr said. “You probably don’t believe me, but I mean that.”
There were 13 lead changes and 11 ties in a game tightly contested across the board. There was little edge in shooting (Warriors 44.3 percent, Cavaliers 41.5 percent), rebounding (Warriors 48, Cavaliers 45) or assists (Warriors 24, Cavaliers 19).
In the end, it came down to the NBA’s top teams and biggest stars making plays—or not.
James and newly crowned MVP Curry (26 points and eight assists) carried their clubs through the fourth quarter, trading scores and assists in a back-and-forth duel.
Both stars also had a chance to win the game in the closing seconds of regulation.
With the scores tied, Curry beat Irving off the dribble and moved in for the layup. Instead, Irving blocked the shot from behind, JR Smith came up with the rebound and the Cavs called a timeout with 24.1 seconds left.
James dribbled down the clock and missed his jump shot from just inside the left arc.