Iguodala ‘ stung’ by hit from Howard
Andre Iguodala appears to have escaped long- term harm after a hit from Houston center Dwight Howard in the final minutes of the Warriors’ Western Conference finals- clinching victory Wednesday night.
The Warriors’ swingman said he had only a “stinger” after Howard — down by 12 points with 3 ½ minutes left in the series — jutted a forearm into the neck and left collarbone of Iguodala while setting a screen.
“It stung me a little bit,” Iguodala said. “It got me in the shoulder, and it kind of went up to the jaw.”
Iguodala hopped to the sideline and yanked at his arm in an attempt to regain feeling as the officials reviewed the play as a potential “hostile act.” The play was upheld as a common offensive foul. Obama backs Curry: During his Twitter question- and- answer session Thursday, President Obama was asked if Cleveland’s J. R. Smith can outshoot Warriors point guard Stephen Curry and lead the Cavaliers to the NBA title.
“J. R. Smith is having a great season, but the heart of the Cavs is LeBron” James, Obama said. “And, no one can outshoot Curry — maybe ( Kyle) Korver, if wide open.”
Curry holds the NBA records for most postseason three- pointers in a four- game series ( 20), five- game series ( 27) and six- game series ( 26). TV ratings: According to the Nielsen Co., Game 5 of the West finals delivered a 6.8 overnight rating, peaking at 8.1 from 8: 30 p. m. to 8: 45 p. m. — ESPN’s highest- rated NBA game since Game 7 of the East finals between Miami and Boston in 2012. Locally, the game generated a 21.9 rating, the best since numbers started being recorded in 2003. Odds and ends: The Warriors are a 5- to- 12 favorite to beat Cleveland ( 19- to- 10) in the NBA Finals, according to online bookmaker Bovada. Curry is favored as the MVP at 4- to- 9, followed by James at 2- to- 1. Lil B update: Rapper Lil B, after claiming Kevin Durant would never win a championship and taking credit for James Harden’s NBA postseasonrecord- breaking 13 turnovers in Game 5, has set his sights on the Cavaliers. Lil B is upset at Cleveland for its Eastern Conference- winning video, which included the rapper’s famed “cookin’ dance.”
“LeBron James has a big problem,” Lil B told TMZ. “J. R. Smith and the Cavs, you guys are in big, big trouble. Stop stealing Lil B’s swag.” Bring it on: The Warriors’ most visible owners, Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, have a long history of brash public statements, and Chamath Palihapitiya has joined the trend.
Acting as the keynote speaker during a naturalization ceremony at the Heritage Theater in Campbell, the former Facebook VP, who joined the Warriors’ ownership group in August 2011, decided to talk hoops. He even added a taunt.
“Bring on LeBron,” he said.