CAVALIERS REFUSE TO BE SWEPT AWAY
James, Irving help end Warriors’ dominance in Finals
Home — players’ own beds, an arena full of supportive fans, familiarity of the court, knowing where friends and family sit — provided the necessary cure for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The desperate Cavs needed a victory in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. LeBron James called Game 3 a must-win and made a subtle guarantee, saying he didn’t think the Cavs would fall behind 3-0.
He was right. The Cavaliers remained unbeaten at home during the playoffs with a 120-90 victory Wednesday and turned this into a better series. It was Cleveland’s first victory against Golden State in eight attempts dating to last season’s Finals.
Cleveland — without forward Kevin Love, who is sidelined with a concussion —resuscitated a Finals that Golden State dominated in the first two games, and the Cavs can tighten the Finals with a victory in Game 4 on Friday (9 p.m. ET, ABC).
Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving responded and was the beneficiary of a game at Quicken Loans Arena. He scored 30 points, including 16 in the first quarter, and James overcame a sloppy, inefficient first half, scoring a gamehigh 32 points.
James, who also collected 11 rebounds, made nine of 12 shots in the second half and ensured the Warriors would not sweep.
Since losing Game 1, coach Tyronn Lue said, the Cavs haven’t been aggressive enough. They
were in Game 3 offensively (48% from the field) and defensively (held the Warriors to 42% shooting, including 27.3% on three-pointers).
“Our offense affects our defense at times,” Lue said before Game 1. “When you’re not scoring the basketball or you’re turning the basketball over, they’re able to get out in transition and get easy baskets or they’re always playing in transition. So if we’re able to score the basketball, we’re able to get back and get our defense set, which would be better for us.”
The Cavaliers’ three-point shot helped create better scoring opportunities, and Irving ’s penetration led to array of brilliant shot-making. Irving also made three three-pointers, and in a sign that pleases Cleveland’s coaching staff, Irving also facilitated the offense with eight assists.
Cavs guard J.R. Smith had his best game of the series with 20 points (15 on three-pointers), and forward Tristan Thompson controlled the paint with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Golden State’s All- Star Splash Brothers backcourt had no points in the first half. Stephen Curry (19 points) and Thompson (10 points) were a combined four of 16 on three-pointers, and the Warriors lost a Game 3 on the road for the fourth time in the playoffs.
“I think we’ve had a couple of Game 3s where maybe we let our guard down, up 2-0 type thing,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before the game. “Last year we lost here in Game 3. I remember that. I don’t think there is a common denominator. We’ve just got to come out and play better.”
And now, a major story line for Game 4. What will the Cavs do with Love? Cleveland’s first victory of the series came with Love sidelined.
Lue started Richard Jefferson in place of Love, saying, “Just like his physicality, able to catch the ball, straight-line drive, moves well without the basketball when we get stagnant. Just going off his last game, I thought he really played well, and that’s who we decided to go with.”
If Love is cleared to play in Game 4, what role will he have? That’s a question Lue will answer over the next two days.