Basketball Daily Dose: Dose: Steph-tacular once again
Game 7 lived up to the hype as the Warriors held on to win three straight games and become just the 10th team to overcome a 3-1 deficit to win a postseason series. The Thunder were in this one until the end, but the Warriors pulled away late for the 96-88 win. The Warriors will now face LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the Finals, starting Thursday, June 2 at 9 p.m. on ABC in Oracle Arena (Golden State).
Game 7 wasn’t easy, but stellar 3-point shooting from the Warriors helped them to hang on and advance to the Finals in hopes of repeating as NBA champs. Stephen Curry hit 13-of-24 shots and 7-of-12 3-pointers for 36 points and eight assists, and his late 3-pointer turned out to be a dagger for the Dubs. Klay Thompson hit 7-of-19 shots and six 3-pointers for 21 points, and Draymond Green hit just 5-of-14 shots and a 3-pointer for 11 points, nine boards, four assists, a steal and two blocks in the win. Andre Iguodala, who started over Harrison Barnes, played 43 minutes, but had just seven points, four rebounds and three assists, and Andrew Bogut was quiet in 15 minutes, finishing with two points and three boards. Curry’s 32 3-pointers in a seven-game series was an NBA record. “We survived by the skin of our teeth,” coach Steve Kerr said. “We were able to pull it out and we’re moving on.” Curry has now hit a 3-pointer in 51 straight playoff games.
Barnes and Shaun Livingston each scored five points off the Warriors’ bench, which didn’t do a lot in Game 7.
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The Thunder got 27 points, seven boards, three assists, a steal, a block and three 3-pointers from Kevin Durant, who hit 10-of-19 shots in the devastating loss. Russell Westbrook hit just 7-of-21 shots and two 3-pointers for 19 points, seven boards, 13 assists and two steals, while Serge Ibaka chipped in for 16 points, four boards, a block and two 3-pointers. Steven Adams had nine points and nine rebounds, and Andre Roberson added four points, 12 rebounds and a block on 2-of-11 shooting for the starters.
Enes Kanter played just nine minutes but scored eight points with four boards and a block, and Dion Waiters tallied five points on 2-of-9 shooting, four rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes off the bench.
Finals Schedule
Game 1: Thursday, 9 p.m. @ Golden State
Game 2: Sunday, 8 p.m. @ Golden State
Game 3: Wednesday, June 8 9 p.m. @ Cleveland
Game 4: Friday, June 10 9 p.m. @ Cleveland
Game 5: Monday, June 13 9 p.m. @ Golden State (if necessary)
Game 6: Thursday, June 16 9 p.m. @ Cleveland (if necessary)
Game 7: Sunday, June 19 8 p.m. @ Golden State (if necessary)
Prediction
I picked the Warriors to win it all at the start of the season, as well as at the start of the playoffs, so I’m going to have to stick with them. However, the Cavaliers look like a much better team than they were a year ago, so I’m going to say this one will go seven games. I can’t wait for Thursday!
