Basketball Daily Dose: Dose: Kyrie Irving bounce back
Cavaliers finally arrive with 120-90 win at home in Game 3
Game 3 took place at Cleveland and the Warriors didn’t even show up, as the Cavs took Game 3 in a 120-90 blowout win to cut the Warriors lead to 2-1. LeBron James went off for 32 points, 11 boards, six assists, a steal, two blocks and a 3-pointer (and five more turnovers), while Kyrie Irving graced us with his presence for 30 points, eight dimes and three 3-pointers on 12-of-25 shooting. After Irving’s 5-14, 10-point, 1-assist performance in Game 2, last night’s line was huge for the Cavaliers.
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Kevin Love sat out due to his concussion and remains very questionable for Friday’s Game 4, but Richard Jefferson stepped up with nine points, eight rebounds, two steals and a 3-pointer in a start, and Tristan Thompson came through with 14 points and 13 rebounds. And J.R. Smith, who was invisible in Games 1 and 2, came through with 20 points, four rebounds, three steals and five 3-pointers in Game 3. The Cavs were up by 20 in the first half and eight points at halftime. But they kept the pedal down and overran the Warriors in the second half to get back into the series.
I still think the Warriors are completely in control of this series, as I don’t see how the Golden State will lose at home to the Cavs, but at least we have a series now. I expect Game 4 on Friday to be the best game of the Finals.
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For the Warriors, Harrison Barnes was the best player with 18 points, eight boards and two 3-pointers. Stephen Curry had 19 points, three assists, two steals and three 3-pointers, but also had six turnovers, as the Cavaliers played smothering defense in this one. Klay Thompson suffered a thigh injury in the first half, but played through it. He finished with just 10 points and hit 1-of-7 3-pointers in the loss, leaving fans to wonder what’s wrong with Klay and Steph. Klay has scored just 9, 17 and 10 points in the first three games of the Finals, and Curry has scored just 11, 18 and 19 points thus far.
Draymond Green hit just 2-of-8 shots and missed all four of his 3-point attempts for six points, seven rebounds and six assists, which was a far cry from his stellar Game 2 performance. Additionally, the Warriors bench didn’t come through in Game 3.
I’m as concerned as anyone about Curry’s and Klay’s apparent struggles thus far, but then again, they simply weren’t needed in Games 1 and 2, which were both blowouts in favor of the Warriors. And even if the Cavaliers stay hot in Game 4, the Warriors are still completely in control and only need to win Games 5 and 7 back at Oracle. I would be shocked if the Warriors don’t end up winning this series.
But I’m glad the Cavaliers looked like a Finals-caliber team last night and I’m hoping that Game 4 will finally live up to the hype. But again, even if the Cavs come through, the Warriors are still clearly in the driver’s seat, thanks to home-court advantage.
Game 4 is Friday night at 9 p.m. and that game could go either way. I do suspect that we’re due to see Curry and Thompson show up and go off, which would be bad news for the Cavs. But either way, you better make sure you’re in front of a television that night, as I’m guessing we’ll see a pretty epic basketball game. And if you want to see the rest of my thoughts on Game 3, check out the Live Video Facebook Chat I did just after the game ended on Wednesday night. It was fun!
Enjoy the rest of the Finals! And “Like” the Rotoworld Facebook page so you can be alerted to check in and ask me questions the next time I do a live video chat, which will likely be immediately after the clock hits zero in Game 4. Here’s to a competitive Game 4!
