However, on the strength of LeBron James’ drives to the hoop, the Cavaliers ended the half on a 7-0 run and cut Golden State’s advantage down to eight points, 52-44, after the first 24 minutes of play in Game 2 of the NBA Finals from Oracle Arena in Oakland.
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“They’ve got a lot of talented guys over there who can get hot, a lot of guys who can get it going in a hurry and change an entire – not a game, an entire series”, power forward Draymond Green said. “I said after Game 1 we just can’t turn the ball over against a great team and expect to win, and I had basically half of the turnovers (through three quarters)”.
“You don’t just throw everything away over one game”, James said.
It’s the first time James has ever lost seven straight to the same opponent.
In Thursday’s loss, Kyrie Irving lead the team with 26 points.
“Obviously, not much is working, especially offensively”, James said afterward. They just beat us at every – we didn’t win anything. Not just for the numbers (28 points, seven rebounds, five assists), but the energy, the drive, the sheer fun that he brings. “He’s one of our best players, still one of the best two-way players in the league and on the biggest stage, we know he’s going to show up”.
Said James: “I think as an individual, when you’re going against the best, your competitive side automatically kicks in. We’ve just got to do better”.
Point guard Kyrie Irving and reserve forward Richard Jefferson also reached double figures in scoring, but the Cavaliers finished the game without the services of Kevin Love, who was placed in the NBA Concussion Protocol after pulling himself out of the lineup in the third quarter. He made a baseline 3-pointer for the Cavs’ first basket in almost 5-1/2 minutes. Barbosa returned from a minor back injury to shoot 5 for 5 on the way to 11 points, while 2015 finals MVP Iguodala had 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists and some stingy defense on James. It means his availability is a question for Game 3. “The last thing I’d want to do is disrespect you and the Warriors in any way”, he wrote to Mr. Curry.
You know how Curry gets when something ticks him off.
The Cavs cruised through the inferior Eastern Conference all season, the narrative goes, and now their reckoning is upon them. The Warriors’ bench outscored Cleveland’s 45-10, led by Shaun Livingston’s 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting.
Even more troubling for the Cavaliers is that the Warriors have not been the precise offensive machine they were during their 73-win regular season.
Andrew Bogut had four blocks in the first 7 minutes, 15 seconds and received a standing ovation when he came out at 3:50 in the first. He hit his hand on the rim early and grimaced in pain. Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love remains on the floor after a play during the first half of Game 2 of basketball’s NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cavaliers in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, June 5, .
Green shot 11 for 20 and made 5 of 8 3-pointers, sparking a suggestion he might apply to be a Splash Brother with fellow All-Stars Curry and Thompson.
But Draymond Green? That’s not in the typical Warriors game plan.
The way the Warriors have thoroughly thrashed the Cavaliers through two games of the NBA Finals rematch, the MVP could soon be drenching that carpet again.
When the Golden State Warriors are going as well as they’re going and Draymond Green returns to the form he showed for much of the season, their opponents have nearly no chance to win.
The NBA honors Muhammad Ali with a pregame moment of silence.
“They’re great players, ” Kerr said. “They won two games at home”, Lue said.
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Despite being in pain, Wall averaged 18.9 points and 9.7 assists per game the last three seasons.
