Draymond Green scored 28 points, Stephen Curry added 18 and the Golden State Warriors ran away in the second half to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-77 in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night.
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Warriors Steph Curry and Klay Thompson had just 11 and nine points, respectively, and Livingston had 20 points, while the Cavaliers’ Australian guard Matthew Dellavedova was involved in a heated incident when he struck Golden State veteran Andre Iguodala in the genitals. They have also committed 17 turnovers leading to 25 Warriors’ points and Golden State’s bench out-cried Cleveland’s 45-10. James just missed a triple-double with 23 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. J.R. Smith somehow played 36 minutes and attempted just three shots. The Cavaliers’ bench only scored 10 points. Kyrie Irving, lost to a knee injury in Game 1 a year ago, scored 26 points, 11 on free throws.
The NBA Finals have often been decided by the winners of key battles in areas where both teams excel and with three-pointers proving to be the weapon of choice for this year’s protagonists, fans are braced for a battery of long-range bombs.
“But we’ve said all year that if we defend and take care of the ball we’re going to have somebody score enough points, whether it’s the starters or the bench”. “Offensively, we have got to be much better moving the ball, moving bodies. We look forward to the challenge again, just two days in between doesn’t help, doesn’t feel good, but it gives our body a chance to get some rest”. James averages 24.6 points on 63 percent shooting, with 8.6 rebounds and seven assists per game.
But even if the teams play to a draw to start the second quarter in future games, that’s a huge win for Golden State.
The Cavs, who have been setting 3-point records, made only seven in Game 1. One simply does not bet against the Warriors when they play at the Oracle arena, but do look for a closer game this time around. “This has been our team the last couple of years”.
The Cavaliers won the battle of the boards, including 15 offensive, and had more fast-break points than the NBA’s fastest team.
Yes, it’s a bottom-line business, and the Golden State Warriors’ 104-89 victory served notice that the ultimate measure of their championship mission won’t rest exclusively on their sharp-shooting point guard. “But the way they defended, we’ll be able to make adjustments in Game 2”.
“I think defensively, we had a game plan and we followed it as much as possible”, James said.
Love lifted the Cavaliers to their first lead since the opening minutes at 64-63 with 3:57 to play in the third quarter on a 3-point play followed by a layup, and they still lead 68-67 when the Warriors struck, scoring the next 15 points.
The Warriors enter Game 2 of the NBA Finals against Cleveland with 49 home wins and 86 wins overall this season, factoring in regular season and playoffs.
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“That’s kind of who he is for us”, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “So I try to take it out on a clipboard instead of a player”. For those who prefer to stream the game, you can catch it on Watch ESPN.
