The Cavs handed defending champion Golden State just its fourth defeat at sold-out Oracle Arena all season, denying MVP Stephen Curry and the Warriors a chance to celebrate a second straight title with their golden-clad “Strength In Numbers” supporters.
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The Golden State Warriors can win their second consecutive NBA championship with a victory in Game 5 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals on Monday, June 13, 2016, at Oracle Arena in Oakland.
The Warriors will probably go forward without center Andrew Bogut, who suffered an undisclosed left knee injury in the third quarter and had to be helped off the court. We can play with a chip on our shoulder. “Me personally, I’m good, but I know what type of challenge we’re up against and it’s going to be up to me to prepare my teammates for that”. “Sometimes players, your actions or emotions get the best of you”. The Warriors lead 3-2 as the series heads back to Cleveland, but missed on their first opportunity to win it all.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have forced a Game 6 in the NBA Finals.
“But some of those that are careless, I’m not OK with that”. “We’re still in a great position”.
Being down three games to one heading into tonight’s Game 5 at Oracle Arena, it was literally win or go home for LeBron James and the Cavs, with no room for error and their entire season hanging in the balance.
The Cavaliers were led by an outstanding shooting performance by Kyrie Irving, who had 41 points on just 24 shots, while Lebron James had the kind of Finals game only he’s delivered in recent years.
“Being a guy with pride, a guy with three kids and a family, things of that nature, some things just go overboard, and that’s where he took it, and that was it”. “We’re going to start preparing tonight, start preparing tomorrow and whenever Game 6 is we’ll be ready”.
The Cavaliers duo became the first teammates to score at least 40 points in an NBA Finals game. In the first quarter, James scored 12 and Irving seven.
James connected on 10-of-18 from the floor, including 2-of-4 3-pointers, and grabbed nine rebounds in the first half while Irving added 18 points, hitting 8-of-10 from the floor.
“We just want them to be aggressive, continue to attack like we’ve been talking about all series”, said Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue. “I mean, we’ve got a fire lit, too”.
Several Warriors spoke Sunday of winning for Green, whose postseason 15.3 points, team-high 9.6 rebounds and six assists will be greatly missed along with all the other intangibles like his hustle plays, encouraging words and high-flying chest bumps.
Draymond Green, however, will play in Game 6 after missing Game 5, bringing back the Warriors’ Death Lineup that illuminates Love’s lack of defensive athleticism and forces Love and Tristan Thompson to guard quicker players. He’ll be available for Game 6 on Thursday and his presence on the floor makes things tougher for James both offensively and defensively. Cleveland owned the second half, outscoring the hosts 51-36. “No matter how loud you turn the stereo system up in your house, you’ll never be able to get it back”.
For James, it’s now 26 consecutive series with at least one road win, extending his National Basketball Association record.
Golden State is in the same spot in the series, yes, but Monday made it clear that there’s one obvious difference for Cleveland this time around: James finally has help, fearless help, A-list help, help that shows up when elimination is on the horizon. Green was given a flagrant foul for striking James in the groin with a flailing hand in game four and was banned based on accumulation of such fouls.
“He’s an underrated shot blocker, and he can guard one through five on defense”.
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Bogut was struck by Cleveland’s J.R. Smith and the Aussie landed awkwardly on his left leg, writhing in pain on the court. An MRI exam is set for Tuesday. “And here it is, the NBA Finals, and because Draymond is suspended I can’t suit Ian up”, Kerr said.
