“Let’s try to figure out how we can get better and he keeps us calm in those moments, ‘ so it’s definitely been beneficial for our team”.
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Led by a terrific Kevin Love (27 points), who was well supported by LeBron James (21 points), the 2015 runners-up edged the visitors 100-99 to ensure that the packed house at the venue left home with their money’s worth. Love had a marquee game for the Cavs finishing with 27 points and 13 rebounds. “We know exactly where we want to be on the floor”.
Durant took over early in the final quarter. He was fouled on one long-range shot, knocking down a free throw for a four-point play, and his only basket that wasn’t a 3 was a jumper with his toe on the line. Love was probably pretty psyched about his eight three-pointers after the game, but if the smile from the clip above is to be believed, he’s probably pretty psyched it was a day game, too.
“That’s where the league is going”, Atlanta’s Paul Millsap said.
“The way we play a great player would have to fit in”, Teague said. “He’s just a tough matchup all around”, said James. The Hawks do not have a player like that.Atlanta has won 108 games the past two regular seasons, but the playoffs have been cruel.
Kyrie Irving had 21 points and 8 assists.
After intermission, Love just kept on grooving.
(AP Photo/Alonzo Adams). Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) defends during the first half of Game 3 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Friday, May 6, 2016, in. Irving pounded his right hand on the podium, while James briefly covered his face. I felt that J.R. being next to Al Horford, he could beat him in a footrace to the corner, and once I tipped the ball, J.R. was able to tip it back in.
The two teams each traded buckets and turnovers for the next two minutes before Love again came through from behind the arc.
Hawks: Thabo Sefolosha started for the second straight game, leaving Kyle Korver to come off the bench. I’ll have more on it in the coming days, but what’s important to understand is they made 77 3-pointers in this series – the most any team has ever made in a four-game series.
“Kevin just stayed with it. So if anybody thinks I’m being disrespectful to a country, then they don’t know who Dwyane Wade is”. That’s how he’s been.
“Shumpert was great”, Lue said. “Tonight he stayed with it, stayed the course, and really had a big third quarter that got us over the hump”. If the Miami-Toronto series goes seven games, it will conclude on May 15.
The Hawks had one last chance to extend the series after James missed a 3-pointer with the clock winding down.
Down by four points after three quarters, the Thunder outscored the Spurs 34-16 in the fourth to pull away.
Before that, with 1:03 to play, Tristan Thompson blocked a shot by Schroder to preserve 98-97 Cavs lead. “That’s probably what separates them; they have a lot of guys that can score”. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer was an assistant on the San Antonio team. “They were in a good rhythm”.
This was going to be the test – how would the Cavs respond if the long-range magic deserted them?
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Cleveland’s win gives the Eastern Conference reigning champions the luxury of some extra rest as they await the winners of the contest between James’ former team – the Miami Heat – and the Toronto Raptors.
