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Livingston, close-knit band of backups bring best in Game 1
The Golden State Warriors claimed an early lead in the NBA Finals with a 104-89 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the opening game of the series.
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Curry, the National Basketball Association scoring champion this season, scored only 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting while Klay Thompson, who usually joins Curry as a 3-point sharpshooter, managed only nine points on 4-of-12 shooting.
Forward Andre Iguodala played awesome defense and scored 12 points, while two guards also stepped up – Leandro Barbosa had 11 points and Shaun Livingston had 20. Barbosa returned from a minor back injury to shoot 5 for 5 for 11 points, while 2015 finals MVP Iguodala had 12 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and some stingy defense on James. In all, Golden State reserves outscored Cleveland’s bench 45-10. LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving combined for 66 points, 28 rebounds, and 14 assists.
The Cavs return home to Cleveland for Game Three on Wednesday when they will try to make their first telling impact in what has been a disappointing mismatch to date. “But now it’s the one-on-one challenge of just beating your guy”.
A 12.4-points-per-game scorer in the regular season, Smith has four games in which he has scored six or fewer points this postseason – and three others when he topped 20.
Cavs star LeBron James was spot on when he said it’s hard to win, particularly on the road, with 17 turnovers giving the opponent 25 points.
“It could be anyone on any given night, and it’s our job, really, to stay ready”, the understated Livingston said. Curry shot 7 of 11 from the three-pointer while Klay Thompson added 21 points and delivered six three pointers to dismantle OKC.
“No doubt”, the Australian centre told reporters ahead of Sunday’s (Monday 10am AEST) game two of the NBA Finals. Shaun Livingston was the Warriors’ top-scorer.
“We had a chance in that third quarter to do something special, but we didn’t counter and do it”, James said.
The defining run in the game came after Cleveland guard and agitator Matthew Delladova inadvertently hit Iguoadala below the belt.
Golden State has now beaten Cleveland seven straight times, dating back to last season’s Finals.
All of the talk for the Cavaliers headed into the rematch was about the ability of Irving and Love – two defensively deficient players – to keep the high-scoring Warriors in front of them. James went 2 for 4 on 3s, out-shooting Thompson (1 for 5). They shot 35 percent in the first half, including 4-of-13 from beyond the arc.
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During a subsequent timeout, Warriors coach Steve Kerr shattered a clipboard with an angry punch. After the game, Kerr admitted he did to the clipboard what he could not do to the players.