Klay Thompson had just 10 points and went scoreless in three of the four quarters. When we lost a couple games in Toronto, or when we struggled in Games 1 and 2 of this series, it wasn’t all his fault. This after he went 12 of 36 from the field in the first two games. But he made 7 of 9 shots to lead the way for a desperate Cleveland team. Knowing the magnitude of the game and challenges that we face going into Game 3, we needed a full team effort, and he was there in spirit. The rest of the Warriors were 0-for-8 with four turnovers.
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Through the first two and a half quarters of Game 3, Stephen Curry was MIA. Thompson was defending Kyrie Irving on a drive when Timofey Mozgov set a moving screen, driving his knee into Thompson’s thigh.
LeBron James said Love looked like he felt he was letting the team down when he learned he couldn’t play.
Will Lue stick with the hot formula that worked in Game 3 or follow National Basketball Association tradition and put the established starter right back in the lineup?
By the time the reigning NBA MVP got going – he scored 11 points in the final minutes of the third quarter – it was too late: The Cavs had built a 20-point advantage.
Cavs fans pose with Moondog in the Plaza Wednesday night at Fansfest before tipoff.
Lue also found a way to ignite Smith, held to eight points in the previous two games.
All of this has led to a huge drop in the number of shots Curry is taking in the Finals, just 15.3 per game, compared to 21.3 per game in the regular season.
Tristan Thompson (14 points, 13 rebounds) helped the Cavs dominate the glass, 52-32.
Trying to bring Cleveland its first sports champion since 1964, the Cavaliers used aggressive defense and physical play to remain unbeaten at home in the playoffs, but must win again to level the series ahead of game five Monday back in Calfornia.
Cleveland has a new villain. Curry is averaging only 16 points in the series.
Green scored six points on 2-of-8 shooting in Game 3 while grabbing seven rebounds and passing for seven assists.
James was ready in Game 3.
Heading into Wednesday night’s contest at The Q, the Cavaliers’ season hung in the balance.
Cleveland: 79. Golden State: 59.
Never before in NBA Finals history had a team won by 30 or more only to lose the next game by 30 or more, but that’s what the Warriors did.
Kerr opened his pregame remarks before Game 3 on Wednesday night with a statement about Rooks, doing so without being prompted by a question. Rooks is survived by his daughter Khayla and his mother Deborah Brown.
Irving, likewise, responded with arguably his best performance of the series. That was pretty much Kerr’s stance, as well, when asked if he would downsize to start Game 4 by lifting Andrew Bogut from his starting lineup.
The Biels were like many Clevelanders – on edge. “As one league executive told The Vertical, “If they go out like this, I’m betting on a Kevin Love auction”, Mannix wrote. “It’s been a long time. I’m one of the few fortunate ones who’s been able to continue playing at my age”.
“I thought I saw Steve Kerr asking you on the bench, ‘Are you OK?’ I said to Curry”.
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He will be re-examined Friday afternoon, 24 hours after Thursday’s practice. The Warriors still lead the series 2-1 with Game 4 Friday at Quicken Loans Arena.
