Stephen Curry led the way on Friday with 38 points on 11-for-25 shooting, but Iguodala might be in line for another Finals MVP.
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And because he did, the Warriors are within one win of a second consecutive National Basketball Association title.
“We have to rebound better to close out this series but we gave ourselves a chance to close it out”. “We need to play with a sense of urgency and a sense of aggression that we played with tonight”. “We answered the bell”.
In the case of the unanimous MVP of the NBA, the whispers surrounding Stephen Curry were intensifying with each game the Golden State Warriors played in the NBA Finals.
Small ball continues to take over.
James exchanged heated words with both Curry and Draymond Green, who appeared to punch James in the groin, which could lead to a suspension. All three then played all 12 fourth-quarter minutes as well. They combined to hit 11 of 22 three-pointers and Golden State set a finals record with 17 from deep as a team while hitting more threes than two-pointers, 16, in the game.
“It’s probably going to be even more intense on Monday”, Curry said. “He’s going to impact the game in 1,000 different ways”. He had 13 points in the decisive fourth quarter. While Cleveland wound up leading for large stretches of the first three quarters, there wasn’t a double-digit advantage for either side until Curry’s pivotal three-pointer.
Still, James has confidence the Cavs can bring the series back to Cleveland for Game 6. Cleveland faces elimination Monday night. “There was nothing to that”.
The Green-James dust-up could have major ramifications if the NBA’s review warrants discipline.
Also, Green defends James and his absence would make life easier for Cleveland’s superstar playmaker, who averages 31.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.6 assists in games when his team is facing elimination. Green’s tactics haven’t bothered James in the past, but with James doubtlessly already frustrated with the Cavs play and predicament he looked more vulnerable to Green’s taunting.
“I didn’t think we made the right plays at the right times – at times”, Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. They’ll take a look at it. We all saw it in the locker room.
“Stuff said on the court, you will never get from me”, Green said. But when it get a little more than it should be then that’s what causes me to have words with him.
“[James] stepped over me and I felt like that was disrespectful”, Green said. “I’m all cool with the competition”.
Irving added a hoop and, after a fan ran onto the court and was taken off by security, James sank a free throw to pull the Cavs within 96-89. “You have to play”.
“Some defensive breakdowns giving Steph and Klay some open shots”, Lue said. And he doesn’t get a fair whistle all the time because of his strength and because of his power and guys bounce off of him.
“It’s been like that all year long”, James added.
“Bron [LeBron James] came to me when he found out the news I wasn’t playing, he was like: ‘I got you”. Most reasonable people outside of Cleveland would probably agree that Green’s actions here were not so egregious that it should cost him a game, but that’s up to the league office to decide now.
Barnes is averaging 5.5 rebounds per game – second on the team, despite consistently grappling with Tristan Thompson (at least two inches taller) and LeBron James (at least 25 pounds heavier).
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After winning the title in 2004, Detroit was on the verge of a second crown when Spurs forward Robert Horry interrupted any plans for a parade by making a 3-pointer to win Game 5.
