But he responded in emphatic fashion on Friday, going 7-13 from the three-point line as he racked up 38 points to guide the Warriors to a 108-97 road victory, giving Golden State the chance to clinch a second successive National Basketball Association title on home court at Oracle Arena in game five on Monday.
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The Warriors will have to do it without power forward Draymond Green, who is suspended for Game 5 of the NBA Finals after he was assessed a flagrant foul 1 by the league for his actions against Cavaliers forward LeBron James in Game 4 on Friday night.
Game 4 of the NBA Finals between Golden State and Cleveland averaged 16.4 million viewers on ABC, according to Nielsen ratings released Saturday. “He’s a competitor. He’s been under a heavy microscope, and rightfully so”. And rightfully so, two-time MVP, you’re expected to have a great game in the finals. “We’re not afraid to play anybody”, declared Steve Kerr to the media prior to game 4.
Kerr said he received a call from Warriors general manager Bob Myers to deliver the news and Kerr then pulled Green aside to notify him, following by the entire team.
James got heated in the fourth quarter, though, during a dust-up with Draymond Green. “I’m all fine with that, but some of the words that came out of his mouth were a little bit overboard, and being a guy with pride, a guy with three kids and a family, things of that nature, some things just go overboard”. Golden State held a 79-77 advantage after three quarters before the Cavaliers scored the first four points of the fourth. They’re never too far away from the lead or never too far away from when they’re down to get back into the game. LeBron James, who just missed a triple double and Kyrie Irving who chipped 34 points put in herculean efforts to try and will the Cavaliers to victory but unfortunately missed rebounds, stagnant offense and the Warriors backcourt lead to the Cavs demise.
But once the Warriors got to within a point at 64-65 on a 9-2 blast behind three blistering threes by Curry (one) and Thompson (two), the Cavs turned from courageous to atrocious. “A guy like Steph, one shot can get him going”. With the Warriors up 42-41, Curry drove to the basket but had his shot blocked by Irving, sending Cleveland’s bench and crowd into a frenzy.
Green has found himself in another postseason mess. “We’ve already got to take a flight home anyways, so we might as well come home with a win and play on our home floor again”.
The Warriors set an NBA Finals record with 17 3-pointers.
Of the 32 teams that have faced a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals none have ever come back to win the championship. The officials generally allowed both teams to get away with contact during the game.
After two dominating wins at home the Warriors stumbled into Cleveland and were embarrassed by the Cavs in a 120-90 Game Three during which Curry misfired all night.
“Just win one game. I just thought we made some defensive mistakes that cost us”, said Lue.
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After days of answering criticism for their uncharacteristic performance during Wednesday’s loss, it was Curry, the league’s Most Valuable Player, who led the way for the Warriors.
