Facing elimination at the hands of the Golden State Warriors for the second year in a row, the Cavaliers stormed out to an early lead and didn’t look back as they took down the reigning National Basketball Association champions Thursday to force a Game 7.
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In a game that makes him the Finals MVP favorite – whichever team wins Game 7 – LeBron had 41 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds hitting 16-of-27 shots. The Cavaliers will be attempting to actually complete the series comeback and become the first team to ever rally for a championship after losing three of the first four games.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s bank account will be at least $25,000 lighter as well after he pointedly critiqued three of the fouls called on Curry in addition to griping that the Cavaliers are constantly holding his players when they cut through the lane.
He dominated Warriors superstar and league MVP Steph Curry, who picked up 30 points but was fouled out before being ejected from the game late on for throwing his mouthguard at a fan. James scored 14 in the fourth before checking out to a thunderous ovation in the final minutes as Cleveland fans chanted, “Cavs in 7!” and “See you Sunday!” But once again, they won the game in the first quarter. Stephen Curry also started to find his range, but like a number of players struggled with foul trouble which severely limited his input.
Truth be told, we’ve never seen Curry like this.
Curry immediately began shouting at Phillips, picking up a technical foul, and then was ejected when he fired his mouthpiece into the first row of seats.
The GameTime crew discuss the level of play LeBron James brought to Game 6.
Thursday night was already eventful before Ayesha Curry chose to step onto the scene. “It was just frustration and kind of hilarious the way that the last two fouls and me blowing up kind of unfolded, some of the things that were said out there”. There the Warriors wrapped it up 4-2 in Game 6.
Golden State is playing with some real issues of course – Seth Curry has several lingering injuries, Andrew Bogut is out for the rest of the playoffs with an injury and Andre Iguodola is playing with an injury.
Kyrie Irving, who had scored 30 points in three consecutive games for Cleveland, finished with 23 despite hurting his foot during the third quarter of play.
Only twice in 32 instances before this Game 6 had a finals series reached 3-1 and continued on to what now awaits.
Already the highest-scorer in elimination games (32.4 a game, ahead of Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain), James dropped 41 for a second consecutive game in pushing this NBA Finals to the limit.
One game. victor take all. Better still? The series now moves back to Oakland for a decisive Game 7 on Sunday.
“Individually, I think a lot of us think we can play better”, he said. I mean, look at the disrespect LeBron has for Steph here on this block.
“He had another unbelievable game”, Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. Obviously, this hurts. We’ve had two great opportunities, but not time to hang our heads.
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One elusive victory from a second straight championship, one elusive victory from capping a record-setting 73-9 regular season with a historic title, the Warriors appear to have little left, other than grit and moxie, and it’s awfully hard to fend off James using intangibles.
