LEBRON James and the Cleveland Cavaliers need this one, and they opened up as well as they’d hoped.
The four-time MVP had 14 points, six reboundst, and nine assists at the half, including an incredible off-the-backboard alley-oop slam to himself.
Kevin Love was the main man for the Cavaliers, though, posting 15 points and 10 rebounds as the home team went into the main break with a 58-52 lead.
The lead could have been more immense, if not for the impressive shooting performance from Kevin Durant, who had 24 points at the half.
The Warriors had the return of Andre Iguodala for Game 3, but he went back to the locker room late in the second quarter.
Iguodala had been dealing with a bone bruise, and has not played since Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.
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LBJ's mammoth self alley-oop 0:40
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Down 2-0 heading into Wednesday night's matchup with the Warriors, the Cavs can take comfort in one thing — they know how to win Game 3s in the NBA Finals.
Cleveland has taken two of the last three Game 3s against Golden State over the course of this four-year rivalry, only losing last year's Game 3 at Quicken Loans Arena after giving up a six-point lead in the final three minutes of regulation. Oh, and the Cavs also have LeBron James, who is averaging 40.0 points, 10.5 assists and 8.5 rebounds per game.
The Warriors will receive a boost from swingman Andre Iguodala, who will return to the floor for the first time since Game 3 of the Western Conference finals. Not that Golden State needs much help, as Stephen Curry (31.0 points, 8.5 assists, 6.5 rebounds per game) and Kevin Durant (26.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 2.5 blocks per game) are playing at MVP levels.
Can the Cavs rise to the challenge and defend their home court? Or will the Warriors grab a commanding 3-0 lead? Follow along here for live updates from Game 3...
Cavs vs. Warriors: Score, updates, highlights
Game 3 box score
11:20 p.m. ET — It's a close one. Here's the situation...
Warriors 96, Cavs 95 with 3:19 remaining. Cleveland will take the ball out underneath its own basket after the timeout break.
11:13 p.m. ET — LeBron James drives left and finishes with his right. Don't think we've ever seen that before.
11:07 p.m. ET — Rodney Hood? Rodney Hood? The Cavs shooting guard has 15 points off the bench on 7-of-9 shooting. It turns out giving him some time was the right call by Tyronn Lue. (Better late than never!)
End of third quarter: Warriors 83, Cavs 81
10:57 p.m. ET — The Warriors win the third, 31-23, taking a two-point advantage into the final frame. Kevin Durant is putting on an offensive clinic: 34 points (11-of-17 shooting), 13 rebounds and five assists.
10:50 p.m. ET — What a terrific kickout pass by Kevin Love to George Hill for the open 3-pointer. The Cavs aren't done yet. They're only down by one with less than three minutes to go in the third.
10:42 p.m. ET — Yep, the Warriors are doing that thing they always do in the third quarter. It's a 17-6 run to start the second half. The Cavs must slow them down.
10:33 p.m. ET — And the game is tied. That was fast. Kevin Durant is still on fire. That's a big problem for Cleveland.
Make that 4 triples and 27 PTS for Kevin Durant! @warriors have tied it up at 61 on #NBAonABC #DubNation pic.twitter.com/KHafsNwJjr — NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2018
Halftime: Cavs 58, Warriors 52
10:15 p.m. ET — Well, that was a fun half of basketball. The Cavs played with tremendous energy and aggression to jump out to an early advantage. LeBron James has 14 points, nine assists and six rebounds, and Kevin Love already added another double-double to his playoff resume with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Kevin Durant is essentially saving Golden State with 24 points on 7-of-10 shooting.
10:03 p.m. ET — Kevin Love looks like a completely different player. He's got 15 points and nine rebounds in the first half. He's playing with confidence and not hesitating for a second on his 3-point attempts.
Kevin Love fires to beat the shot clock! 🎯🎯
10 PTS, 9 REB for K. Love on #NBAonABC #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/FT2RkEaccE — NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2018
9:54 p.m. ET — Shaun Livingston just missed his first shot of the series. (Not the game. The series.) He had been 11-of-11 before Rodney Hood blocked his jumper.
9:48 p.m. ET — That's a 6-0 run for the Cavs to start the second quarter. LeBron James is feasting at the rim. The Warriors have not been able to stop him from reaching the paint.
LeBron James bulldozes his way in for two! 🚂🚂🚂
Quick 6-0 @cavs run on #NBAonABC
10 PTS, 5 AST, 6 REB for The King.#WhateverItTakes #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/EZPAL5xHdc — NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2018
End of first quarter: Cavs 29, Warriors 28
9:40 p.m. ET — The Warriors take the first punch from the Cavs and stand strong, heading back to the bench down by only one point. Kevin Durant already has 13 points and grabbed all seven of the team's rebounds in the first quarter.
9:30 p.m. ET — Draymond Green is trying to cut down the deficit, but he has to be careful. He's got one technical foul — he got caught talking a little too much trash with Tristan Thompson, who also earned a technical — and his reaction to his last personal could have easily gotten him booted from the game.
Draymond with the breakaway jam 💪
📺 #NBAonABC pic.twitter.com/nVjmGbx5BG — Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 7, 2018
9:24 p.m. ET — Good news for the Warriors: Andre Iguodala has checked in. Bad news for the Warriors: That's two quick fouls on Stephen Curry.
9:15 p.m. ET — OH MY. LEBRON JAMES ELECTRIFIES THE HOME CROWD.
The Cavs take a 14-4 lead right off the bat.
9:00 p.m. ET — LeBron James looks to make more playoff history in Game 3. Tipoff coming soon!
With another 40-point outing, @KingJames will hold the NBA record for most 40-point performances in a single postseason.#WhateverItTakes#NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/EYnut4QDA8 — Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 7, 2018
8:45 p.m. ET — JR Smith will try any shot at least once.
8:30 p.m. ET — This stat makes sense because it's Kevin Durant, but it's also kind of crazy. Dropping 25-plus every game without an off night?
HALFTIME UPDATE: Cleveland has taken an all-important six-point half-time lead in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, as a return home sparked a revival in star forward Kevin Love.
Love produced a first-half double, dropping 15 points and ten rebounds, to combine with LeBron James and give the Cavaliers a 58-52 lead at the break.
James is on track for a triple double and has 14 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
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media_camera Kevin Love has had a dominant first half. Pic: AFP
It could’ve been even better for the home team, who led by as much as 13 in the second quarter - but they were pegged back by a blazing performance from Warriors star Kevin Durnat.
Durant carried on his supremely efficient scoring from Game 2 with a 7-10 half to have 24 points and eight boards.
He’s carried the Warriors offence while Steph Curry (2 points, 1-8 shooting) and Klay Thompson (five points, 2-7) have struggled, and Draymond Green (three fouls) clashed with the referees.
For the Cavaliers, JR Smith also has ten points.
The Warriors lead the series 2-0, while the Cavaliers have lost just once at home this post-season.
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