STEPHEN Curry got the Golden State Warriors one step closer to another NBA Championship, and made history in the process.
The superstar point guard’s nine three-pointers set a new NBA record for most made threes in a Finals game, as his Warriors took a 2-0 series lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Warriors picked up the 122-103 victory, led by Curry’s game-high 33 points, who also had seven rebounds and eight assists. Curry broke the previous record for made threes in a Finals game, set by Ray Allen in 2010.
“It’s hard to think back to all the games, but he was tremendous - nine 3s and seemed to hit a big shot every time we needed one,” Warriors coach, Steve Kerr, said. “He was fantastic.”
The Finals now move on to Cleveland, where LeBron James will be hoping to will his team to a crucial home win. Game 3 tips off on Thursday (AEST).
Kevin Durant had one of his best games of the postseason, finishing with an efficient 26 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while Klay Thompson posted 20 points of his own.
Curry's record 3 point night 0:51
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“Pretty special night,” Curry said, “and hopefully some more special things happen and we get two more wins.”
In a losing effort, and just a few nights after dropping 51 points, James had 29 points, nine rebounds, and 13 assists; his Cavaliers now with their backs against the wall in their fourth straight Finals appearance.
The Cavaliers have been impressive at home when under pressure throughout the postseason, and James is urging his teammates to keep that composure when the Warriors get to town.
Crowd chants 'MVP' for Smith 0:19
“We want to continue to be uncomfortable,” James said. “Just because we’re going home, doesn’t mean we can relax.”
The Warriors opened Game 2 on an impressive run, hitting their first seven shots, but James and his Cleveland Cavaliers were able to answer with a key stretch of their own. Still, it was the firepower of the Warriors that proved to be too much, with Curry’s 16 first-half points leading his team to a 59-46 lead heading into the main break.
Curry shot 4-of-9 from downtown in the first half; James’ 15 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists keeping the Cavaliers somewhat close.
The Cavaliers kept the game within striking distance, but the Warriors appeared to have an answer for everything, with the preverbial dagger coming in the fourth quarter, when Curry hit a fading, 30-foot three-point over Kevin Love as the shot clock expired.
Steph hits one from DEEP 0:32
“He’s a big shot taker, big shot maker,” Draymond Green said of Curry’s shot. “Tough shot taker, tough shot maker.”
Thompson, who had a stellar Game 2, despite initially being questionable for the matchup, with an ankle injury, added: “About seven seconds on the clock he just kept going backward, I don’t know why, but he just threw it up and I didn’t think it had any chance of going in. That was kind of like a dagger shot. It just gave us all the momentum back.”
The Warriors were without Andre Iguodala (knee) for a sixth straight postseason game. JaVale McGee started at the centre spot, posting 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting.
Shaun Livingston continued his impressive 2018 Finals, coming off the bench for 10 points, shooting 5-of-5 from the field.
Love finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, while George Hill posted 15 points of his own.
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Warriors 122, Cavaliers 103 (final)
Steph Curry scored 13 of his game-high 33 to lead an efficient Golden State Warriors win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, 122-103 on Sunday night in Game 2 of the NBA Finals to take a 2-0 series lead.
Curry hit nine three-pointers, breaking Ray Allen’s eight-year-old record for an NBA Finals game. But he wasn’t alone. Kevin Durant scored 26 on just 14 field goal attempts, and Klay Thompson overcame a high ankle sprain to add 20.
The Warriors shot 57% for the game and dished out 28 assists, eight by Curry. Golden State also never trailed. After 15 lead changes and 17 ties in Game 1, there were no lead changes and no ties in Game 2.
LeBron James had 29 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds, and Kevin Love had another double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, but the Cavs never got closer than five points in the second half.
Game 3 is Wednesday night in Cleveland.
Warriors 111, Cavaliers 93 (5:15, 4Q)
Steph Curry has taken over and now has 30 points, including eight three-pointers, tying Ray Allen (Game 2 in 2010) for the most in an NBA Finals game. Some of the shots have been ridiculous, including what Mike Breen called a “parking lot three” here:
Warriors 96, Cavaliers 83 (10:11, 4Q)
Steph Curry hit two quick threes early in the final quarter, including one in the corner that looked awfully familiar.
Warriors 90, Cavaliers 80 (End 3Q)
Defense went by the wayside in the third quarter, with Cleveland actually cutting into the lead in a 34-31 period. George Hill has been effective with 15 points on the game, including three makes from distance.
Warriors 72, Cavaliers 66 (6:28, 3Q)
Kevin Durant has been aggressive so far in the third quarter, and has 18 in the game. Durant, JaVale McGee and Shaun Livingston are a combined 16-for-17 from the field. McGee has made all six field goals, including five dunks.
Yet despite all that Cleveland is still hanging around, cutting the deficit to six. Kevin Love has a pair of threes in the third quarter and already has a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Warriors 59, Cavaliers 46 (Halftime)
Steph Curry got hot late with a pair of threes and leads all scorers at the half with 16 points, including four triples.
Kevin Durant added 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting. LeBron James had 15 points, seven rebounds and eight assists for the Cavaliers.
Warriors 51, Cavaliers 39 (3:13, 2Q)
LeBron James is threatening to get a first-half triple double with 11 points, seven assists and six rebounds, which is even more amazing because he’s doing it with the reddest eye imaginable:
Warriors 47, Cavaliers 36 (6:11, 2Q)
Golden State opened up their largest lead of the game thanks to a 7-0 run, with a pair of buckets by Shaun Livingston, who has eight points on 4-of-4 shooting, and a three by Steph Curry, who has 10 points.
Warriors 32, Cavaliers 28 (End 1Q)
The first quarter featured a load of easy buckets for Golden State, who scored 22 points in the paint and had 11 assists on their 15 field goal makes, shooting 65%. Let they lead by only four points.
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson each scored seven for the Warriors, and Kevin Durant had six on 3-of-3 shooting. LeBron James led all scorers with 10 for Cleveland, and had five assists.
Warriors 21, Cavaliers 17 (4:34, 1Q)
Golden State started out hot, making their first seven shots, but LeBron James and the Cavaliers are staying close. James has five points and three assists, including this nifty spin move:
Oh, and did you catch the pregame standing ovation the Warriors fans gave J.R. Smith, or the MVP chants when he was at the free throw line? Very petty, Oracle.
Warriors 13, Cavaliers 6 (8:21, 1Q)
JaVale McGee got the start on Sunday and rewarded Steve Kerr’s decision with two dunks to start the game. The Warriors are 6-for-6 to start Game 2.
Look at that
The Cavs and Warriors played in the same city on Sunday as they did Thursday, but LeBron took a red eye to Game 2:
For those wondering, LeBron's eye still doesn't look good. pic.twitter.com/S8aZVk0LWS — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 4, 2018
Injury report
Klay Thompson’s ankle is good enough for him to start Game 2, as expected. But Golden State will be without Andre Iguodala for a sixth straight game with a left knee contusion.
Fans are ready
Warriors fans are out in full force on Sunday, ready with jokes.
Pregame
After two whole days to let the enormity of the opener of the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers are back at it for Game 2 on Sunday night at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.
Golden State pulled away in overtime for a 124-114 victory on Thursday night, thanks to a combined 79 points from Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.
The Warriors overcame a vintage performance from LeBron James, who scored 51 points, dished out eight assists and grabbed eight rebounds for the Cavaliers. It was just the sixth 50-point game in NBA Finals history, and it was James’ eighth game of 40 or more points in this postseason, matching Jerry West (1965) for the NBA record.
The ending of Game 1 was chock full of controversy, from the reversed block/charge foul call involving James and Durant, the inexplicable dribbling out the clock by J.R. Smith at the end of regulation, and the fracas surrounding the ejection of Tristan Thompson in overtime.
“We’ve got to move on,” James said on Friday, per the Associated Press. “This game is over and done with. We had opportunities.”
Golden State outscored Cleveland 28-22 in the third quarter in Game 1, continuing a theme for the Warriors, who are +136 in the third quarter this postseason, beating their foes by an average of 7.6 points per third quarter.
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Warriors vs. Cavaliers Game 7 info
Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, Calif.
Game time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Announcers: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Doris Burke
Online streaming: Watch ESPN
