CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 137 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 116 (GSW LEADS 3-1)
CLEVELAND – Kyrie Irving exploded for 40 points as the Cavaliers ended the Warriors perfect post-season run in a physical game. LeBron James added 31 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his ninth career triple-double, breaking the record of eight held by Magic Johnson. Kevin Love and J.R. Smith scored 23 and 15 points, respectively.
Cleveland, which never trailed in the game, got off to a hot start and dropped 49 points in the first quarter and went on to score 86 first half points. The Cavs also knocked down an NBA playoff record 24 3-pointers.
Kevin Durant put up 35 points for the Warriors. Draymond Green dropped 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Stephen Curry struggled and finished 4-of-13 from the field for 14 points. Klay Thompson had 13 points.
Cleveland, down 3-1, is facing long odds to bring home their second straight championship, but they’re no stranger to being in this spot as the Cavaliers were down 3-1 to the Warriors in last year’s finals as well. No team has ever come back from being down 3-0 in NBA history, but Cleveland became the first team last year to come back from a 3-1 deficit in NBA Finals history. Cleveland’s next step in pulling off this improbable comeback is Monday at 9 p.m., as the series shifts back to Oakland for Game 5.
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