Another slow start for the Warriors, this one the ugliest yet, followed by another late comeback against the Cavs. A game in which League MVP Stephen Curry had just 3 points midway through the third quarter, and which the Cavs seemed to have in complete control late in the third, ended up in another fight to the end.
And somehow, for the second time in this series—a series in which the Cavs could be up 3-0 as easily as they could be down 2-1—they hung on Thursday night for a 96-91 win. LeBron James continued an epic run with 40 points (along with 12 rebounds and 8 assists), giving him the highest total in the first three games of any player in NBA Finals history. Matthew Dellavedova added 20 points, 5 boards and 3 dimes for the Cavs, who led by 20 late in the third before the Warriors rallied, making for another nail-biting fourth quarter.
Unlike Games 1 and 2, the Dubs couldn’t come all the way back. They dug themselves a massive early hole, mostly thanks to a strangely anonymous performance from Curry, who missed 5 of his first 6 shots and had a single field goal until midway the third. Then he caught fire, finishing with 27 points on 10 of 20 shooting. Andre Iguodala added 15 and David Lee contributed a surprising 11 points in 13 minutes, but it wasn’t quite enough.
Game 4 tips off Thursday night back in the Q. LeBron looks exhausted, but he also looks like he’s on a mission. The Warriors’ confidence seems shaken, but they’re only ever a few three-pointers away from getting their swagger back. It figures to be another great game.
