Cleveland Cavaliers backup guard Matthew Dellavedova continued his improbable ascent to the role of postseason hero in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, helping LeBron James and the Cavs grab a 2-1 series lead with a 96-91 victory against the Golden State Warriors.
Delly was so beat up after the game that he was taken to a local hospital with severe cramping.
STATUS UPDATE: @matthewdelly experienced severe cramping tonight following Game 3. [DETAILS]: http://t.co/cFyMwmoIHQ pic.twitter.com/XlpocTjrmZ
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 10, 2015
The undrafted Aussie played 38 minutes, hounding Stephen Curry and hitting clutch shots that—let’s be honest here—he has no business making.
Per the AP and NBA.com:
The Cavs said Dellavedova received IV treatments at Quicken Loans Arena following the game before he was taken by ambulance to the hospital for further procedures. A team spokesman said Dellavedova, who walked to the ambulance under his own power, was cramping in “multiple areas.” The team will have an update on the 24-year-old Australian at Wednesday’s practice.
As is his style, Dellavedova came up with several loose balls in Game 3 by diving on the floor, and he flattened a chair on Cleveland’s bench while hustling on one play. […] “He’s going to throw his body all over the place,” LeBron James said. “He gave everything’s he’s got.”
The first burn: Delly drives down the lane past Steph Curry, Cavs clinging to a one-point lead during a Warriors rally with 2 minutes and change left, drops a one-handed banker, gets hacked slightly, falls hard to the floor, completes the three-point play. […] “That was a huge turning point,” said Curry. “He made some timely baskets, and that was one of them.”
