Maybe LeBron James and Kyrie Irving were a little worn out.
CLEVELAND Kevin Durant was the biggest prize of last year's offseason and on Wednesday he showed why the Warriors were so keen to get him, draining the shot of his career to put Golden State on the cusp of an unprecedented ideal postseason. Golden State won 118-113. "It's on you", Green told Myers.
Irving and James went virtually wire to wire, with Warriors coach Steve Kerr suggesting they simply got gassed. Everyone in Cleveland thought the Cavs had game 3 in the bag because they had the momentum but they got complacent on defense and let the Warriors steal the win from them. Klay Thompson also kept the Warriors afloat in many moments of the game with key 3-pointers. No team has blown a 3-0 lead in the National Basketball Association. Golden State outscored Cleveland, 11-0, down the stretch - and Durant scored seven consecutive points to finish with 31.
J.R. Smith's three-pointer with three minutes, nine seconds left gave the Cavs a 113-107 lead they would relinquish.
"He definitely was their closer", said Irving. "I think he's having the time of his life out there".
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Even allowing 77 points by James and Irving, Golden State showed it could remove those star players from the final outcome and at the same time take all the suspense out of this year's NBA Finals.
Irving bounced back from a rough Game 2 with 38 points, including a couple of dazzling layups where he juked around multiple Warriors. James and Kyrie Irving fought for loose balls. "(I) just stayed in front of him and luckily he missed the shot". It was rough and disputed until the last minute of play. "But that takes a lot out of you".
Perhaps most frustrating for the Cavaliers, who host Game Four on Friday, is that after two lopsided losses to open the series they returned home and played their most complete game of the Finals only to blow six-point lead in the closing minutes. Cleveland was finally playing with energy, getting back in transition, and doing so much of what they didn't in Oakland to start the series.
Durant answered with a layup then hit another jump shot after an empty possession by Cleveland then sank a go-ahead three pointer with around 36 seconds left. Curry contributed 26 points and 13 rebounds. "He's been an wonderful player in this league for a long time, and I think he senses this is his moment, his team".
What made matters worse for Cleveland is Thompson found his shot again. Their 39 points in Wednesday's opening period followed 40 in Game 2 and 35 in Game 1.
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