var $ = jQuery.noConflict(); $(document).ready(function(){ loadrecapdata('0041600405'); });
Wrap-Up -- The Cavaliers dashed the Warriors’ dream of an undefeated postseason last Friday night at The Q, but they couldn’t keep them from the ultimate goal, as Golden State held off a determined Cavaliers squad to take the 2017 NBA title for the second time in three season.
The Wine & Gold didn’t relinquish their title easily – rallying from a steep first-half deficit and staying within striking distance of Golden State throughout the second stanza.
But in the end, it was a case of too much Kevin Durant – with the angular superstar earning unanimous MVP honors in his first season with the Warriors.
Durant and LeBron James – who easily could’ve been named series MVP – waged an epic individual battle in the five-game series.
Durant averaged 35.2 points on 56 percent shooting – topping the 30-point plateau in each contest. LeBron led the Cavaliers in all major categories once again – becoming the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double in the Finals.
On Monday night, James led all scorers with 41 points – going 19-for-30 from the floor, leading both teams with 13 boards to go with eight assists, a pair of steals and a block.
James left everything on the floor in the finale – notching 14 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter as Cleveland desperately attempted to rally past the high-octane Warriors, who led by as many as 17 points in the first half.
For the series, the four-time MVP averaged 33.6 points on 56 percent shooting to go with 12.0 boards and 10.0 assists.
Just to illustrate what the Wine and Gold were up against in this game and the series – the Cavaliers shot 53 percent from the field in Monday’s defeat, forcing Golden State into 13 turnovers that Cleveland converted into 25 points while piling up 62 points in the paint.
The Cavaliers led by four, 37-33, after an action-packed first quarter, but the Dubs hit the gas in the second – utilizing a 22-2 run to turn a four-point deficit into a six-point lead. And 8-2 Cavaliers’ run to close the half kept Cleveland competitive heading into the second stanza.
The Warriors couldn’t shake the Cavaliers after intermission – threatening to pull away throughout the second half. But LeBron’s layup to start the fourth period got Cleveland to within three – 98-95 – and the Cavs kept coming from there.
But the Dubs kept the heat on as well, and used a 14-6 burst late in the fourth to give themselves enough cushion to spend the final moments of the game celebrating their title – and the fact that they didn’t allow the Cavaliers to steal another Game 5 and send the series back to Cleveland.
”I broke down so I couldn't really finish my speech,” admitted Coach Lue after the loss. “A lot of guys cried because they wanted it bad. And that's all you can ask. If you give all your effort and all the fight and all the heart you got, it doesn't necessarily mean you're going to win, and that's what's tough about sports. I credit our guys. I thought they gave everything they had, and we fought, we competed, and we never gave in, but they beat us.”
Kyrie Irving followed up his 40-point outburst on Friday night with a 26-point effort in Game 5 – going 9-for-22 from the field to go with six assists and a pair of steals.
LBJ and Kyrie lead the way and Swish adds a spark with 25 points.
”This has been probably the longest year-and-a-half of my life, hands-down,” said Irving. “So just a test of will, a lot of individual adversity as well as collective adversity that leads all up to this moment. You don't come out on the successful side, still it's no time to wallow in any sorrows or anything like that, just congratulate the other team like we did and then we move on.”
J.R. Smith got hotter as the series progressed and saved his best for last – finishing with 25 points, going 9-of-11 from the floor, including 7-of-8 from long-distance in the loss.
”(We have to) try to even it up again next year,” said Swish after the loss. “Getting here isn’t enough, especially once you’ve been here already multiple times.”
Tristan Thompson also had his best outing of the Finals in Game 5 – tallying 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting to go with eight boards, three assists and a steal.
Kevin Love grabbed double-digit boards for the third time in the Finals in Monday’s loss – snagging 10 boards but struggling from the floor, finishing with just six points on 2-of-8 shooting.
Once again, the Cavaliers didn’t get much from their bench outside of Richard Jefferson. Jefferson and Kyle Korver were the only two reserves to score on Monday night – and they combined for just seven points compared to 35 by Golden State’s second unit.
The Cavs held Klay Thompson in check for the second straight contest, but Steph Curry bounced back in a big way – tallying 34 points on 10-of-20 shooting, going 12-of-15 from the stripe and leading both squads with 10 assists.
Turning Point -- One of the many dangers that go with facing the Warriors is their ability to turn a tight game into a blowout in a very short time.
The Dubs didn’t blow the Cavaliers out on Monday night, but they did turn a nip-and-tuck contest after one quarter into a catch-up situation for Cleveland all night after a second-quarter outburst.
The Cavs were razor-sharp after one quarter and extended their lead to eight, 41-33, on LeBron’s dunk early in the second. But Cleveland would hit just two field goals over the next six minutes and change while the Warriors proceeded to heat up.
When the smoke cleared, the Cavaliers found themselves down by 17 – needing a late second-quarter rally just to stay attached for the second half.
By the Numbers – .630 … J.R. Smith’s three-point shooting percentage – (17-for-27) – over the last three games of the 2017 Finals after going 1-for-6 from the floor, including 1-of-4 from deep through the first two contests.
Quotable – LeBron James, when asked the difference between him in the Finals now vs. his first experience in 2007 …
”I put in the work individually, in the film room, in my mind, my body every single day to prepare myself for whatever obstacle that this ball club entails. Does it always result in us winning? No. This is my third year here, and we haven't won every game. We haven't won every Finals, obviously. We lost two of them. So but like I've always told myself, if you feel like you put in the work and you leave it out on the floor, then you can always push forward and not look backwards.”
Up Next -- An offseason trying to figure out a way to return to the NBA Finals for the fourth straight year – and beat the Warriors when they get there.