The sign of a great team is figuring out ways to win games when your shot isn’t falling. Well the Golden State Warriors, who lead the NBA in three-point percentage (42.3 percent), struggled from behind the arc (27.8 percent) and still grinded out a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, 89-83.
This was an NBA Finals matchup with the two best players in the league squaring off, Stephen Curry and LeBron James, but it was the underrated Draymond Green who stole the show. Green finished the game with 22 points (8-of-17 shooting), 15 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks.
In a losing effort, LeBron James finished the game with 25 points (10-of-26 shooting), nine rebounds and four turnovers. Kevin Love added a double-double with 10 points and 18 rebounds, while Kyrie Irving struggled with 13 points (4-of-15 shooting) and two assists.
Stephen Curry wasn’t efficient scoring the basketball tonight, finishing the game with 19 points on 6-of-15 shooting from the field, while recording seven assists and seven rebounds. Klay Thompson added 18 points and six rebounds.
Curry did have to go back to the locker room in the second quarter to get his strained right calf looked at. He would get it retaped and would get back in the game and played without any complaints.
The Warriors improved to 28-1 on the season because of their effort on the defensive end of the floor. Golden State held Cleveland to 31.6 percent shooting from the field and 16.7 shooting from behind the arc (5-of-30).
“It’s good to have one of those every so often,” reigning league MVP Stephen Curry said. “If our defense shows up, we’re in pretty good shape to win games. We just show our versatility and try to win different ways.”
The Cavaliers snapped their six-game winning streak on the road in Oracle Arena, a place the Warriors haven’t lost at all season. Cleveland played good enough defense to win the game, they just couldn’t muster up enough offense.
“We gave ourselves a chance," LeBron James said postgame. “If we play like that defensively, we’re going to be a very tough team to beat. Offensively, we just didn’t have it. No one had it.”
It was a close contest for most of the game, but with 3:47 left in the fourth quarter the Warriors had themselves a 10-point lead. However, LeBron James, like a former MVP would do, responds with two dunks to close the gap to six points. Golden State would lead 85-80 with 57.6 seconds left, but James would make only 1-of-2 free free throws and air ball a three-pointer with 12.7 seconds remaining, putting an end to Cleveland’s comeback.
There was a playoff type intensity to this game, as the referees would let contact slide for both teams. It was going to be the team who showed that extra grit that was going to win this Christmas Day game. When Draymond Green is on your team you will always have the upper hand in that area.
Cleveland will continue their road trip and face the Portland Trail Blazers tomorrow night. Golden State will have a couple days off before they host the Sacramento Kings on Monday.