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 The Cavaliers have slowed the games to a tempo that has knocked
high-scoring Golden State out of sync while LeBron James has been
dynamic by averaging 41 points, 12 rebounds and 8.3 assists over the
first three games. "Every time the media or anyone thinks that he
can't accomplish something or do something remarkable, he always
answers the call," forward Tristan Thompson told reporters. "He's
playing great basketball for us, and we're just getting on his
shoulders and just riding him the through the game." League MVP
Stephen Curry is averaging 24 points in the series for the Warriors
but was nonexistent for most of the first 30 minutes in Game 3
before a strong final quarter in which he made five 3-pointers and
scored 17 points. "Whether I'm making shots or not, I've got to stay
-- I'll use the word vibrant -- just kind of having fun out there,"
Curry said at a press conference. "Because the team definitely feeds
off of my energy and the joy for the game."
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ABC
ABOUT THE WARRIORS: Golden State looks nothing like the squad that
recorded 67 regular-season victories and forward Draymond Green
criticized his team's effort and competitiveness on Wednesday's
off-day. "They're playing like a team that's desperate and needs
something," Green told reporters of the Cavaliers. "We're playing
like a team that's not desperate and got something. ... This isn't
the time to be quiet. Everybody should speak up. You be quiet now,
you'll be home in a couple of days." Perhaps the biggest positive
the Warriors could point to in Game 3 was the play of reserve
forward David Lee, who came off the bench to score 11 points in 13
minutes in his first action of the series.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS: Cleveland is already without point guard Kyrie
Irving (knee) and power forward Kevin Love (shoulder) and
sidestepped more misfortune when guards Iman Shumpert (shoulder) and
Matthew Dellavedova (severe dehydration) had issues in Game 3.
Shumpert collided with the screening Green and injured his left
shoulder -- an MRI exam performed Wednesday displayed the injury was
only a bruise -- while Dellavedova cramped up so badly after
Tuesday's 20-point performance that he was taken to a hospital via
ambulance and spent the night receiving IV treatments. "I felt like
I pushed the limit a few times," Dellavedova told reporters
Wednesday after returning to the team. "That's the most tired I've
been. I'm feeling good now, though."
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BUZZER BEATERS
1. Golden State F Harrison Barnes missed all eight of his shots in a
scoreless Game 3 effort.
2. James has attempted a whopping 107 shots -- making 40.2 percent
-- over the first three games.
3. Warriors SG Klay Thompson had just 14 points in Game 3 after
averaging 27.5 points over the first two games.
PREDICTION: Warriors 94, Cavaliers 90
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