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 Matthew Dellavedova made a pair of free throws to put Cleveland
ahead with 10 seconds to go in overtime and the injury-hit Cavs held
on for the Game Two triumph.
James had scored 44 points in his team’s series opening loss and
again carried the offensive burden with 39 points, 16 rebounds and
11 assists for the Cavaliers, who lost All Star Kyrie Irving to a
serious knee injury in Game One.
Irving had surgery on Saturday to repair his fractured left kneecap,
a procedure described as successful by the team.
James said it have been a difficult time for the team.
“Very emotional win right here with everything we’ve been through,”
he told reporters. “For us to tough it out like this (and) be able
to come back and even the series is big time.”
Cleveland’s relentless defense held Golden State to 39 percent
shooting and made it a forgettable night for regular season MVP
Stephen Curry.
Curry had just 19 points on 5-for-23 shooting but he capped the home
team’s comeback with a game-tying layup with eight seconds left in
regulation that forced overtime.
Curry then put Golden State ahead 93-92 with a pair of free throws
with half a minute left in the extra session but then fluffed a
potential game-tying shot and committed a turnover on the Warriors
last two possessions.
“Shots I normally make, I knew as soon as they left my hand that
they were off,” Curry said. “That doesn’t usually happen. One game
isn’t going to alter my confidence.”
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Klay Thompson led Golden State’s offense with 34 points.
Cleveland had key additional key performances from Timofey Mozgov
(17 points, 11 rebounds) J.R. Smith (13 points) and Dellavedova, who
led the defensive stand against Curry.
“He's a courageous kid that plays right,” said Cavaliers coach David
Blatt of Dellavedova.
“He played big tonight, and we needed him to.”
Game Three is on Tuesday in Cleveland. The opening two games have
both gone to overtime, a first for the NBA Finals.
(Reporting by Jahmal Corner; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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