LeBron James recorded a triple-double, Kyrie Irving scored 40 points and Cleveland outperformed the NBA's most electrifying offense in a testy Game 4 filled with technical fouls on Friday night, beating the Warriors 137-116 and ending their ideal postseason. They dropped 49 points in the first quarter, 86 by halftime, and ended up with 137 for the game - all National Basketball Association records.
No team has escaped a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA playoff series in 126 tries and the Warriors can claim the crown by winning game five at home on Monday in Oakland, California, but the Cavs made the greatest NBA Finals comeback past year from 3-1 down to beat the Warriors.
(Reminder that we're not done with the memes yet, nor should we be.) We can appreciate the Cavaliers in Game 4 while still understanding that the Warriors are the overwhelming favorites to win this series, and probably in Game 5 when they return home.
"We have a great opportunity to give ourselves another opportunity to keep going", James said.
When the Warriors received 31 points from Kevin Durant and 30 from Klay Thompson in Game 3, it was the first time a team had two players score 30 points in consecutive Finals games since Elgin Baylor and Jerry West did it with the Los Angeles Lakers in Games 6 and 7 of the 1962 Finals. The Cavaliers won that game to start what became the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history.Now they need the biggest ever in the NBA's postseason.No team has erased a 3-0 deficit in any series. "We have to come out with some fire and try it get done".
With his first basket of the night, James moved past Michael Jordan (1,176) for the 3rd most points in NBA Finals history. "So we're in a great spot, and now we have to capitalize", Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
The Cavs set an NBA Finals record for most three pointers made in a game, connecting on 20 of their 33 three-point attempts at the end of the third quarter.
Cleveland put up numbers normally reserved for the NBA All-Star Game. Kyrie Irving was at the centre stage of the Cavs' turnaround, scoring 40 points, seven of them 3-pointers.
"He's just been very special in close-out games", James said. Green might be the Warrior most comfortable in this environment, one that clearly benefited the Cavs overall tonight.
Adam West dies at 88 year old
Like many actors of his era, West's career started with parts in westerns and TV shows, including " Perry Mason " and " Lawman ". He would go on to play different, exaggerated and eccentric versions of himself as the Mayor of Quahog for more than 15 years.
It was a record previously held by Golden State for all of five days. Cleveland's coming back, again. The Cavaliers have their work cut out for them, but previous year no team had ever come back from down 3-1 and they ended up winning the title.
So what did we learn in Game 4?
"Obviously, his body language, pointing finger at me, looking at me, pointing at me", Pachulia said.
But they never got closer.
Later in the quarter, confusion arose as Green seemingly received his second technical foul of the game that would have resulted in an automatic ejection.
Draymond Green (16 points, 14 rebounds) finished with a double-double.
"I shot some tough ones", Irving said. Heading into Friday night, they had stormed through the playoffs with 15 straight victories, 30 wins in 31 overall, and it was plausible for people to wonder if they could become the first team to go 16-0 in a postseason.
The game was the most physical yet of the Finals and saw James and Durant come face-to-face at midcourt for a heated argument while a play was being reviewed.
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