Game Three (Series Tied 1-1)

1st Quarter

Both team’s superstars start the game off aggressively. In front of the home crowd LeBron James hits a three, follows that up with a three-point play, then hits another three. He’d score the team’s first 11 points.

Stephen Curry is forcing the action on the offensive end. Here he drives and lays it in facing little resistance from the defense.

The Cavs are red-hot from the outside. They hit on their first 5 three-point attempts in jumping out to a 24-12 lead. Meanwhile the Warriors missed their first 4. Klay Thompson finally knocks down the first long-range shot for Golden State and it cuts the lead to 5.

The quarter comes to a close with the Cavs leading 29-25. LeBron had 16 in the quarter.

2nd Quarter

Steph Curry knocks down his first three of the game.

LeBron James goes up for the reverse dunk – it doesn’t go in clean but it’s the same two points in the end.

Late in the quarter on a fastbreak J.R. Smith lays it in to take back the lead.

It’s the Warriors on top however 47-46 at the half.

3rd Quarter

LeBron starts what will be a strong quarter for the Cavs with a drive and score.

J.R. Smith is fired up after hitting a couple three-pointers.

The Cavs would push the lead to as much as 12. LeBron throws down a thunderous jam.

The Warriors played well at the end of the quarter through trimming the lead to 6. It’s Cavs 78, Warriors 72.

4th Quarter

The first score of the quarter comes on a steal by Steph Curry who takes it the distance for the layup.

Just when it looked like the Warriors were pulling back into the game, with a Curry three to cut the lead to 5, Iman Shumpert hits a corner three.

The Cavs would hold a comfortable lead for the remainder of the game.

Cleveland takes a 2-1 series lead with a 107-99 victory.

Main Statistical Contributors

Cavaliers

LeBron James: 42 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 17-23 FG, 2-3 3PT

Kyrie Irving: 25 points, 9 assists, 3 rebounds, 10-16 FG, 2-5 3PT

J.R. Smith: 22 points, 5 assists, 9-13 FG, 4-7 3PT

Tristan Thompson: 2 points, 12 rebounds

Warriors

Stephen Curry: 27 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 10-22 FG, 3-7 3PT

Klay Thompson: 25 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 11-19 FG, 1-5 3PT

Andre Iguodala: 15 points, 2 rebounds, 6-12 FG, 1-3 3PT

Harrison Barnes: 12 points, 3 rebounds, 4-6 FG, 2-2 3PT

Andrew Bogut: 12 points, 7 rebounds, 6-10 FG

Draymond Green: 0 points, 10 rebounds, 0-4 FG, 0-3 3PT

Analysis

The Warriors were able to weather the early storm, but they never got out of the need to catch up, or keep up, with the Cavs. There was no real breakthrough stretch for them. Outside of the second quarter Cleveland controlled the pace and the outcome never seemed to be in question. They made too many tough, contested shots.

In addition the Warriors didn’t get near enough from fast breaks, scoring only 4 points. They need more production in transition to have a chance in these games. If not for that the team stats look fairly even. It was also a really poor performance out of Draymond Green.