After surprisingly needing overtime to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors brought a much better effort in Game 2 to come away with a 120-97 victory at Oracle Arena.
FINAL STAT LINES from the @warriors Game 2 victory at home!
Steph: 33 PTS, 9 3PM, 8 AST, 7 REB
Durant: 26 PTS, 9 REB, 7 AST
Klay Thompson: 20 PTS
JaVale: 12 PTS, 6-6 FGM
Livingston: 10 PTS, 5-5 FGM#DubNation #NBAFinalsLeBron: 29 PTS, 13 AST, 9 REB
Kevin Love: 22 PTS, 10 REB pic.twitter.com/7IKK9ukKxP— NBA (@NBA) June 4, 2018
As usual, the Warriors were led by their Big 3, with Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson combining for 79 points on very efficient shooting. But it was Curry that really put on a show, especially in the fourth quarter.
Curry scored 33 points and set an NBA Finals record with nine-three pointers. He made five of the threes in the fourth quarter to put the game away, and the most incredible three came on a desperate 28-footer with the shot clock running down. This is a completely ridiculous shot, but it’s just the same ol’ from the two-time NBA MVP:
Two minutes later, Curry ran this pretty play with Draymond Green to set up another crazy three-pointer, and this one included a foul:
And with under four minutes remaining, Curry hit the record-setting ninth three:
Oh, and Curry had eight assists. The Cavs were obviously terrified of letting him shoot threes, and on this play, you see them biting for the shot fake before Curry hits Durant for an easy pick-and-roll jam:
The series now heads to Cleveland, and LeBron James and the Cavs essentially face a must-win situation for Games 3 and 4. That’s especially the case in Game 3; the Cavs sure as heck aren’t beating the Warriors four straight times, which they would need to do if trailing 3-0.
And even with Game 3 in Cleveland, the Warriors open as 5.5-point favorites.
Game 3 NBA Finals odds:
Warriors -5.5 at Cavaliers.
Total 217.5.pic.twitter.com/cxODA53w1v
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) June 4, 2018
And even if the Cavs were to win Games 3 and 4, they still have to win at least one game at Oracle. The Warriors are currently in outstanding shape to win their third NBA title in four seasons.
