The Cleveland Cavaliers fought and clawed with everything they had, but that just wasn’t enough as they got annihilated in game two, 113-132.
Golden State now sits with a 14-0 playoff record and is on pace to become the only team to go undefeated in route to a title.
It wasn’t just the Warriors’ impeccable performance that brought the roaring fans in Oracle Arena into a frenzy, but the return of their head coach, Steve Kerr.
He interacted with the fans and gave the sold out crowd a smile and a wave as he listened to the standing ovation.
Sunday night marked Kerr’s first game back since the first round of the playoffs against Portland on April 19.
Due to complications from the back surgery he had in 2015, Kerr stopped coaching to seek relief from the pain. Assistant coach Mike Brown has replaced Kerr in his absence.
From the start of the game, LeBron James was in attack mode taking all of his shot attempts in the paint. Despite James’ aggressive play, it didn’t phase the Warriors, who kept coming right back at the Cavs with their unstoppable offensive onslaught.
James led the way for the Cavs with a triple double posting 29 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists. Kevin Love also had a solid performance scoring 27 points, and grabbing 7 boards.
Warriors’ Forward Kevin Durant, once again had an excellent game scoring 33 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing six assists. Quick to follow was guard, Stephen Curry, who chipped into the offensive explosion recording a triple double of his own, finishing with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
During the second quarter, the Cavs scraped to earn every bucket as they continually cut down the Warriors lead to single digits. But the Warriors’ offensive brilliance was just too much for the Cavs to contain. The Warriors were taking and making any shot they wanted and that discouraged the Cavs from thinking they had a chance.
In the fourth quarter, the Cavs brought the Warriors lead down to 11 at the 8:00 mark. Cavs fans at home may have been thinking, “Hey the Cavs have some life, maybe the Warriors will cool off and we can make a run at them.” Well, those thoughts vanished immediately.
Following the Cavs’ miniature run, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry both buried their hopes knocking down three after three.
For the game, the Warriors made 18 total three-pointers, which according to ESPN, is the most in NBA Finals history.
Sunday night’s game was just an example of when you try your absolute best and leave it all on the floor, sometimes that maximum effort is still not enough. As the series shifts to Cleveland, James and the crew have to find a way to pull it together and get back into this series.
The Warriors now have a commanding 2-0 lead. Game three is now a must-win game for the Cavs, but despite Cleveland dropping both games in Oakland, if you remember, the Cavs lost both games last year and still found a way to come back and win the series.
Unfortunately though, they have to deal with the Durant factor this time around.
Game three of the NBA Finals will be tomorrow night, June 7, at 9 p.m., at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
