NBA Finals 2015, Cavaliers vs. Warriors Game 2: Recap and highlights (Video)

93. 41. 95. 156. Final

The NBA Finals looked like they might take a dip thanks to injuries, but things got really fun between the Cavaliers vs. Warriors in Game 2.

After the first game of the NBA Finals, the basketball world was petrified of what would lie ahead in a series where both Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving were out and the Cavaliers were relying solely on LeBron James to carry them. All postseason long the pundits were saying that Cleveland was being carried by LeBron James, completely forgetting other bit players outside of the Big 3.

Those players showed up in a big way in Game 2, as Tristan Thompson, Matthew Dellavedova and J.R. Smith all stepped up to help even the series 1-1 heading back home. The Warriors were stifled by the Cavaliers attack, as they anticipated a weakened team without Kyrie Irving but instead were met by an inspired one.

The numbers were on Cleveland’s side, as the team was more defensively efficient without Kyrie Irving and were 4-0 in the postseason with Matthew Dellavedova in the lineup. That was a streak which was extended on Sunday night as the Cavaliers evened the NBA Finals and have rejuvenated themselves in a big way.

It wasn’t always the Cavaliers game to lose, as the Warriors actually started strong coming off their decisive Game 1 win.

Both Steph Curry and Andrew Bogut were rolling early with no-look passes and destructive plays that made the Cavaliers look foolish.

Bogut was in on another play in which he was a monster early on and looked like a thorn in the side of the Cavaliers they wouldn’t be able to dislodge.

Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala got in on the fun as well, hooking up for a monster alley-oop to continue pestering the Cavaliers.

Steph Curry tangled up Matthew Dellavedova and embarrassed him in the only way he knew how to. Delly was amped to be in the game, but Steph Curry immediately put him in check.

You might be wondering why the Warriors had all the highlights but the Cavaliers were the ones who came out on top. There was a simple explanation for all that and it’s never going to get old.

LeBron James went off in the fourth quarter and helped stifle the Warriors down the stretch to get the Cavaliers the win they need. James picked up another triple-double and truly carried the team on his back the way the pundits were saying he did.

Things got interesting at the end of the game though, as the NBA Finals is going to be a series of runs and the Warriors went on one for the ages to make the game close. Cleveland fumbled away the lead that LeBron James helped build for them and nearly lost the game in the final minute.

While the Cavaliers didn’t lose in regulation, the Warriors were able to stop the bleeding enough to force overtime. It marks the first time in NBA history that the first two games of the NBA Finals have gone to overtime to decide a winner.

Looking back though, this missed dunk by Mareese Speights ended up being more crucial than we all thought at the time.

Cleveland had a rough go of things in overtime, but they were able to pull it out despite Golden State’s best efforts.

The win was obviously cathartic for LeBron James, who has finally won his first NBA Finals game with the Cavaliers.

Everyone is headed to Cleveland now, as Game 3 is going to be truly decisive in the series. The Cavaliers cannot afford to lose games at home, as they can barely win them on the road and have half a team to trot out onto the floor. It’s a series of uncertainty still, but one thing is clear — things got really fun really quickly in Game 2 and that’s not going to stop anytime soon.

So where can you watch Game 2 of the Cavaliers vs. Warriors and when will all of the action go down? We have all the information you need to know right here so you don’t miss a second of the action.

Date: Tuesday, June 9th
Start Time: 9pm ET
Venue: Quicken Loans Arena
Location: Cleveland, OH
Series Score: Series tied 1-1
TV Channel: ABC
Live Stream: Watch ESPN | ESPN3

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