The Golden State Warriors made a statement in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, trouncing the Cleveland Cavaliers
Anyone who had watched the Golden State Warriors would most likely have agreed with the assumption that, even after a 73-win regular season, the defending NBA Champions would need Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson (or both) to be on their games in Game 1 of the 2016 NBA Finals, especially if LeBron James and Kyrie Irving were playing well. However, that wasn’t the case for the Warriors on Thursday night in Oracle Arena.
It was the role players that carried the Warriors for much of the first half as they built a small lead over the visiting Cavaliers. Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala were absolutely fantastic throughout the night, as were big men Festus Ezeli and Andrew Bogut.
Even with the role players stepping up, though, the Warriors still needed a little more from their stars down the stretch after three quarters of just surviving. They got that at the start of the third quarter when Draymond Green started stepping up and making big plays on both end.
That run early in the fourth quarter propelled the Warriors further ahead. Though LeBron and company attempted to make a run down the stretch, Curry and Thompson finally arrived when it mattered to hit big threes. That put the nail in the Cleveland coffin and allowed the home team Warriors to push ahead to the Game 1 victory.
Three Stars
Draymond Green, Warriors – 16 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, four steals, one block
LeBron James, Cavaliers – 23 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, two steals, one block
Andre Iguodala, Warriors – 12 points, six assists, seven rebounds, one steal.
Highlights
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