Lebron, Cavs Even The Series

Great players step up in big moments when their team needs them the most and that's exactly what Lebron James, arguably the best basketball player on the planet, did for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  In overtime in Game 1 the other night, Kyrie Irving went down with an injury that ended his season.  So with both Irving and Kevin Love done for the season there was no more big three in Cleveland.  Many people thought the Cavs were done but Lebron said "not so fast."

Lebron turned in a performance to remember last night with a triple double.  He finished with 39 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists.  The 95-93 overtime victory, the second straight overtime game in the finals, didn't come easy especially in Oracle Arena, a place where the Warriors only lost three games this entire season.

The Cavs looked impressive throughout the course of the contest and seemed to have the game when Lebron hit a three-pointer with 3:13 left in the fourth quarter to go up 83-72.  That three could have very well been the dagger but Golden State mounted a comeback.  Stephen Curry, who was struggling the entire night, found his groove and during their run hit a big three pointer and tied the game on a finger-roll with 7.2 seconds left.  With the game tied, James got the ball and drove hard for a lay-up against three defenders but his attempt fell short and for the second straight game there was overtime.

In overtime, the game went back and fourth.  Curry put the Warriors in front with 29.5 seconds left on a pair of free throws, 93-92.  Then, Draymond Green blocked Lebron on a lay-up but the Cavs retained the ball.  After James Jones missed a three, Matthew Delladova grabbed the board and was fouled.  He made both free throws to put Cleveland ahead for good with 10 seconds left.  Curry air-balled a jumper, James got the rebound and hit one of two free throws with 4.4 seconds left.

After James made the free throw, Curry raced down the court and tried to pass the ball to Klay Thompson but Iman Shumpert batted the ball to seal the Cavs win.  Lebron James spiked the ball and pounded his chest.  The momentum has now shifted.

In the loss, Curry finished with 19 points and shot 5 of 23 from the floor, including 2 of 15 from three point range with six turnovers.  Probably his worst performance of the season.  Klay Thompson picked up much of the slack with 34 points but the Warriors as a team went 8 for 35 from long range and shot 39.8 percent overall.

For Cleveland it was their first finals game win in franchise history.  In their previous trip to the finals in 2007 they got swept by the Spurs 4-0.  With the series tied at one, the series now shifts to Cleveland tomorrow night.  Expect a super-charged Quicken Loans Arena to give the Cavs some home court advantage as the city is trying to end their championship drought.  One thing is for sure, this is going to be a long series but it will be very entertaining.