The Cavaliers stood their ground in game 6, protecting their home court and forcing a game 7 back in Oakland on Sunday night.
Lebron James was the spark for Cleveland, finishing with a game high 41 points, along with eight rebounds and 11 assists.
Game 6 was a roller coaster of emotions for the Warriors. The game began with the Cavaliers dominating the first quarter and jumping out to a 20 point lead. The team looked emotionless and lacking the fire they had earlier in the series.
“We got off to a terrible start not getting stops,” said Warriors forward Draymond Green in a postgame interview. “We started the game with way too many jump shots and not putting pressure on their defense.”
Despite all this, the Warriors did mount a comeback, pulling to as close as seven points in the fourth quarter. But the game took a turn for the worst late in the fourth quarter when Warriors guard Steph Curry was called for his sixth foul, then promptly exchanged some frustrated words with the official before being assessed a technical foul. He then threw his mouthpiece while yelling at the referee into the crowd, hitting a fan in the front row.
“He had every right to be upset,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr in a postgame interview. “He is the MVP of the league, he gets six fouls called on him and three of them were absolutely ridiculous. He steals the ball from Kyrie (Irving) clean at one point and Lebron flops.”
From there the game fell apart for the Warriors and the Cavaliers cruised to a 115-101 victory.
“It’s frustrating,” said Warriors guard Klay Thompson in a postgame interview. “We just have to come out on Sunday with the mindset of leaving it all out there on the court, every man on this team.”
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| Infographic by Kavin Mistry |
There are not many positives to take away from this game for Golden State, but the biggest takeaway is that they will have one game to play for the championship and they will be on their home court.
The biggest difference in these two losses for the Warriors has been the play of forward Harrison Barnes. He had been a strong contributor on the offensive end for the Warriors in the first four games of the series, but has done nothing since. Tonight he finished 0-8 from the field, 0-5 from three and had no points.
The Warriors will need him to contribute if they are going to bounce back in game 7. On the other side, Curry was phenomenal, he scored 30 points before fouling out and kept the Warriors within striking distance throughout the game. Curry also set the record for most three’s made in a single series at 28.
“We are more mentally tough that to allow two games not going our way to create any doubt,” Curry said.
With the loss, the Warriors players and coaches are keeping spirits high, knowing that there is still another chance to win it all and they can do it at home.
“We need our crowd on Sunday,” said Thompson in a postgame interview. “I expect them to show up, be loud early. We feed off them.”
For the 19th time in NBA history, the NBA Finals will come down to a game 7.
“If you start out every season and you say we get a game 7, one game to win the championship, I’ll take it every time,” Kerr said. “I can’t wait for Sunday and I think we will be fine.”
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