Maurice Dixon @WriturRece
With Draymond Green, the defensive anchor of the Golden State Warriors, not in the lineup due to a one-game suspension, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving took full advantage as the Cleveland Cavaliers avoided elimination with a 112-97 road victory in Oakland on June 13.
James and Irving both scored 41 points and both did damage all over the floor. James set the tone with 12 points in the first quarter and 25 at the break without an assist, signifying he was in full attack mode early.
Irving knocked down virtually every shot he took whether it was a stepback jumper, fallaway jumper or bank off the glass.
Smith was the only other Cavalier in double figures with 10 points and Tristan Thompson grabbed 15 rebounds.
If James (16 rebounds) and Irving didn’t put on the show they did, Klay Thompson may have been awarded the Finals MVP trophy due to a 37-point outing with six 3-pointers. Stephen Curry added 25 points and Andre Iguodala added 15, 11 rebounds and six assists.
Green was suspended for a flagrant foul against James in Game 4. He will be back for Game 6 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on June 16 but Andrew Bogut may not be in the lineup after suffering a knee injury.
Will James be as aggressive in Game 6 with the pressure still present and can Irving have a similar or better outing to bring the series back to Oakland on Father’s Day?