The Cavaliers had trouble adjusting to Steve Kerr’s Game 4 alterations and the end result was Golden State’s 103-82 romp that evened the NBA Finals at two games apiece.
Stephen Curry crossed over Tristan Thompson and splashed in a step-back three in the left corner to put the Warriors up 13 with eight minutes left. He pounded his chest and let out a scream.
That was his way of announcing that he was back and that his team wasn’t finished.
He ended the game with 22 points (on 17 shots) and was 4-of-7 from downtown. Golden State has not lost three straight this season.
No team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals and that’s the scenario the Warriors had to avoid. To do so, Kerr elected to go small by inserting small forward Andre Iguodala in the starting lineup for ineffective center Andrew Bogut. Draymond Green slid down to the five-spot and it was Iguodala’s first start of the year.
Kerr said he would go with his standard lineup during a pregame press conference, but clearly had something else in mind. Iguodala came through for 22 points and eight boards to go with four treys, while keeping LeBron James in check on the other end.
James and the Cavaliers broke out to a 7-0 start, capped by a behind-the-head James pass to to Timofey Mozgov who finished with a two-handed jam. The crowd went wild. But the Warriors called timeout, regrouped and then reentered the court a much different team.
The Warriors sent a double-team as soon as James put the ball on the floor to make his move, something they haven’t done all series. Their plan was to put the game in the hands of James’ supporting cast — which proved a winning strategy.
After at least 34 shot attempts in the previous three games, James managed just 22 shots and converted seven to finish with 20 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
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