- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Cleveland Cavaliers have taken a 14-point win on the back of a dominant display in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, sending the series to Game 7 against the Golden State Warriors.
Back on their home floor at the Quicken Loans Arena, all the pressure was on Cleveland to get the win and send it to Game 7, as it was during Game 5 when they took another big win.
The Eastern Conference champions raced out of the gates, getting away to an early 8-0 lead, in a first quarter that set the course of the game and the Warriors never found their way back in.
The lead was brought about by a fast starting Kyrie Irving and LeBron James, as well as a perfect defensive structure that didn’t allow the Warriors to make a majority of their shots.
In fact, by the end of the first quarter, it was the Cavaliers leading by 20 points after at one point have stretched the lead to 22. It was also the Warriors lowest scoring quarter of the season, as they went into the first break down 31-11.
Tristan Thompson was the biggest part of the defence during the first quarter, and indeed the entire game. After just 12 minutes of action Thompson had nine rebounds, including a few offensive ones, and by halftime had the double double.
Thompson’s combination with LeBron James on the offensive end was truly an incredible thing to watch, and throw in a firing Kyrie Irving – there was simply nothing the Warriors defence could do.
In a similar pattern to Game 3, the Warriors had little bursts of scoring and some solid defence at different points during the game, and nowhere was that more evident than the second quarter.
On the back of Klay Thompson’s shooting, they cut the lead to eight. Stephen Curry also started to find his range, but like a number of players struggled with foul trouble which severely limited his input.
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving managed to get back into the game and take the Cavaliers away again, before a stretch led by bench player Dante Jones just before the halftime bell took the lead back out to 16.
The third quarter saw the Warriors take over the flow of the game, and another big stretch led by Curry and Thompson kept them in it. That was before Thompson scored 10 straight points on the cusp of three quarter time to bring the lead back to single figures.
Of course, that wasn’t even the biggest run of the games with LeBron scoring 18 points for the Cavaliers without any of his teammates getting a bucket at one point.
The fourth quarter was high scoring, and started out bucket for bucket. When Thompson missed a three point bomb though, and things began to unravel it was clear Game 7 was going to be needed.
With just under half the final quarter remaining, Curry would pick up his sixth and final foul, before being called for a technical and ejected from courtside after throwing his mouthguard.
it started the final run for the Cavaliers, as they ran away with the 14 point victory.
Cleveland take all the momentum back to the Oracle Arena for Game 7 having won two straight. If they can continue their lock down defensive ways and silence the crowd early on, then they could well get the job done.
For Golden State, a massive turnaround of their last two games is needed.
Either way, the NBA Finals are going to Game 7 and it is set to be a cracker.
Final Score
Cleveland Cavaliers 115
Golden State Warriors 101
The Cleveland Cavaliers look to force Game 7 in the NBA Finals when host the Golden State Warriors. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of Game 6 from 11am (AEST).
Heading into Game 5, the Cavaliers appeared dead and buried, having to travel and already down 3-1 in the series.
Needing to win the last three matches of the series, the Cavs started strongly in Oakland on Tuesday morning (AEST).
While it was far from the most dominant of victories, 15 points gets the job done – as does a slow tempo and lock-down defence in the last quarter.
The Warriors only added 13 points during the final term, and while the Cavaliers only added 19, it didn’t matter because of the quality of defence.
LeBron James was at his best, scoring 41 points and shooting 16 of 30 from the field. What was maybe even more impressive was the 16 rebounds, four of those on the offensive glass.
While the Warriors were missing Draymond Green, it was still a poor effort boxing out and stopping the Cavs having their way inside the paint. They also ended up shooting 53 per cent from the field.
Cleveland got their own defensive structure right, restricting the Warriors to just 36 per cent from the field.
It wasn’t just the defensive work though, with Golden State falling into a trap they have done a few times throughout the playoffs and finals – just taking whatever shot presents itself, rather than looking for the best options.
Despite Klay Thompson putting up 37 points, Steph Curry is struggling for rhythm since coming back from knee and ankle injuries, and only managed 25 with just eight of 21 from the field, and five of 14 from deep.
If the Warriors want to compete away from home, a lot comes down to fill-in centre Festus Ezeli. With Australian Andrew Bogut out injured, Ezeli should come into the starting team and has a major role to play in cutting down LeBron.
Prediction
At the start of the series I was adamant it would be the Warriors in seven. After the first four games, it was hard to see it going to Game 6, but now it is here and Cleveland have the momentum on their home floor.
Game 7 here we come.
Cavaliers by 8.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Game 6 in the NBA Finals from 11am (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde