The Golden State Warriors have beaten the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime of Game 1 in the NBA finals, winning 108-100 in a tough battle that ended in regular time 98-all.
LeBron James scored a personal record 42 points in the NBA Finals in regular time, but couldn’t buy a point in overtime until the final 10 seconds, adding two points in overtime – the only points Cleveland could score.
It was just the sixth overtime in Game 1 in the NBA Finals – the last in 2001.
Neither team could manage a point in overtime until Stephen Curry’s free-throws after close to two minutes, the MVP’s first of the game.
Curry was quiet for his standards in regular time, but managed to make four crucial points in overtime and finished with 26 points, and 8 assists.
The Cavaliers just couldn’t make a bucket beyond regular time, incredibly unable to make a point from 14 attempts, and allowing the Warriors to lead by their largest margin of 10 points, without answer.
Kyrie Irving, who had huge influence on the game appeared to re-injure his left knee in overtime, landing awkwardly during a drive and limped to the locker room in considerable pain and appeared to be in tears, a cruel blow for him and the Cavaliers.
Irving was terrific before the injury, making the play of the game to just tip a Curry lay-up away, adding 23 points and giving the Cavaliers spark that had been missing.
Andrew Bogut added four points and was strong in defense with two early blocks, while Matthew Dellavedova didn’t get the chance to make a shot in his nine minutes, as Irving returned.
LeBron was 18-38 from the field, with 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 turnovers, in an outstanding game that was regular-time brilliant, and overtime average.
The Cavaliers supporting band couldn’t repeat their Playoff success – JR Smith hitting just 3-13 from the field, while Iman Shumpert hit 50% from three-point range but only shot 2-4 for six points.
Ultimately, part of that was the isolation ball played by the Cavaliers, with LeBron and Irving dominating possession, but the issue in part for the Cavaliers was JR Smith shooting 1-10 on jumpers after the first quarter, 0-4 in the fourth and overtime, despite good looks.
Shumpert fired a tough chance in the final seconds of regular time, missing by a tiny margin.
This NBA Finals series looks set to be a classic, with Game 2 – Monday morning Australian time – again at home for Golden State, who will look set to take a huge two game to zero lead.
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