With Draymond Green back, the Golden State Warriors expected to have more fight in Game 6. It didn't work out that way. Cleveland raced out to a big lead and ended the first quarter with a 31-11 lead. The 11 points were the fewest in a quarter for Golden State all season.
Cleveland got help from their role players at home once again. J.R. Smith scored 14. Richard Jefferson had some unsung plays. Tristan Thompson was especially good with stunning dunks. He scored 15 and grabbed 16 rebounds.
But the Cavs thrived because of LeBron James. He scored 41 points, only the fifth player ever to score 40 or more in consecutive Finals games. Not only did he shoot well, but he added 11 assists and 8 rebounds. He was nearly the entire offensive until the competitive portion of the game ended. He also added 4 steals and 3 blocks. One of his blocks was on a Stephen Curry layup attempt. After the swat, LeBron talked a little trash out of the side of his mouth, reminded the two-time MVP who's still the best.
Curry scored 30 and shot well from both the line and beyond the arc. But he didn't play well. He was in constant foul trouble. He hoisted a deep three when the Warriors had cut the deficit to eight int he second quarter. That shot took Golden State out of its offense again. The Cavs went into the half with a 16 point lead.
In the 4th, Curry fouled out on a dubious call. He threw his mouthpiece, which hit a fan. and was ejected. He had already received his sixth foul, but the ejection cost the Warriors another point. Draymond Green was solid all around, but was also frustrated by foul trouble. Klay Thompson scored 25, but didn't make enough threes. Andre Iguodala, starting for the injured Andrew Bogut, was hampered by back spasm. Harrison Barnes didn't even score. Only Leandro Barbosa played well for the Warriors; he scored 14.
The Cavs won 115-101 to force a Game 7. They're only the third team in NBA Finals history to force a Game 7 after trailing 3-1.
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