CLEVELAND — With their backs against the wall, the Cleveland Cavaliers played their A+ game, scored an NBA Finals record 86 first-half points and avoided being swept Friday in a 137-116 Game 4 victory.
The first quarter was beyond bizarre, and dare I say rigged. Cleveland came out swinging, but they attempted 22 free throws in a record-setting 49-point first quarter. The Warriors were whistled for every ticky-tack foul — 12 total in the opening quarter. Draymond Green was called for a technical after getting tangled up with Iman Shumpert and arguing the call.
Later on, Green was momentarily ejected in the third quarter for arguing another foul call, but the refs — who had totally lost control of the game — rescinded the call, because apparently the first technical was on Steve Kerr? Seven total technical fouls were issued in Game 4. What a debacle. Many agreed.
“This ref crew is an absolute abomination,” Bill Simmons tweeted. “It’s a humiliating night for the NBA.”
Draymond Green was initially thought to be ejected. Now it's being reported Steve Kerr received one of the 2 issued technicals…what a mess pic.twitter.com/udXpw1syDD
— KNBR (@KNBR) June 10, 2017
The officials shook the normally stone cold confident Warriors. Their ball movement was completely off and their defense was arguably the worst it’s been all season. They totally lost focus and looked unhinged at times. Golden State lost their first game since a regular season lapse to the Utah Jazz on April 10.
Finally, the Cavs hit 24 total 3s — seven from Kyrie Irving and six from Kevin Love. Irving has been virtually unguardable the last two games. He scored 40 points on a 15-for-27 clip. LeBron gave confidence to his teammates from the get-go, and then started attacking and firing from all over the court. He finished with 31 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists. Love added 23 points. The Warriors hit just 11 of their 39 3s (26.3 percent).
We can end all the talk of 16-0, and Curry’s performance had a large reason to do with that. He was mostly silent on the offensive end, even hesitant at times, finishing with 14 points on 2-for-9 shooting from downtown. Klay Thompson battled foul trouble most of the first half and scored 13 points. The Warriors trailed by double-digits the entire game. It was ugly.
Kevin Durant was the only one really keeping the Warriors within reach. He scored 22 first half points (35 total) including a buzzer-beater before halftime — that only cut the lead to 18 points. Golden State made a mini rally early in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 13, but Irving kept responding. They couldn’t cut the lead down.
Late in the third quarter, replay showed Zaza Pachulia punching Shumpert in the groin. A one-game suspension could be in his future. Prior to the game Steve Kerr called Pachulia an unsung hero in this series. Shumpert was very physical marking Curry. Expect that to continue.
The champagne on ice will have to be saved for Monday, where Game 5 will convene back at Oracle Arena. The Warriors will have to play an entirely different game if they expect to close out the NBA Finals.