Cavs’ win Game 2 NBA Finals

Dellavedova plays timely supporting role

Cavs’ win Game 2 NBA Finals

OAKLAND – Matthew Dellavedova saved the night with his relentless defense on Stephen Curry and his two free throws with:10.1 seconds remaining after sneaking into the paint for an offensive rebound, as it might have gone down as another game in which The king LeBron James came up short.
By the way, no consideration from the Cavs for Dellavedova, after his tremendous effort in Game 2, the Cavaliers bus went back to the hotel without him. He had to summon Uber for a ride back to the team hotel in San Francisco after the team bus left him behind.
King James and his Cavaliers pulled even with the Warriors at one game apiece at Oracle Arena despite losing Kyrie Irving in the opener to a fractured kneecap.
James had a triple-double with 39 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists, as the Cavaliers recorded their first victory in an NBA Finals game with a 95-93 victory in overtime.
And, now, the series heads to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Thursday.

“Obviously, he’s a guy that’s been counted out his whole life,” James said of Dellavedova, an undrafted second-year player from Saint Mary’s. “Probably people have been telling him he’s too small, he’s not fast enough, can’t shoot enough, can’t handle it good enough. And he’s beat the odds so many times.” “The confidence that we have in him allows him to be confident in himself. He goes out there and he just plays his tail off, and when a guy like that does that, he gets great results.”James said.

“He just kept a body on Steph. He made Steph work. He was spectacular, man… It had everything to do with Delly,”
Cavaliers coach David Blatt said. “He’s a courageous kid that plays right. There was a lot of nonsense swirling around about his style of play. I think anyone that really looks at him objectively and fairly recognizes someone that just plays hard, heartfelt, and tough basketball.”
Dellavedova’s stats were pale in comparison to James’ night. Dellavedova scored nine points – all after the third quarter — and grabbed five rebounds and three steals.
His biggest play of the night came when he got past Klay Thompson to get into position for a tip-back off a James Jones missed 3-point attempt with the Warriors leading 93-92 in overtime.
After Harrison Barnes was called for the foul on Dellavedova, the Australian went to the line and put down both free throws to give the Cavs a 94-93 lead.
“That is a classic thing you practice as a kid growing up,” Dellavedova said. “Down one, you need to make both free throws. So I felt like I’ve been in that situation a million times before.”

The results for Stephen Curry’s game were difficult to witness.
Dellavedova was not on him the whole time, but Curry did not make a shot from the perimeter while Dellavedova guarded him.
Curry made just 5-of-23 field-goal attempts, and was 2-of-15 behind the three-point line, and missed a 19-footer with Dellavedova closely guarding him.
At the end, Curry turned the ball over after the in-bounds pass and the Warriors could not even get off a desperation shot.

For the ninth consecutive time, James’ team has won a Game 2 of a playoff series after losing the first game. Just like in the opener, James had the ball in his hands with a chance to win the game in regulation.
This time, he drove to the basket in the closing seconds but got a good look at a left-handed layup with three defenders on him. The ball rolled off the rim to set up another overtime after the Warriors outscored Cleveland 15-4 in the final three minutes of regulation.
But, this time, the Cavaliers found a way to a 95-93 victory in overtime – despite missing seven of their eight shots in the extra five minutes.