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SPORTS Tuesday 5 June 2018
Curry dazzles from deep, Warriors take 2-0 NBA Finals lead

By JANIE McCAULEY with a baseline 3 again
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) over Love and four-point
— Stephen Curry play at the 5:44 mark of the
backpedaled in pure joy. fourth.
He skipped, hollered and let "He's a big shot taker, big
the ball fly from everywhere shot maker," Draymond
with that feeling he gets Green said. "Tough shot
when there's no way it will taker, tough shot maker."
miss — unwavering even The long shot over Love
with a defender's hand in stood out to Curry's Splash
his face. Brother, Thompson.
Curry dazzled in outdueling "About seven seconds
LeBron James as the two on the clock he just kept
superstars traded big shots going backward, I don't
and celebratory moves, know why, but he just threw
hitting an NBA Finals- it up and I didn't think it
record nine 3-pointers and had any chance of going
scoring 33 points to lead in," Thompson said. "That
the Golden State Warriors was kind of like a dagger
to a 122-103 victory over shot. It just gave us all the
the Cleveland Cavaliers on momentum back."
Sunday night for 2-0 lead. The two-time MVP made 11
"Pretty special night," of 26 shots and was 9 for 17
Curry said, "and hopefully from deep.
some more special things James pointed with both
happen and we get two hands after his 3 with 11:04
more wins." remaining got his team
Kevin Durant found his within seven, before Curry
steady stroke to score answered from deep the
26 points to go with nine next two trips down the
rebounds and seven floor.
assists while also handling "Those moments when Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after scoring against the Cleveland
Cavaliers during the first half of Game 2 of basketball's NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, June
a load of the defensive you can come down and 3, 2018.
assignment against James. answer and keep the Associated Press
Klay Thompson added momentum on our side, it's
20 points playing on a big," Curry said. "Keep the outstretched arm midway fans during pregame Cavaliers: James' first-half
tender left leg to put the crowd into it." through the third, then introductions and "M-V-P!" line: 15 points, eight assists,
defending champions two Curry and James had a Tristan Thompson's basket chants greeted him when seven rebounds, two steals.
wins from a repeat title they tense moment in the third, the next possession pulled he went to the foul line. His first points — the first for
have talked about since too. the Cavs within 72-66. But Thompson played after Cleveland — came on a
the season began last fall. James became irate at they couldn't contain Curry bruising his lower left leg goaltend by McGee. ...
James followed up his the officials for a no-call on and the rest of the Warriors when Smith slid into him in After holding a 19-4 edge
51-point performance in Curry, who ran beneath the for extended stretches. the first quarter Thursday. on the offensive glass in
Game 1 with 29 points, 13 Cavs star and didn't let him The Warriors vowed to The Warriors All-Star has Game 1, the Cavs were
assists and nine rebounds land with 3:54 remaining make it harder for James never missed a postseason 15-7 on Sunday.
in a far tamer finals sequel in the quarter as James to generate good looks game. Warriors: Curry broke Ray
— and a much more caught Love's long pass after he shot 19 for 32 in the Kerr went with 7-foot big Allen's mark of eight for
lopsided one — minus the and went out of bounds. series opener, and James man McGee to start in most 3s in a finals game.
utter craziness of a drama- Cavs coach Tyronn Lue went 12:06 of game time place of Kevon Looney — ... Thompson played in
packed opener three days was hit with a technical, between made baskets. McGee's 10th career start his franchise-record 100th
prior. saying afterward he didn't James went 10 for 20, in the postseason. postseason game. He also
Game 3 is Wednesday say much but was on the showing few signs his shot McGee scored the first became the sixth player
night in Cleveland. court. was altered by a bloodshot four points as Golden State to ever make 300 3s in the
"We want to continue to JaVale McGee scored 12 left eye. He had been made its initial seven shots postseason, joining Curry
be uncomfortable," James points, making all six of his taking antibiotics and using and 10 of 11. as the Warriors to reach the
said. "Just because we're shots in his first career NBA drops after being poked in Another key role player, feat. ... The Warriors were 13
going home doesn't mean Finals start as Kerr made a the eye by Green in the first Shaun Livingston, made his of 15 from inside the arc in
we can relax." lineup switch that proved half Thursday. five field-goal tries for 10 the opening quarter. They
Kevin Love had 22 points spot on. The Warriors earned a points to give Golden State shot 59.5 percent in the first
and 10 boards for the The typically efficient wacky 124-114 overtime a lift in the first half after half despite going 6 of 19
cold-shooting Cavs, who Durant connected on 10 win in Game 1 Thursday making all four of his shots on 3s. They finished 15 for
will now try to gain some of 14 shots after going just night — featuring J.R. Smith's Thursday. 36 from long range.
momentum back home. 8 for 22 — 1 of 7 on 3s — in blunder when he grabbed "They're a dangerous IGUODALA STILL OUT
Curry had the shot of the the opener but still scoring an offensive rebound in ballclub no matter what," Warriors forward Andre
night with 7:54 to play, 26 points. the waning moments of James said. "It starts with Iguodala missed his sixth
making an off-balance Last year's NBA Finals MVP regulation and dribbled those four guys, those four straight postseason game
swish from several feet made his initial five field back toward halfcourt All-Stars. Everybody else nursing a bone bruise in his
behind the 3-point arc goals Sunday, driving right rather than shooting for the just does their job and they left knee.
over Love as the shot clock at James on offense and victory, and an overturned don't miss a beat when Kerr remains optimistic the
wound down, then scooted doing all he could to fluster charge call against James. they put someone in or 2015 NBA Finals MVP will
backward in delight. Curry him on defense. Smith received rousing they take someone out." play at some point in the
fell into the first row of fans James hit a 3 over Durant's cheers from the home TIP-INS series.q