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SPORTS A21
Saturday 6 June 2015

NBA Finals

Warriors hold off James, Cavs for 108-100 OT win in Game 1

almost the same spot. en State a 105-98 lead with
Iguodala wasn’t about to 2:02 to play.
let it happen again. Irving limped to the bench
“I kind of knew that play trying to shake off his trou-
he wanted to get into, just blesome left leg after the
going left, step back, and play.
I was right there on him,” The Warriors went ahead
Iguodala said. 108-98 on free throws
Curry drew two fouls at with 1:16 to play, effec-
the start of overtime and tively ending the contest.
made all four free throws, James’ uncontested layup
and Harrison Barnes hit a with 8.9 seconds left ac-
corner 3 just in front of the counted for Cleveland’s
Cavs bench to give Gold- only points in overtime.q

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James
(23) walk on the floor during the second half of Game 1 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Oakland,
Calif., Thursday, June 4, 2015.

Associated Press

ANTONIO GONZALEZ room after aggravating eight assists) carried their
AP Basketball Writer his troublesome left leg in clubs through the fourth
OAKLAND, California (AP) overtime. He did not re- quarter, trading scores
— Golden State over- turn. and assists in a back-and-
came a big performance With Kevin Love already forth duel.
by LeBron James to beat out, the Cavs can ill afford Both stars also had a
Cleveland 108-100 in over- to lose Irving for Game 2 chance to win the game
time on Thursday to take on Sunday in Oakland. in the closing seconds of
the opening game of the “You can see in the tone regulation.
NBA Finals. of my voice I’m a little wor- With the scores tied,
In the NBA decider for the ried,” said Irving, who bur- Curry beat Irving off the
first time in 40 years, the ied his head in his hands dribble and moved in for
Warriors rallied from an at his locker and left on the layup. Instead, Irving
early 14-point deficit, ab- crutches. blocked the shot from be-
sorbed a Finals personal- Warriors coach Steve Kerr hind, J.R. Smith came up
best 44 points from James said he hopes Irving is able with the rebound and the
and shut down Cleveland to play the remainder of Cavs called a timeout with
in the extra session, when the series. 24.1 seconds left.
league MVP Stephen Curry “I mean that,” Kerr said. James dribbled down the
stood tall for the Warriors. “You probably don’t be- clock and missed his jump
“It was just a classic five lieve me, but I mean that.” shot from just inside the left
minutes that we needed There were 13 lead chang- arc. Iman Shumpert just
to get that win,” Curry said es and 11 ties in a game got off a desperation shot
of the overtime. tightly contested across which nearly rimmed in at
James shot 18 of 38 from the board. There was little the buzzer.
the field and had eight re- edge in shooting (Warriors The Cavs never came so
bounds and six assists in 46 44.3 percent, Cavaliers close again, due to a se-
minutes. But the four-time 41.5 percent), rebounding ries of misfires in overtime.
MVP missed a long jumper (Warriors 48, Cavaliers 45) “I got to where I wanted
in the dying seconds of or assists (Warriors 24, Cav- to get, step back, made
regulation time which like- aliers 19). them before,” James
ly would have won it, and In the end, it came down said. “It’s a make or miss
Cleveland missed its first to the NBA’s top teams league, and we had our
eight shots of overtime. and biggest stars making chances.”
Adding to the Cavs’ frus- plays — or not. James hit a game-winning
tration, point guard Kyrie James and newly crowned 3 over Iguodala two sea-
Irving limped to the locker MVP Curry (26 points and sons ago with Miami from