Lebron Shines As Cavs Force Game Five

Game Two of the NBA Finals turned into another thriller at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Two pieces of history were made in this high stakes basketball game. Game two, once again, went into overtime, making it the first time in NBA Finals history that the first two games went to overtime. Also history has been made as the Cleveland Cavaliers have finally won a game in the NBA Finals, a first in franchise history. Cleveland pulled off a 95-93 win in overtime, pulling them even with the Golden State Warriors, and Cleveland did it, in large part, on the will and strength of one Lebron James.

King James led the way for the Cavs, pulling down his 5th career triple double in the finals. Lebron finished with 39 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists. Those 39 points were good enough to lead all scorers. The King really was at his best, as James either scored or assisted on 66 of Cleveland's 95 points. Combined, through the first two games, the King has dropped 83 points. Those two game totals in the Finals was second all time to Jerry West's 94, which West accomplished in the 1969 Finals.

Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 34 points and Curry added 19, but was only 5-for-23 from the floor, including 2-15 from 3-point range. The margin was close through the first three quarters until Cleveland built a 79-68 lead with 5:00 remaining in the final period. However, a late Warriors 19-8 run tied the game at 87, capped by a Curry layup with eight seconds remaining. James had a jump shot to win the game in regulation, but misfired and the rebound tipback attempt by Tristan Thompson was unsuccessful. In the overtime, James scored the first five points, but Draymond Green answered with back-to-back baskets and Curry added two free throws for a 93-92 lead with 10.1 seconds left.

The ensuing Cavaliers possession resulted in a three point attempt by James Jones which missed, but Matthew Dellavedova was fouled on the rebound by Harrison Barnes. Dellavedova hit both free throws to give the Cavaliers the lead. After a timeout, the Warriors went to Curry, who missed a jumper which James rebounded and he was fouled. James hit one of two at the line and with no timeouts left, the Warriors had to go the length of the floor to get a last shot attempt, but Curry's pass near midcourt was stolen by Shumpert as the clock ran out.

The victory for the Cleveland Cavaliers was their first ever single game Finals victory, having lost Game 1 of this series, and being swept in the 2007 Finals to San Antonio.

Now everybody has been talking about the play of King James, and with good reason. But there was another surprising factor that took place in this game. That was the fact hat Stephen Curry, the League's MVP, was having a down night. Sure Curry dropped 19 points, but he went 5 for 23 and, even more shocking, was the fact that he was 2 of 15 from three point range. Curry only hit two three pointers in the entire basketball game. He's coming off an MVP season, one of the best three point shooters in the entire league. Held to hitting just two shots from three point range is considered a down night for one of the best shooters in the entire sport. I know it's just one game, but Curry has to forget about the night he just had and rebound for game three. A lot of credit has to go to Matthew Dellavedova for playing fantastic defense against Curry.

Cleveland did an excellent job in this basketball game of shortening up the court. The Cavaliers slowed the pace down to their style of play and never let the Warriors play at their speed. Cleveland dominated the game. If your the Warriors, this looks awfully familiar to what happened against Memphis. We know how that series ended. Good for Cleveland that they finally won a game in the finals. Now the question is: Will the Cavs take advantage of what happened in game two or will the Warriors respond in game three? Only time will tell