Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts to being called for a foul against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Cleveland, Thursday, June 16, 2016. Tony Dejak AP Photo
BY TIM REYNOLDS
James’ mega billboard in downtown Cleveland once took up the side of a building
CLEVELAND (Diya TV) — And were we ever Thursday night.
LeBron James delivered one of the greatest performances of his career Thursday night against the visiting Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. James, for the second-straight game, scored 41 points as he and his Cavaliers’ teammates forced a decisive Game 7 in the 115-101 victory.
James, who made 16 of 27 shots from the floor, added 11 assists, eight rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots to his final stat line on the night. The four-time MVP scored 18 consecutive points for the Cavaliers during the third quarter, setting up one more game to deliver Cleveland sports fans the city’s first professional sporting championship since the 1964 Browns, and to try to become the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 series deficit in the Finals.
“We’ve been able to beat a great team two straight games to force a game seven. I can’t wait,” James said after the win. “I’m going to give everything I’ve got in game seven. Records are meant to be broken. We gave it our all tonight and we were able to come away with a victory.”
It was James’ 17th career 40-plus point playoff game of his career.
It’s just the second time in league history the team down 3-1 has forced a Game 7 in the NBA Finals, it last happened 50 years ago by the Los Angeles Lakers. However much momentum the Cavaliers are bringing back to Oracle Arena, the odds are not in their favor — only three times in the 18 NBA Finals’ game sevens that have been played has the road team emerged victorious.
Cleveland took a stranglehold of the game from opening tip off —jumping ahead 13-2 and 31-9 before settling for the second-largest first quarter lead in NBA Finals history at 31-11. Golden State’s 11 points in the opening frame marked the fewest ever in a first quarter in post-shot clock NBA Finals history. The Warriors never led at any point of the game and faced their largest end-of-first-quarter deficit of the entire season.
A frustrated Stephen Curry led the scoring charge for Golden State in the game, collecting 30 points, but was also ejected for the first time in his career, which was preempted by fouling out for the first time since 2013. As he walked off the court, the MVP hurled his mouthpiece into the crowd. Curry finished the game 6 of 13 from downtown.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is held back from referee Jason Phillips (23) by Shaun Livingston, left, and Klay Thompson, right, while reacting to being called for his sixth foul on Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of Game 6 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Cleveland, Thursday, June 16, 2016. Ron Schwane AP Photo
Curry’s wife, Ayesha, quickly took to Twitter to share her thoughts on the game and her husband’s ejection.
“I’ve lost all respect sorry this is absolutely rigged for money… Or ratings in not sure which,” Ayesha Curry tweeted just before the final buzzer. “I won’t be silent . Just saw it live sry.”
She quickly deleted the tweet.
Golden State has not lost three straight games all season,
For the Warriors, Golden State will look to become the first Bay Area sports team to clinch a championship inside of their home venue in 42 years. Ayesha will get to see another game Sunday night.
