NBA Finals Game 3: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson struggle as Cavaliers top Warriors 120-90

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CLEVELAND: The Splash Brothers looked more like the Clank Brothers Wednesday night inside Quicken Loans Arena.

Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors had a chance to take a commanding three games to none lead in the 2016 NBA Finals, but poor shooting, too many turnovers and strong performances from LeBron James and Kyrie Irving allowed the Cleveland Cavaliers to earn a 120-90 victory before a sellout crowd of 20,562.

Both Curry and Thompson played 31 minutes, but neither shot the ball well for the second game in the best of the best of seven series.

Those guys can get it going in bunches, Irving said. You saw Steph in the third quarter, as well as Klay in the second quarter, when those guys just have the ability to get downhill, as well as spray out to the three-point line [they are effective].

Curry scored 19 points, but made six of the Warriors 18 turnovers and had just three assists and one rebound. Curry made 6-of-13 shots from the field (3-of-9 from 3-point range) and 4-of-4 shots from the free throw line.

Those numbers pail in comparison to the unanimous MVPs 30.1 points, 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 2.14 steals in 34.2 minutes per game during the regular season. Curry made 50.4 percent from the field and 45.4 percent from 3-point range during the regular season.

It was all me, Curry said. They were playing aggressive defense and they came out with a big punch. I didnt do anything about it or play my game, and for me to do what I need to do to help my team, I have to play a hundred times better than that, especially in the first quarter, to kind of control the game, and I didnt do it.

Curry had just two points in the first half Wednesday and Thompson was scoreless in the second half as the Cavaliers snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Warriors which included the final three games of last years NBA Finals, two regular season games this season and the opening two games of this years NBA Finals.

Its not the way we wanted the night to go, myself included, but [I am] glad we obviously took care of home court so that were still in a good position, said Curry, who led the Warriors to an NBA record 73 regular season wins. Obviously its a series, and they did what theyre supposed to do, took care of their home court. But we have a great opportunity on Friday to keep control of the series, and thats going to be a challenge.

Thompson averaged 22.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 33.3 minutes per game during the regular season, and made 47.0 percent of his shots from the field and 42.5 percent of his shots from 3-point range. He didnt come close to those numbers Wednesday, totaling 10 points, two rebounds, one assist and two turnovers. He made 4-of-13 shots from the field (1-of-7 3-pointers) and 1-of-3 shots from the free throw line.

Were all to blame, Thompson said. We win together and we lose together. Obviously the starting unit has to be much better. We lost the game in that first quarter [33-16].

The Cavaliers opened the game on a 9-0 run with four points coming from Irving, two points from James and a 3-pointer from Richard Jefferson. The Warriors never held a lead as the home teams edge extended to 89-69 following three quarters.

Obviously they just punched us right in the mouth right in the beginning, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. Were turning the ball over like crazy. Soft, we were extremely soft to start the game, and then they set the tone with their intensity.

James made several jump shots and had a couple of highlight real slam dunks, including a reverse two-hand jam and a right-handed throwdown following an alley-oop pass from Irving, en route to leading the Cavs with 32 points, 11 rebounds and eight rebounds in 41 minutes. James made 14-of-26 field goal attempts and 3-of-5 free throws.

We finally got back to our game tonight, and it started with the floor general to my left [Irving], James said. The sharpshooter to my right [Smith] got it going, and it was just good basketball. It was a good flow, and everyone felt like they were a part of tonights win. So it was just a collective team win.

Irving finished with 30 points, eight assists and four rebounds on a night in which he played 37 minutes and shot 12-of-25 from the field and 3-of-3 from the free throw line. J.R. Smith (20 points, four rebounds), Tristan Thompson (14 points, 13 rebounds) and Jefferson (nine points, eight rebounds) were also key contributors for the Cavs.

We knew our effort wasnt where it needed to be in our two games at Golden State, Cavs reserve James Jones said. I knew coming back home we just wanted to make sure that we competed and had a good showing. . . . One thing that we have learned as a team over the course of the postseason is you take every game individually. Things can change. Guys get hot, guys go on a run, guys get into a groove and before you know it you find yourself feeling good about yourself.

To get Game 1 here at home, Game 3, is huge. Now we have to come back in Game 4 and match that intensity because we know there is a good team over there.

The Warriors won Game 1 104-89 and Game 2 110-77, but Curry and Thompson averaged just 14.5 and 13.0 points, respectively, as Shaun Livingston, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes, Andre Iguodala and Leandro Barbosa led the way.

Green said Wednesday he noticed the Cavs played like a team with a sense of desperation and the Warriors played like everything was peaches and cream.

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue like his teams grit and determination.

I thought we were very physical defensively, and I thought we were aggressive offensively, attacking the basket, getting out in transition, running the floor, Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said.

We talked about effort for the last two days, just being aggressive, playing hard, the physicality, and we brought that. When we play that way, were tough to beat. And we know were not satisfied with one game. We know Friday we have to play even better.

Source: http://www.ohio.com/blogs/cleveland-cavaliers/cleveland-cavaliers-1.275356/nba-finals-game-3-stephen-curry-klay-thompson-struggle-as-cavaliers-top-warriors-120-90-1.689213