The NBA Finals Game 5 matchup is on live with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriorsand the game is on TV from ABC and streaming online from the WatchESPN website as the Cavs try and get the series lead with things at 2-2 after losing Kyrie Irving for the rest of the playoffs and now LeBron James will have pressure against Stephen Curry to have a big game. UPDATE: Series is now 2-2 heading into Game 5 after the Warriors won Game 4 in Cleveland.
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The Cavaliers come in after just missing out on winning against the Warriors in regulation in game 1, but after the game went to overtime it wasn't even close. The Cavs only scored two points against the Warriors and Golden State had 10 points in the extra frame and now Cleveland is looking to get things back. Having Irving out makes things tough and it comes after LeBron James had a look at the end of regulation to win the game.
The Cavs are still looking to win their first finals game in franchise history and James comes in after scoring 44 points against the Warriors in Game 1. That number was his season high and James' previous season high was against the Warriors and he dropped 42 points in the regular season. The Warriors only lost three times at home this season, once in the playoffs and twice in the regular season and Game 1 could have been the best chance to get a win on the road for the Cavaliers.
The team has dealt with a ton of injuries and Kevin Love has been out since the first round and Tristan Thompson has stepped up for the Cavs. James led with six assists and now he will have to take over as the main ball handler for the Cavs in some sets with Irving out. Irving dealt with a fractured kneecap injury and now he has had surgery and is done for the finals and the rest of the series.
Steph Curry had 26 points and eight assists in Game 1 and Andrew Bogut led the way with seven rebounds and now the Warriors have the chance to take a 2-0 series lead. The team won Game 1 after going down by 10 in the first quarter against the Cavs and the team came back by outscoring the Cavs in the next two quarters and the teams ended up scoring the same in the fourth before heading to overtime. James took a tough shot from near the top of the key to try and win the game and Iman Shumpert also had a final look before things went into overtime.
For the Cavs to have any chance, players like Matthew Dellavedova, Shumpert and JR Smith must step up and the team needs Dellavedova to show that he can handle things for Irving. The Cavs have played well at home and while no one is giving them a chance, a win here could change things big time. The Warriors are one of the best shooting and scoring teams in the league and the defense has been solid as well. James is going to have to be the point man for the Cavs and this could rest on how many points he scores.
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