It’s a fact that the Warriors bench is more proven than the Cavaliers bench.
With Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson going for a combined 20 points on 8 for 27 shooting, the team needed to step up! In Game One of the NBA Finals, Golden States supporting cast proved to be the X factor going for 45 points to 10 points for Cleveland. Shaun Livingston scored 20 points, a personal playoff best, and Leandro Barbosa made most of his minutes by going 5 for 5 for 11 points in 11 minutes.
For Cleveland, they were just cold. The team went 38 percent from the floor and 33 percent from three. LeBron James finished the game with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists. His heroics weren’t enough as Kyrie Irving went 7 for 22 equaling to an ineffective 22 points. Only four Cavs were in double digits compared to Golden States seven.
Leading by as much as 14 point at the end of the half, the Warriors seemed poised to carry that focus on the second half. Yet Golden State seemed to lose intensity, making it a back and forth one point game in the third quarter.
With Curry and Thompson sitting on the bench for the first half of the fourth quarter, the bench truly shined! Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston made a difference on the offensive side of the court, capitalizing on each shot.
The Golden State Warriors proved tonight that it’s not one guy carrying the team, it’s the team that coming together as one.
Strength in numbers, indeed!
Game Two of the NBA Finals is Sunday, June 5 at 7 PM CST on ABC.
Golden State looks to go up 2-0 in the series!
Final Score
Warriors 104 – Cavaliers 89
