This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.)
#1 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 121 @ #4 ATLANTA HAWKS 108
EAST Semifinals – Game 3 – CAVALIERS lead series, 3-0
Kevin Love got the Cavs started early as he scored their first 13 points. Then the Cavs picked up where they left off as they went on another three-point barrage in the first half. However, the Hawks withstood that attack and went on their own outside assault. Kyle Korver (who didn’t start in this game for match-up purposes) made four three-pointers in the second quarter.
The highlight of the first half for the Hawks was Kris Humphries, who made a big impact early, doing a crossover on Love. Yes. A Kris Kross. It actually happened.
what is happening pic.twitter.com/UgFpSDymHu
— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) May 7, 2016
I didn’t think it was possible to die twice but it happened to Love at the start of the third quarter. Al Horford absolutely plastered Kevin Love with a facial jam. Still, the Cavs hung in there in the third quarter and was able to stay within six points at the end of that period.
With the Hawks leading by eight, the Cavs surged as LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Channing Frye punctured the Hawks D on all angles. Lay-ups, dunks, threes, you name it. The Cavs went on a 20-3 run that was punctuated by Frye’s seventh three of the game. Overall, the Cavs hit 21 three-pointers in the game, which was the playoff record before Game 2 (when they hit an NBA record 25 three-pointers). In frustration, Jeff Teague pushed LeBron into the crowd but everyone was okay.
The Hawks were not, though. They are only one loss away from being swept by the Cavs for the second straight postseason. Those poor birds.
BEHIND THE LINES
Channing Frye (CLE): 27 pts (7/9 3FG), 7 rebs.
Kyrie Irving (CLE): 24 pts, 3 stls.
Kevin Love (CLE): 21 pts, 15 rebs.
LeBron James (CLE): 24 pts, 13 rebs, 8 assts.
Al Horford (ATL): 24 pts, 3 blks.
Jeff Teague (ATL): 19 pts, 14 assts.
#2 SAN ANTONIO SPURS 100 @ #3 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 96
WEST Semifinals – Game 3 – SPURS lead series, 2-1
As expected between these two titans, it was a lot of tug of war. The Thunder defense played well as LaMarcus Aldridge finally looked mortal. Russell Westbrook missed a ton of shots throughout. And the Spurs missed a ton of free throws early.
Back-to-back threes gave OKC a four-point lead. But the Spurs continued with their robotic approach. They stopped missing foul shots and that helped them go on an 8-0 run. Then the Thunder had three crucial turnovers from their stars and the Spurs took advantage with big shots from Kawhi Leonard and David West.
Westbrook scored five straight (including a monster putback jam) and cut the deficit to two. With 25 seconds left, Aldridge missed a baseline jumper but Kawhi’s big mitts snared the offensive board. Tony Parker would make more clutch free throws with 18 seconds left.
The Thunder took way too long to get a shot off. Dion Waiters finally made a wacky bank shot straight away to cut the deficit back to two with about five seconds left. But Kawhi sealed the game with another pair of clutch free throws. Spurs have the home court advantage back… and you don’t wanna give THAT back to San Antonio.
Free throws are fun!
BEHIND THE LINES
Kawhi Leonard (SA): 31 pts, 11 rebs.
LaMarcus Aldridge (SA): 24 pts, 8 rebs.
Russell Westbrook (OKC): 31 pts (10/31 FG), 9 rebs, 8 assts.
Kevin Durant (OKC): 26 pts, 5 rebs.
WATCH THIS PLAY
Al Horford destroys Kevin Love with this facial.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
Follow Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass for all tweets about the NBA and terrible pop music. Also, check out his podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.
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