Cleveland Cavaliers @ Golden State Warriors
Game 2
Total: 215 / GSW -11.5
LeBron James scored 51 points, dished out eight assists and grabbed eight rebounds and the Cavs still lost. If that doesn’t tell the whole story of how this series is going to play out, I’m not sure what will.
Players to Watch
Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James - Need I say more than what I already said up top? The Cavs need James to be hercules each and every night to just have a shot. The 19 made shots by James in Game 1 accounted for 43-percent of the team’s made field goals.
Kevin Love - Love looked active in Game 1, especially in the first half. He finished the game with 21 points and 13 rebounds, but he had nine of those points in the first quarter, so he only had 12 the rest of the game. Look for Love to be more aggressive for four quarters this time out.
Jeff Green - Green played 36 minutes compared to Tristan Thompson ’s 20. That’s likely going to be something you see often when the Warriors go to their “death lineup”. Green wasn’t very aggressive in Game 1, but there weren’t many shots to be had with Love and James taking 52 of the 99. All three of the games Green has taken more than 10 shots this postseason Cleveland has won. Take that any way you want.
J.R. Smith - Smith was the only other player than James and Love to score in double-figures in Game 1. Smith is 2-for-11 from three-point range against the Warriors this season, which could be a direct result of Klay Thompson ’s defense. The Cavs need Smith to shoot well, especially if they’re only going to be giving Kyle Korver 16 minutes.
Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry - Curry has played six home games this postseason and he’s scored 28 or more in every single one. For comparison, he hasn’t scored 28 in ANY of his road playoff games. After hitting five three’s in Game 1, he’s now hit at least five trey bombs in five of his last six games.
Klay Thompson - Thompson is officially listed as questionable, so it would be a huge loss if the Warriors don’t have him for Game 2. If he doesn’t play, Nick Young and Shaun Livingston would likely be the primary beneficiaries. Thompson has been great the last four postseason games, shooting 50-percent or better in each and hitting at least three three’s in each as well.
Kevin Durant - Durant was one rebound away from a double-double and four assists shy of a triple-double, but he has not shot the ball well recently. Over his last five playoff games, only once has he topped forty percent from the floor. He’s averaging 27.7-points per game against CLE this season.
Draymond Green - Green has now posted six straight games of 10-plus rebounds or more. He’s also been asserting himself offensively a bit more scoring in double figures in five of his last six. He has a steal in 16-of-18 playoff games and has two or more in 12 of the 18. Green is doing it all for the Warriors right about now.
Pregame Props
1. The last made shot (FG or FT) of the 1st quarter is a two-pointer?
I’m going with yes here. Cleveland will likely have the ball to end the quarter, it always seems like LeBron James is the one with it, and James will attack the rim for a bucket.
2. The first made shot of the 1st quarter is a three-pointer?
The first five FG attempts of Game 1 were two-pointers. I think both teams are trying to establish their inside scoring early on, so I’m going with NO, it’s a two.
3. LeBron James scores 13 or more in the 1st quarter?
He scored 12 in the first quarter in Game 1 and played all 12 minutes. I think he gets to 13 tonight. He needs to be the starter, the middle reliever and the closer, y’all.
4. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant combine for 20 or more points in the 1st quarter?
I think this all depends on if Klay Thompson is in or out. If he’s out, they have a great shot at accomplishing this, but if he’s in, he takes away from some of the production obviously.
5. Which team wins the opening tip-off?
Kevin Durant was unlucky in Game 1 and he’s more athletic than Tristan Thompson is. Give me Golden State here.
6. Both teams score by the 11:00 minute mark?
I’m going no. The points will start coming in bunches when a pace is established, but that will take a few possessions before it happens
Player News
Kristaps Porzingis (illness) said after Wednesday’s Game 2 loss to the Knicks that his current stamina issues may be related to the problem that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season.
After an illness limited him to 13 first-half minutes in Boston’s series-opening defeat on Monday, Porzingis came off the bench in Game 2. Unfortunately, he could only give the Celtics 14 minutes. Following the game, Porzingis said his current problem may be related to the upper respiratory ailment that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season. “Probably, probably,” Porzingis said. “I’ve had like ups and downs throughout until this point. Just now, had a big crash. Now, my energy, my everything, hasn’t been good, but who cares? Have to move forward and it will get better from this point.” While Boston’s shot selection was the focus following its two home defeats, Porzingis’ limited availability has also been a factor. He’ll hope to return to full health in time for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.
Nikola Jokic finished with 17 points (6-of-16 FGs), eight rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, two three-pointers and six turnovers in Game 2 against the Thunder on Wednesday.
This was Jokic’s worst performance of the postseason, and it came to an end in the third quarter. He fouled out with 1:17 left in the third, which brought his night to a close after he played 32 minutes. OKC was up 41 points when Jokic fouled out, so his night may have been close to over anyway. Jokic dominated Game 1, and the Thunder adjusted. Denver will need other players to step up if they want to have a chance of winning this series, but Jokic will also need to be better than he was in this game.
Michael Porter Jr. struggled on Wednesday and finished with just eight points (2-of-10 FGs), five rebounds, one steal and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Thunder.
MPJ was slightly better in the second half, as all eight of his points came in the third quarter. However, the game was already out of hand at that point after a terrible first half for both Porter Jr. and the Nuggets. MPJ shot 1-of-8 in Game 1, and they’ll need him to be much better moving forward. The series will now shift back to Denver, and MPJ will look to get back on track during the two home games before the series heads back to Oklahoma City.
Russell Westbrook provided a boost off the bench with 19 points (5-of-11 FGs, 8-of-10 FTs), one rebound, five assists and one three-pointer in a 149-106 loss to the Thunder in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Despite an ugly first half for Denver, Westbrook was productive and entered the break with 15 points. He didn’t add much in the second half, though he sat the entire fourth quarter, still it was enough to lead the Nuggets in scoring. Russ has been awesome over Denver’s last five games, and his continued success will be key to the Nuggets winning this series. Though this game was ugly, they still have homecourt advantage in this series. They’ll look to keep it in Game 3 on Friday.
Chet Holmgren recorded a double-double on Wednesday with 15 points (3-of-8 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, two blocks and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
After struggling in Game 1, Holmgren bounced back and recorded the fourth postseason triple-double of his career, with three of those coming this season. Aside from Game 3 against Memphis, Holmgren has swatted at least two shots in every game during these playoffs, which was a trend that continued in this game despite him only playing 26 minutes. Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein (14/8/5/1/1) will look to continue to limit Nikola Jokic (17 points) in Game 3 on Friday.
Jalen Williams bounced back on Wednesday with 17 points (6-of-11 FGs), four rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
Williams was criticized for his poor performance in the Thunder’s Game 1 loss, but he responded well in OKC’s blowout victory. He was on pace for a bigger night, but he only played 26 minutes and sat the entire fourth quarter due to the lopsided score. He shot the ball much better after shooting 5-of-20 in Game 1, and he’ll need that success to carry over into Game 3 in Denver on Friday.