WITH ONE MINUTE to go in the third quarter of Game Three of the NBA finals overnight, Kyrie Irving scored to give the defending-champion Cleveland Cavaliers a seven-point lead.
It was the largest lead the Cavs have held in a series dominated by the Golden State Warriors and they stayed in front until 45 seconds remained in the fourth quarter.
Then Kevin Durant took over.
Down two, Durant pulled up for a three-pointer despite the best efforts of LeBron James, and never looked like missing:
Kevin Durant ices the #Cavaliers in Game 3 with back-breaking 3-pointer (by @buhler118) https://t.co/Rvm1HmWdiY pic.twitter.com/3927RfpD5c
— FanSided (@FanSided) June 8, 2017
The Warriors went on to win 118-113.
Though the above shot made-up just 10% of his 31 points on the night, they may well be the three points that kill the Cavs’ hopes of defending their crown as no team has ever recovered from a 3-0 playoff deficit in 126 attempts.
Mind you, no team had ever recovered from 3-1 down in an NBA finals until Cleveland did last year.
And while anything is possible, you can’t help but feel that nothing the Cavs will throw at the Warriors will be good enough as the 2015 champions look to become the first side to go 16-0 in the NBA playoffs.
Asked if he thought the Warriors had taken the best shot Cleveland had to give, James — who had 39 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in 45 minutes – said:
“It’s so hard to say, but for me personally, I gave everything I had, so win, lose or draw you live with the results.”
This game wasn’t just about LeBron and KD though.
Steph Curry had 26 points, 13 boards, six assists, five from beyond the arc and was flawless at the free-throw line, while Irving had 38 points for the Cavs.
However, he was 0-7 from the three, including this crucial miss:
Klay got some Christmas Day redemption pic.twitter.com/utAo2ItMip
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 8, 2017
By such fine margins, NBA titles are won and lost.
Additional reporting via AFP
Cmon Shane .
Sky sports
Can we please know what par the hole is before he hits his first shot.
Come on Dustin Johnson and do it for the golf purists.
Lowry bandwagon will be back again soon. In the meantime break out the Union Jack and follow McIlroy in the Olympics.
But the trolling bandwagon will roll on, in its self-pitying lonely journey through the dirty slums of its pathetic existence crying out for the attention it never got from Mommy.
And so it came to pass that John realised he had no friends and that trying to be controversial did not make him cool
I dont follow golf……but I know its serious when the42 has a live blog of a golf event.Hope he comes home as a champion!
Same here Irin..it would be a ‘Yuge’ achievement.
Live blog is the best way to watch golf
Cmon Shane. We need a win this weekend!!
He’s not representing his country, Not the same.
Most reds ever.
I bet there was some amount of candles lit in Clara Church at this mornings mass.
Even more rosery beads sold in the market this morning
Come on lowry kiiiiiiidddd!!
This is an absolute outrage from the USGA!! I’m all for Lowry to win, but I certainly wouldn’t begrudge Johnson a first major either but he’s being treated very unfairly here in my eyes.
Yeah, lousy by the USGA, they should do the right thing and disqualify him! Come on Shane!!
I think it’s unfair on all the players considering they have all allegedly been told what’s happening. It’s farcical at the moment though. Really stupid decision making by the USGA.
Unbelievable!
Monday lotto?!
Unbelievable!
John Hayes I really hope you get to eat humble pie
Don’t worry-you can get off the bandwagon at the next stop with all the rest.
John, you are a pathetic human being but I presume you post these comments because you derive pleasure from people thinking of you as pathetic. Congrats chief
Pity 3 x3 putts in a row Shane doesn’t deserve to win it now,had a four shot lead and couldn’t hold it,not good enough this week to win a major,maybe another time.
Its getting painful to watch now. Hope he can finish outright 2nd
What an athlete!!!!
Shane finishing off a typical weekend for Irish sports by choking when it matters
Im going to bed cant take anymore dreams dashed,
Hold on….Hang on a mo
This ain’t over yet by a long shot…………
Needs to take the initiative here Shane.
Waiting for the pack to slip up is not a good tactic.
Seize the day.
So is DJ on -5 or -4? They should make a ruling now, nobody knows what score the leader is on, it’s crazy!!
Not looking good now with that bogey on 10
and will paddy power pay out if he does?
Poor front 9 for Shane not helped by his partner who is having a mare,hopefully he can regroup.
Johnson’s partner Westwood had as big a mare.
Lowry all too often struggles on the last day, he’s just too out of shape and is at a clear disadvantage because of it.
Achieved far more than you ever will. And has a hell of a lot more friends I’m sure.
You can see the pressure on Shane’s face in those last couple of shots!
Poor show at the 14th there.
This is stupid make a decision already! Can’t see a penalty but man up.
Settle
G’wan Shaneo
Delighted for Dustin Johnson…. After all he’s been through over the years, I don’t think there’s a soul on earth who would deny him a major!
Bar Jason Dufner of course after Johnson ride his wife
Top European,joint second, toughest course you could play be proud you have to lose one to win won .
Johnson playing at a snails pace
FFS Shane. ……what are you doing man
Bottle job.
Bottle job is a kind way of putting it.
the irish rugby team bottled it against South Africa and now shane Lowry is doing the same.
He’s thrown in the towel all right.
No courage.
Ireland did not ‘bottle’ it. They were beaten by a much better and stronger bench and at a venue where only two teams have ever been South Africa. Nowhere do Ireland play rugby at nearly 6000ft on a regular basis. 7 of the South Africans play there every week.
Shane did not choke today. He missed a few long puts which left awkward 6/7/8 footers for par.
I think we need to get beyond this ‘choke’ and ‘bottle’ mentality here. It’s self-perpetuating.
Can’t find the Shane Lowry jersey anywhere online.
Back from weekend away,planned to celebrate Ireland test win over SA,didn’t happen,hoping for a draw against Belguim ,didnt happen,come on Shane !!!!pleeease
Unfortunately Shane Bottled it..
He’s still in it. My bet a tie with a play off.
Kinda ridiculous that they still haven’t made a ruling on the penalty stroke for Johnson.
Shane Lowry and others have been informed that he is facing a possible penalty so that’s bound to colour their psychology on the run in.
Best thing Shane can do now is ignore that ‘Rumour’ and play the tournament according to the official leaderboard.
Ireland vs. Belgium in football, vs. South Africa in rugby, and vs. the ROTW in one of the majors in golf, what a horribly disappointing weekend of sport for us, especially the latter two where we blew what should have been unassailable leads.
Short of getting in the car Nd driving to Clara where can I watch it without sky sports!?
Download Mobdro off internet onto your android phone or tablet and watch away
Bandwagon running rough?
Keep it going Shane