If the Cavaliers hopes to compete in these NBA Finals it needs LeBron James to be at his absolute best. He simply wasn't in Golden State's 122-103 Game 2 win over the Cavaliers on Sunday.
James looked absolutely unstoppable in a 51-point performance in Game 1, as he was nearly flawless driving to the basket and dropping bombs from 3-point range, but on Sunday he passed up several open looks from deep early and only had two shots nine minutes into the game.
Read: Curry breaks multiple 3-point records in Game 2
This played right into the hands of the Warriors who were hot from the start hitting 10 of its first 11 shots. Kevin Durant in particular was on fire as he started 6 of 7 from the field. But it was Stephen Curry who stole the show with an NBA record nine 3-pointers made. He finished with 33 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
James can get the Cavaliers back in this series, he proved it by winning the Eastern Conference finals in seven games after Cleveland went down 2-0 to Boston, but he'll need to be rejuvenated by the crowd in Cleveland because he looked very sluggish in Game 2.
STUDS OF THE NIGHT
Shaun Livingston and JaVale McGee were fantastic for the Warriors combining to go 9 for 9 from the floor with 22 points and seven rebounds.
"Both those guys just stayed ready for whatever their role was going to be," Curry told ESPN after the game. "JaVale hasn't played much the whole playoff run and coach starts him tonight, he plays amazing."
DUD OF THE NIGHT
Warriors guard Nick Young got limited playing time on Sunday and for good reason. He couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat. Young went 0 for 3 from 3-point range and really wasn't close on any of his attempts. He finished with zero rebounds, points or assists, but did manage to foul someone, so there's that.
HIGHLIGHT
Warriors forward David West hit just the 65th 3-pointer of his career and his first since the 2016-17 postseason in the third quarter.
WHAT'S NEXT
Warriors (2-0) at Cavaliers (0-2), on Wednesday — The Cavaliers was one Kevin Durant 3-pointer in the final minute away from possibly making the series in 2017 2-1. But will have the opportunity to do it again on Wednesday. Golden State will hope to get Andre Iguodala back for that game, and if he returns, the Cavaliers will have a serious uphill battle on its hands.
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