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In a turn of events that surprised most observers, the Cleveland Cavaliers managed to even the NBA Finals with the Golden State Warriors at one game apiece with an overtime win in game two in Oakland. After a disappointing loss in game one in which the Cavs lost Kyrie Irving and the Warriors did not appear to be playing anywhere near their best basketball, many expected an easier time of it for the Western Conference Champs.
However, the Cavs have established a remarkable defensive identity as these playoffs have gone along, in large part out of necessity, and they once again forced the Warriors into a poor night shooting the ball. They finished under 40% from the floor and 23% from three, and ultimately lost when Matthew Dellavedova made two big free throws late in an overtime that saw several fouls uncalled against the Warriors.
Steph Curry struggled mightily despite making the game tying basket late in regulation, finishing 5-23 overall and 2-15 from three in one of his worst shooting efforts of the season.
On the other side, the Cavs actually shot it even worse--32% from the field, but once again dominated the offensive glass and won the turnover battle, which led to more shot opportunities. LeBron James was almost the entire offense, finishing with 39 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists; Timofey Mozgov finished with 17 points as 2nd high man.
The series shifts to Cleveland for game four on Tuesday.
For Wolves updates, we'll copy and paste some Wolfson tweets:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shooter in column tomorrow: "It looks now that Karl-Anthony Towns for sure will be the Timberwolves' choice." Me: Nothing decided. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/twolves?src=hash">#twolves</a></p>— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) <a href="https://twitter.com/DWolfsonKSTP/status/607366402068971520">June 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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There does seem to be a growing sense that Towns could be the guy for the Wolves, which would be nice. Still. Shooter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Flip on w/ <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMannixSI">@ChrisMannixSI</a> confirms that KG is part of the draft process. Will meet with in person and/or talk on the phone w/ guys. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/twolves?src=hash">#twolves</a></p>— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) <a href="https://twitter.com/DWolfsonKSTP/status/607711366049177600">June 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Cause, you know, KG is such a good personnel guy.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Twolves?src=hash">#Twolves</a> busy week-plus: see Okafor & Towns (may actually be mid-week), see Porzingis and others in Vegas next weekend, Vaughn here workout.</p>— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) <a href="https://twitter.com/DWolfsonKSTP/status/607735909920833536">June 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Still three weeks away. A Loooong three weeks.
Meanwhile, in case you missed it, Jerry Zgoda reports on an interview with Kentucky coach John Calipari in which he makes clear who he thinks should be the number one pick.
Due to life intervening, I couldn't recap Saturday's Lynx game--their first on the road this season, but they beat the Indiana Fever 78-69 to move to 2-0 on the season. They shot terribly from the field (39%), and their big three perimeter players who are supposed to carry the scoring load (Whalen, Augustus, and Moore) finished a combined 11-38), but they went 26-31 from the line and dominated the offensive glass behind Moore and Rebekkah Brunson, who had her 2nd straight strong game, finishing with 16 and 10 on 6-8 shooting. Nice to see her back and looking healthy.
Once again Monica Wright and Asjha Jones did not play, and once again the Lynx got little from their bench, though rookie Reshanda Gray made her WNBA debut and played seven minutes.
Non-Basketball note: The U.S. Women's National Soccer team gets their 2015 World Cup underway today at about 6:30 on Fox Soccer against Australia. The U.S. is one of the favorites in the tournament, but are drawn into a very tough group with the Aussies as well as Sweden and Nigeria (who play earlier) so they should be tested fairly early on.
Today in History
452: Italy invaded by Attila the Hun
1191: Richard I arrives in Acre signaling the beginning of his Crusade
1789: James Madison offers proposed Bill of Rights in the House of Representatives
1815:: 39 German states unite under articles of confederation
1861: Tennessee votes to secede from Union
1892: Homer Plessy arrested for refusing to sit in "black only" railroad car in Louisiana, the case that led to "Plessy v. Ferguson," the Supreme Court decision that upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine."
1968: Robert Kennedy is buried in Arlington
Today's musical birthday is Kanye West, born in 1977.
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Monday. Strap in.