NBA Playoffs
NBA Finals
Tip-off: Thursday, 9:05 p.m. ET
Line: Golden State -2.5, Total: 192.5

The Warriors will look to even the series when they visit the Cavaliers in Cleveland in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

Game 3 of the NBA Finals did not disappoint, as the Cavaliers thwarted a valiant comeback attempt from the Warriors and held on for a 96-91 win. SF LeBron James submitted another historic performance with 40 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, four steals, and two blocks in 46 minutes of action. PG Matthew Dellavedova was heroic with 20 points, and his timely shots helped preserve the Cavs’ lead in the fourth quarter. He also played great defense on PG Stephen Curry, who was held in check for most of the game. While Curry did finish with 27 points on 7-for-13 shooting from three-point range, the Warriors will need him to provide more offense early if they hope to win Game 4. SG Klay Thompson had a relatively quiet night with 14 points, and SF Harrison Barnes struggled immensely, missing on all eight of his shot attempts. PF David Lee was a sparkplug off the bench with 11 points in just 13 minutes. The Warriors outscored the Cavs by 17 points when Lee was on the floor, and Steve Kerr must be considering giving the two-time NBA All-Star a bigger role in the rest of the series. Like Games 1 and 2, Game 3 was decided by single digits. Game 3 went Under the total, and the Under has hit in four of the five matchups between Cleveland and Golden State in the regular season and playoffs. The Cavs are now 3-2 SU and 3-2 ATS against the Warriors in that same time frame, including 2-0 SU and 2-0 ATS at home. The Warriors are 33-17 ATS when playing against a team with a win percentage between 60 and 70 percent in the second half of the season over the last three seasons. The Cavaliers, however, are 12-4 ATS against teams that shoot over 36 percent from three-point range in the second half of this season. PG Kyrie Irving (Knee), PF Kevin Love (Shoulder), and C Anderson Varejao (Achilles) remain out for the season for the Cavaliers, while PG Matthew Dellavedova (Cramps) and SG Iman Shumpert (Shoulder) are probable for Thursday’s matchup. PF Draymond Green (back) is probable for the Warriors.

The Warriors have not looked like their usual selves on the offensive end through the first three games of the series, and their struggles start with PG Stephen Curry (28.3 PPG, 6.4 APG, 5.0 RPG, 1.8 SPG in playoffs). He did not find any rhythm in Game 3 until late, and 17 of his 27 points came in the fourth quarter. SF Harrison Barnes (10.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG in playoffs) and PF Draymond Green (13.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.2 BPG in playoffs) had awful offensive games, as the two combined to shoot 2-for-18 from the field. If their struggles are to continue, SG Andre Iguodala (8.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.1 SPG in playoffs) will have to step up again as he did in Game 3, when he finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists. He has also played solid defense on LeBron James, and will look to slow down his opponent as much as possible in Game 4 in order for the Warriors to leave Cleveland with a win.

SF LeBron James (29.9 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 8.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.2 BPG in playoffs) continued his torrid pace in Game 3, and his averages in the series now stand at 41.0 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 8.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, and 1.0 BPG. This NBA Finals may prove to be a defining factor in his legacy, and it would take a monumental performance from a player on either team to claim Finals MVP honors, even if the Cavaliers lose the series. He has attempted an incredible 107 shots from the field thus far, which has been necessary for his team that is shorthanded on offense and will continue to be for the remainder of the Finals. James did get help from PG Matthew Dellavedova (7.5 PPG in playoffs), who erupted for 20 points in Game 2, and PF Tristan Thompson (8.6 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.2 BPG in playoffs), who turned in a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. SG J.R. Smith (13.2 PPG in playoffs), who scored a quiet 10 points in Tuesday’s win, will need to make a bigger impact in Game 4 for Cleveland, especially if Dellavedova and SG Iman Shumpert (9.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.4 SPG in playoffs) aren’t completely healthy.