As a result of Wednesday night’s 110-102 loss, the Cleveland Cavaliers are now trailing the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals by a series score of three games to none. There were several notable story lines in Game 3, but the most refreshing nuance for Cavs fans was the play of Rodney Hood, who hadn’t played much in this series until coach Tyronn Lue called his number earlier this week in attempt to switch things up a bit.
As most hoops fans know, Hood recently lost his spot in the Cavs’ rotation. For reasons still a bit unknown, the former Mississippi State Bulldog refused to enter a game in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He’s since apologized, and his first true run since that incident came on Thursday night against the Warriors.
Hood had a solid outing on Thursday night, all things considered. He logged 26 minutes in Game 3, scoring 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, six rebounds, and two blocks.
During his post-game media availability, Hood was asked how satisfying it was to play well after an extended break.
“It would be a lot more satisfying if we won,” Hood replied. “I’d feel pretty good if we won, but we’re one game away from elimination. It feels good to play well, but at the same time, we need to get one (win) two days from now.”
“The season is on the line,” Hood replied when asked about his mentality heading into Game 4. “Leave it out there on the court. Regardless of what happens, we’re gonna come out and compete and try to get a win. The guys (my teammates) have been in this position before. I think it’s us younger, new guys who have to follow their lead.”
Saturday’s Game 4 matchup of the NBA Finals is set to tip inside Quicken Loans Arena at 9:00 p.m. EST with ABC having live broadcast coverage. Let’s see if Hood and the Cavs can extend the series.