With just under one minute remaining in Game 3 of this year’s NBA Finals, Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant decided to call on his own number.
“The Slim Reaper,” as Durant is known, pulled down a defensive rebound with his team trailing by two points, calmly brought the ball up the floor, and proceeded to bury what may become one of the defining shots of his career — directly over the outstretched arm of LeBron James. All of a sudden, the crowd inside Quicken Loans Arena, once lively, was stunned.
https://youtu.be/JumAv1nl8bs
During his post-game media availability, Joe Vardon of cleveland.com asked James if he was able to wrap his head around what kind of team he’s dealing with in the Warriors. James, not one to mince words, gave a direct response.
“Before the series even started, we knew we were dealing with a — I said it after we won the Eastern Conference Finals — we’re getting ready for a juggernaut,” James said after Game 3. “It’s probably the most firepower I’ve played (against) in my career. I’ve played against some great teams, but I don’t think any team has had this type of firepower. Even when you’re playing well, you gotta play A-plus-plus. They’re gonna make runs and they’re gonna make shots, and they have guys that are going to make plays. You know, we made enough plays tonight to win the ball game, but they made more.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BONI163Ivj8
Durant finished Game 3 with 31 points (10-of-18 field, 4-of-7 beyond the arc), eight rebounds, four assists, one block, and one steal in his 41 minutes of playing time. The former Texas Longhorn stand-out and four-time NBA scoring champion tallied 14 points the fourth quarter alone.
This isn’t the first time the King has faced an 0-3 deficit in the Finals. In the 2007 championship round, James was swept by the San Antonio Spurs. The only thing the Cavs can do now is fight that same fate. Game 3 is set to tip at 9:00 p.m. on Friday, with ABC having live broadcast coverage.
