Cavs Stay Alive In Series

After game three, it looked as if there was a distinct possibility that the Golden State Warriors might be able to do the impossible. No team had ever been able to run the table and go perfect during the NBA playoffs, at least not in its current format. Sure the Warriors are more concerned about winning an NBA title, there's no doubt about that. I'm sure that it was in the back of their minds wanting to keep their perfect record in tact, but the title means more. Looks like the title may have to wait another night. Cleveland FINALLY showed up in game four of the finals and dominated the Warriors from start to finish. It was a record setting night which saw Cleveland come away with a 137-116 win, staying alive in the finals and forcing a game five back in Oakland on Monday night.

Guided by LeBron James, who is the first player to ever average 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists through the first four games of The Finals, and Kyrie Irving, who led all scorers with 40 points on 15-for-27 shooting, the Cavaliers staved off elimination in historic fashion. The following is a list of just some of the records that were set in game four:

-Most points in a quarter, Finals - 49
-Most points in a half, Finals - 86
-Most points in a half, playoffs - 86
-Most 3-pointers made in a half, Finals - 13
-Most combined points in a half, Finals - 154
-Most 3-pointers made in a game, Finals - 24
-LeBron James: Most triple-doubles, Finals - 9

Yes Golden State did show up in this game, to a degree. The Warriors had five players score in double figures, had 26 assists, and got 35 points from Kevin Durant, but it was not nearly enough on a night in which the team’s defense fell apart. They were leading all playoff teams this year in defensive efficiency coming into the game, but had no answer for Kevin Love, James or Irving. This was the first time really in this series that the Cavs decided to show up. It wasn't just LeBron or Kyrie. The rest of the team chipped in and Cleveland actually got scoring from players off the bench as well, which is something that hadn't really happened at all the first three games of the series.

Oh but wait there's more.

Game 4 was also notable for a number of testy incidents. As the teams prepared for a jump ball with 1:56 left in the first quarter, Green was called for a hard foul for throwing an elbow at Iman Shumpert. Green was trying to plead his case when Warriors head coach Steve Kerr simultaneously argued with the officials, who then initially called a technical foul on Green. With 7:19 remaining in the second quarter, Dahntay Jones was inexplicably whistled for a technical foul sitting on the Cavs bench for trash talking at Durant, who was on the floor. With 7:26 remaining in the third quarter, Love fouled Durant from behind on a layup attempt. Durant claimed he was hit hard in the forehead, and James afterward had some harsh exchange words to him. Durant and James picked up double technicals, and Love was called for a type 1 flagrant foul. About a minute later, Green picked up what appeared to be his second technical foul of the game, which was subject to an ejection. However, the officials changed the call of the first technical of the game to coach Kerr.

Late in the third, Shumpert and Zaza Pachulia got involved in a mini scuffle when battling for the loose ball, with Pachulia hitting in the direction of Shumpert's groin and Shumpert retaliating. At the same time, a Cavaliers fan, named Todd Leebow, charged onto the court to shout at Matt Barnes during the Warriors huddle as the officials were replaying the incident. Shumpert and Pachulia were called for double technicals, and Leebow was ejected.

Things got chippy that's for sure. It was the first time you really saw life and emotion from the Cavs. And think about it, Cleveland was a Kyle Korver 3-pointer away from this series being 2-2. They took advantage of what happened in game three and rolled to victory to stay alive in the series. But if the first two games showed anything, it showed that Cleveland had a lot of trouble playing in Oakland. Golden State doesn't want a repeat of last year, blowing a big lead in the series and having a title slip through their fingers. Now they have to go back to the chalk board and get ready for Monday night, when they have a chance to clinch the title in their own building.

Clevland has life, but can Golden State finish the job? We will find out Monday Night