3. Game 1 of 2018 NBA Finals
We could all use a laugh during these hard times. Looking back at how J.R. Smith fumbled perhaps the greatest individual performance in NBA Finals history is sure to give Dubs fans chuckle.
The 2018 postseason was a historic one for LeBron James. He carried the Cleveland Cavaliers on his back to the Finals, averaging an unreal 34.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 8.8 assists through the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, the Warriors had themselves pushed to the brink by the Houston Rockets. A seven-game series stood between them and their fourth consecutive trip to the Finals. Then, the Rockets missed an unprecedented 27 3-pointers in the final game of the series to help the Warriors narrowly skate by.
James and the Warriors clashed for the fourth time in a row. This time, James was on his own with Kyrie Irving in Boston and Kevin Love playing well below expectations. This didn’t stop him from pouring in 51 points on 19-of-34 shooting.
The Warriors traded blows with James at each stage of the game. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant combined for nearly 80 points while Draymond Green barely missed out on a triple-double with 13 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds and 5 steals.
Down the stretch, the lead changed three times in the final minute before an unbelievable series of events forced the match into overtime.
I’m sure we all remember what happened at the end of regulation. But, if you don’t, go back and watch this game as soon as possible.