Philippines, 04 Dec 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


2015 NBA Finals Game 3 -- Cavs avert disaster, hold off Warriors for 2-1 series lead


PhilBoxing.com




CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Cavaliers watched their 20-point lead dwindle down to a single point before holding on to a 96-91 Game 3 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at a jampacked Quicken Loans Arena.

After center Timofey Mozgov's alley-oop dunk gave Cleveland a 68-48 bubble with 2:51 left in the third quarter, the Warriors came charging back with a 32-13 run that brought them to within 81-80 with still 2:45 to go in the final period.

Just as the momentum appeared to have shifted, Matthew Dellavedova converted a 3-point play while LeBron James buried a deep 3 to put the Cavs back up 87-80. It was just enough cushion for Cleveland to protect its homecourt and seize a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 NBA Finals.

Playing in front of a capacity crowd of 20,562, James flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 40 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. The four-time league MVP made 14 of 34 field goals and 10 of 12 free throws.

Unlike Games 1 and 2 at the Oracle Arena in Cleveland where help was scant, LeBron found plenty of support at home.

Matthew Dellavedova, starting at point guard in place of the injured Kyrie Irving (broken kneecap), fueled the Cavs with 20 points and several hustle plays. Jr. Smith and Tristan Thompson (13 rebounds) contributed 10 apiece as the Cavs shot 46.1 percent from the field (35 of 76) and 42.9 percent from long distance (9 of 21).

"It's just a group that is willing to play as hard as they can to win. and when you do that, you can live with any consequence. We may bend sometimes, but we haven't broken. We don't break. Lot of character in that room, and they're bringing it on the floor," Cavs head coach David Blatt said after Game 3.

It was an especially tough loss for the Warriors, who dominated the rebounds, 46-43, and dished more assists, 21-16.

Steph Curry led the Warriors with 27 points. Andre Iguodala had 15 while Klay Thompson accounted for only 14. Golden State shot just 40 percent from the field (36 of 90) and 35.3 percent from 3-point land (12 of 34).


Photos: LeBron James (top photo) and Matthew Dellavedova (above) combined for 60 points to power the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 96-91 Game 3 win over the Golden State Warriors. With a 2-1 series lead, the Cavs are two games away from the NBA title.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Anthony Rozic.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • KENNETH LLOVER DEFENDS OPBF TITLE IN FOURTH FIGHT OF 2025
    , Thu, 04 Dec 2025
  • Canoy, Mama, Into Contend in IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 04 Dec 2025
  • CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH 2: REMATCH SEASON FULL FIGHT CARD SET
    , Thu, 04 Dec 2025
  • MERRY FISTMAS! World-Ranked KO Artist Ramon Cardenas Faces Erik Robles in ProBoxTV Main Event at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Thursday, December 18
    , Thu, 04 Dec 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 2 DECEMBER 2025: Kavaliauskas Wins by Split Decision Over Molina; Whittaker Stops Gavazi in 1; Malajika Wins by UD Over Paras
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • WBC Strips Terence Crawford of Super Middle Title
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • Soledad wins WBC Asian Continental title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • A night of power, legacy, and UAE pride: IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships opens in spectacular fashion in Dubai
    , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • OKC Thunder is NBA 2025-2026 Strongest Team
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • Who was Clever Sison?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • MATCHROOM BOXING RETURNS TO FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS WITH MURATALLA-CRUZ FIGHT, JAN. 24, 2026
    , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Undefeated Featherweight Luis Nuñez Prepares for Hector Sosa Showdown on PBC on Prime Video
    , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • Darry Bernardo, 4 other Pinoys in hot start in 3rd Asian Chess Championship 2025 for players with disabilities
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • Two Pacquiaos on same card?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • OLYMPIC BOXING 4: 1924 OLYMPICS AT PARIS, FRANCE
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • Cebuana Lhuillier-Backed UTP National Team Shines at 40th Penang Open, Captures Multiple Titles
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • WBC 63th Annual Convention Opens in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor closing out a strong 2026
    , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • USA Boxing Announces Partnership with Xempower USA
    , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • THE RING 6: TEOFIMO-SHAKUR SET FOR JANUARY SHOWDOWN IN NEW YORK
    , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • Undefeated Middleweight Dante Kirkman Set to Return December 11 in Costa Mesa
    , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • Dejon Farrell Francis Turning Things Around
    , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David 'The Mexican Monster' Benavidez Excited About History-Making Cinco De Mayo Showdown with Gilberto Ramirez
    , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • PPV.COM RETURNS TO THE RING LIVE STREAMING ALL-ACTION TITLE TILT ISAAC "PITBULL" CRUZ vs. LAMONT ROACH, JR
    , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • Llover Eyes Winner of Salas-Ngexeke IBF Title Duel in Mexico
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 01 Dec 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.