The Cavaliers broke a number of records en route to a must-win and often out-of-control Game 4 in Cleveland.
Cleveland routed the visiting Warriors 137-116 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night, ensuring the Warriors wouldn't become the first team in NBA history to finish the playoffs a perfect 16-0 (thanks in part to the Jordin Sparks jinx.)
Game 5 will take place Monday night on ABC15.
Here are three big takeaways from the Cavs' win.
1. Crazy plays and conspiracy theories
A lot of calls seemed to go the Cavs' way Friday night, leading to questions of whether the NBA had a vested interest in seeing this series extended at least one more game.
Although it's possible the Warriors did, too.
+$11,087,500: My projection on what the Warriors would net if they lose this game & a Game 5 is playedhttps://t.co/JlD90zH79Q
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 10, 2017
But the game got downright weird in the third quarter. Jawing between LeBron James and Kevin Durant, a fan ejection, a bizarre technical foul and a below-the-belt punch was part of the complete chaos that broke out. Click here for the complete rundown.
sonofthebronx: LeBron James and Kevin Durant shout at each other ABC NBA Playoff: Game 4: W… https://t.co/lMc9bx9Tlo pic.twitter.com/4qdtKH6vVx
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) June 10, 2017
2. Cavs shatter NBA Finals records
Here's a brief rundown of NBA Finals records the Cavaliers shattered Friday night:
-Points scored in a quarter (49 in the first quarter)
-Points scored in a half (86 in the first half)
-3-pointers scored in a game (24)
-3-pointers scored in a half (13; breaking the record set by the Warriors two days ago)
-The Cavs and Warriors also combined for a record 154 first-half points, another NBA Finals record.
-The Cavs' 137 points was the most in an NBA Finals game in 30 years.
Cleveland's "Big Three" of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love combined for 94 points on 18 3-pointers. Incredible.
Ridiculous! LeBron pulls out some All-Star Game flair in the #NBAFinals#DefendTheLand pic.twitter.com/Ukjxs8j8ln
— NBA.com (@NBAcom) June 10, 2017
The @cavs erupt for 49 first quarter points, the most points in a quarter in #NBAFinals history! #DefendTheLand pic.twitter.com/W8P1kmMQKz
— NBA (@NBA) June 10, 2017
3. Looking ahead to Game 5
Well, other than shattering NBA records, the Cavs found the key to beating the Warriors: Make at least two of their stars look human. They were able to do so with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson on Friday night.
While Kevin Durant had yet another dominating performance (35 points), Curry was limited to 14 points on 4 of 13 shooting, and Thompson was held to 13 points on 4 of 11 shooting. Can the Cavs deliver a repeat performance when the series shifts back to Oakland on Monday night?
"They brought a level of physicality that we did not match."@warriors head coach Steve Kerr following the Game 4 loss. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/CK8W6Zidzg
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 10, 2017
