On Thursday, the Cleveland Cavaliers became the third team in NBA history and the first since the 1966 Lakers to come back from a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals to even the series at 3-3.
On Sunday, they'll get a chance to give Cleveland its first major pro sports championship in 52 years.
Thanks to a second straight 40-point performance from LeBron James, the Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors 115-101 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals in Cleveland. The decisive seventh and final game of this series will take place in Oakland on Sunday at 5 p.m. on ABC15.
Here are three big takeaways from Thursday night's game.
1. LeBron is incredible.
Coming into Game 6, LeBron James had the highest all-time scoring average in playoff elimination games -- 32.4 points, just over a point better than Michael Jordan.
On Thursday, LeBron added to that number. He scored 18 straight points for the Cavs through one stretch of the second half. He scored 41 total points (on 16 of 27 shooting) and added 10 assists, eight rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
LeBron. James. Just wow. ?? #SCtop10 https://t.co/BORdBKI5OM
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 17, 2016
Not in our house. ? #DefendTheLand pic.twitter.com/ySv2UmphJS
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 17, 2016
2. Curry comes unglued.
It's tough to blame Stephen Curry for his outburst at the end of Game 6. Some of the calls that went against him were terrible, including his sixth and final foul in the fourth quarter that led to the first ejection of his NBA career.
Stephen Curry fouls out, throws mouthguard at fan, says he's sorry pic.twitter.com/EMpWVvnxH8
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) June 17, 2016
In any event: Curry scored 25 of the Warriors' first 60 points, but he didn't get the help he needed until Klay Thompson began to heat up in the third quarter. Thompson's 15 third-quarter points helped Golden State get within single digits going into the fourth quarter, but the Warriors didn't really come close to completely getting over the hump -- a direct result of their 11 first-quarter points, their lowest single-quarter total since 2012.
3. Iguodala's injury a concern.
Add Andre Iguodala to the Golden State Warriors' injury list. The 12-year NBA veteran and former UA star visibly struggled during Game 6 while dealing with back stiffness.
The Warriors are already without center and defensive specialist Andrew Bogut, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Game 5. Iguodala has been crucial to limiting LeBron's success; if he misses Game 7, the Warriors could be in serious trouble.
