Right when the tide seemed to be turning for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Golden State Warriors powered back in the final minutes of Game 3 and increased their NBA Finals lead to 3-0.
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving combined for 77 points, but it wasn't enough to take down Kevin Durant and the star-studded Warriors.
KD recorded 30-plus points for the third game in a row, scoring 14 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter. He made a 3-pointer with just under a minute to play that seemed to seal the deal for the Warriors.
Durant's mother, Wanda, along with Stephen Curry's mother, Sonya, were understandably hyped while heading out of the arena following Golden State's performance.
Paul Pierce has taken the stance throughout the series that Durant is "the best player in the world right now." He reminded Twitter of his take on Wednesday night.
Truth Hurts #truthjuice 🤷🏿♂️🤷🏿♂️get over it I told y'all
— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) June 8, 2017
Other current and former NBA players also chimed in on Twitter about the dramatic Game 3 showdown.
KD with the big shot to seal the win.... Time for the Cavs to come back down 3-0 #NBAFinals2017
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 8, 2017
The skill level on display ?!$$$$ @NBA
— Steve Nash (@SteveNash) June 8, 2017
What a game!! Full 48min battle that we wanted to see #NBAfinals
— Quincy Pondexter (@QuincyPondexter) June 8, 2017
If any team can make history and come back from a 3-0 deficit in the #NBAFINALS it is the @KingJames & @KyrieIrving led @cavs.
— Mike Miller (@MikeMiller_13) June 8, 2017
Hot takes from the sports media world were present as well.
You can't handle the final minute of a game any worse than the #Cavs just did. #nbafinals17
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) June 8, 2017
No sign of @Rihanna. Even she's bailed on Cavs. #NBAFinals
— Mike Wise (@MikeWiseguy) June 8, 2017
And the hottest take of the night might have actually been a hack. JR Smith's Twitter account posted "Cavs in 7" just minutes after the end of the game, and it spread like wildfire across social media. The tweet was quickly deleted and Smith later denied that he wrote it, telling Cleveland.com "I'm smarter than that."
Game 4 tips off Friday night at 9 p.m. ET.
-- Sarah Scrivens
