All eyes were on Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night as the defending champs avoided a sweep and forced another game back in Oakland, where they'll be facing the same 3-1 deficit they faced last year.
After the Cavaliers submitted the highest-scoring first quarter (49 points) and first half (86 points) in NBA Finals history, the action grew testy in the third quarter when Draymond Green appeared to get ejected with his second technical before his first technical was belatedly assessed to Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
Green's mother, Mary Babers, did not hide her displeasure with the call, taking to Twitter and thus continuing a trend of players' moms reacting to this series.
These OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY PAID! #💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩
— GreenMile (@BabersGreen) June 10, 2017
But that was just the beginning of the Internet firestorm that ensued as the Warriors' futile attempt at a comeback made for some entertaining situations, including Zaza Pachulia's taking a swipe at Iman Shumpert's lower region during a third-quarter scrum on the floor, reminiscent of Green's incident with LeBron James last year.
NBA peers watching around the country expressed a variety of opinions regarding both the scuffle and general game play surrounding it.
This is a GOOD game!!!
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) June 10, 2017
My type of game!!! Pelican Bay Ball!!!!
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) June 10, 2017
Don't know what's a flagrant and what's a foul these days 🤔
— C.J. Watson (@Quietstorm_32) June 10, 2017
🍿🍿🍿
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) June 10, 2017
This has been one of the most BIZARRE games I've ever seen lol
— Anthony Tolliver (@ATolliver44) June 10, 2017
Greatest sport ever created 🏀
— Larry Nance Jr (@Larrydn22) June 10, 2017
Most entertaining sport in the world
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) June 10, 2017
When the fourth quarter eventually rolled around, outspoken LeBron fan Rihanna tweeted in support of the reigning Finals MVP.
The closing 12 minutes belonged to Kyrie Irving, though, as he finished with a game-high 40 points. A handful of NFL players reacted accordingly on Twitter.
time for the King's quarter!!! #NBAFinals
— Rihanna (@rihanna) June 10, 2017
Address this man as UNCLE DREW!! @KyrieIrving
— Mark Ingram II (@MarkIngram22) June 10, 2017
Uncle Drew🔥🔥🔥
— Todd Gurley II (@TG3II) June 10, 2017
— danny woodhead (@danny__woodhead) June 10, 2017
Thank You basketball Gods for giving us at least one more game 🙏🏾#NBAFinals
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) June 10, 2017
We at game 5? @derekcarrqb @BIrvin_WVU11 @JeLLy_ThaDON
— Khalil Mack (@52Mack_) June 10, 2017
Back in the closet you go pic.twitter.com/4joYfsjLAO
— Myles Garrett (@MylesLGarrett) June 10, 2017
Game 5 is scheduled for Monday at 9 p.m. ET on ABC/WatchESPN.
-- Nick Ostiller
