Warriors-Cavs Finals rematch highlights a Christmas controversy

It seems like Christmas wasn’t as merry as it was supposed to be for the Cleveland Cavaliers and their fans after a disheartening 99-92 loss at the hands of the Golden State Warriors on Christmas day. Kevin Love scored a game-high 31 points and had 18 rebounds for the Cavaliers, while Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson combined for 49 points and 14 rebounds.

The Warriors proved just how deep their squad runs as they held 4-time-MVP Lebron James to 20 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds all while 2-time-MVP Stephen Curry sat on the sidelines in a suit. They also showcased the league’s best defense with a block from Durant on the very first possession, with seven more to follow. The Warriors’ Draymond Green also had his fingerprints all over the game with yet another triple-double (12 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists).

In fact, the Cavaliers never relinquished the lead until there were three minutes left in the first half and Durant gave the Warriors the lead with a 3-pointer in Jae Crowder’s face. Although the difference in the score was never more than five, the Warriors never looked back, and pulled through with the W.

With the Warriors up by three with 24 seconds left in the game, Lebron drove through the paint for another one of his layups but was blocked from behind by Durant. Many fans questioned the call as videotape showed Durant fouling Lebron, but the game went on and the Cavs lost by seven. After the game, the NBA released a statement saying that the referees missed three foul calls on Kevin Durant in the last 1:12 of game time.

According to Bleacher Report, Durant and Lebron had this to say about the game:

“It felt clean,” Durant said. “It’s probably the same play a bunch of those dudes on Twitter probably arguing about in 24 Hour Fitness…so they know. They know if they ain’t call it, it’s not a foul.”

Lebron James, naturally, had something to say about it as well: “Obviously the overturned one, he fouled me twice,” he said, “But, whatever. What are you going to do about it?”

Important information and quotes from The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, nba.com, and Bleacher Report.

Featured image- Klay Thompson defends Lebron James Courtesy of Erik Drost, from Flickr