2017 NBA Finals: Game 2 recap and highlights

In Game 2 of the 2017 NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors used Kevin Durant, a Stephen Curry triple-double and another third quarter run to put away LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Coming off a dominant Game 1 victory in the 2017 NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors needed a win in Game 2 to maintain home-court advantage. Thanks to another not nice performance from Kevin Durant, another big third quarter run and a triple-double from Stephen Curry, the Dubs got it despite another monster night from LeBron James.

In a 132-113 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers to remain perfect in the playoffs Sunday night, the Warriors opened up a 2-0 series lead for the second year in a row. KD led the way with 33 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, five blocks and three steals, shooting 13-for-22 from the field and decimating Cleveland’s hopes of mounting a comeback in the second half with backbreaker shot after backbreaker shot.

Curry finished with a 32-11-10 triple-double as head coach Steve Kerr returned to the sideline, pouring in 14-of-14 shooting from the foul line despite a 7-for-17 shooting line and eight turnovers.

Klay Thompson shrugged off his postseason shooting slump, adding 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-7 from deep. Draymond Green added a 12-6-6 stat line, helping the Warriors overcome 20 turnovers and a triple-double from LeBron for a 19-point victory.

Despite a 29-14-11 triple-double from King James and 27 points from Kevin Love, the Cavs were once again unable to hang with the Warriors once the second half was underway. James clearly looked gassed down the stretch having to bear the load of Cleveland’s offense and defending KD on the other end.

The Dubs finished Game 2 with 34 assists and made 18 three-pointers as well.

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Now, as the series shifts back to Cleveland, the Cavs face the impossible task of winning four of the next five games for the second year in a row if they want to repeat as NBA champions.

In the first quarter, Kevin Love got off to a hot start with nine of this team’s first 13 points, but the inevitable Warriors surge saw the home team turn a 9-3 deficit into a 26-16 advantage.

However, the Cavs remained resilient behind LeBron James and early contributions from Kyle Korver and Channing Frye (who did not play in Game 1), cutting Golden State’s lead down to 40-34 at the end of the opening period.

Curry led the way with 15 points on 10-of-10 shooting from the foul line in the first quarter, but 10 points from LeBron and eight turnovers from the Warriors — after committing only four in all of Game 1 — kept Cleveland within striking distance.

In the second quarter, the Dubs used their defense to fuel a 7-1 spurt, extending the lead to 12 thanks to defensive stops at the rim from Andre Iguodala and David West, the latter of which led to a Klay Thompson three in transition.

LeBron’s rare opportunity for rest was up at that point, and he took matters into his own hands with a Herculean effort to keep Cleveland in the game.

The King entered the break with 18 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, going 8-for-12 from the field and taking all of his field goal attempts in or near the painted area. He simply got whatever he wanted going to the basket, playing 21 first half minutes in the process.

Love chipped in 15 crucial points on 7-of-12 shooting, while Kyrie Irving had 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting.

Draymond Green playing with three fouls was a risky call for head coach Steve Kerr in his first game back, but luckily the defensive stalwart did not pick up his fourth before halftime. Kevin Durant entered the half with a 15-7-4-3-3 stat line, Curry added 15 and Thompson had 11.

However, Curry’s 2-for-8 shooting line and 13 Warriors turnovers (including six from Steph) made for a much more competitive start to Game 2 than the series opener.

Like they did in Game 1, the Warriors used a quick third quarter run to open up a double-digit advantage. Using a 16-9 spurt to start the second half, Golden State turned its three-point halftime lead into a 10-point gap, with Curry providing the shake-and-bake on LeBron to ignite Oracle Arena.

However, with the Cavs on the ropes, the Dubs got a little trigger-happy looking for the killing blow, taking quite a few ill-advised threes. LeBron continued to leave his imprint on the game with that opening, carrying his team on a 7-0 run to pull back within four points halfway through the third.

In typical Warriors fashion, the Dubs responded with a 7-0 run of their own to extend the lead back to double-digits, topped off by Curry’s no-look dime to Shaun Livingston that froze an entire defense.

Golden State’s run extended to 12-2 following the Cavs’ 7-0 response, and though LeBron got his triple-double in the third quarter to tie Magic Johnson (eight) for most triple-doubles in NBA Finals history, the Dubs entered the final frame with a 102-88 advantage.

After being outscored 35-24 in the third, the only sign of hope for the Cavaliers was Draymond picking up his fifth foul just before the start of the fourth, plus KD picking up his fourth just a few minutes into the final period.

But even with KD and Green in foul trouble, the Dubs answered the bell every time the Cavaliers tried to put something together.

Kyrie Irving showed signs of getting ready to cook, but for every insane bucket he poured in, the Dubs had a response.

Kevin Durant, in particular, lived up to his reputation of not being very nice, stuffing Kevin Love on one end for his fifth block and putting in a ridiculous shot over LeBron and Love that probably should have been a three-point play to extend Golden State’s lead to 115-97 with 7:26 to play.

With the Cavs on the ropes, KD and Curry supplied the daggers on back-to-back possessions with two three-pointers that had Oracle Arena rocking. Though Cleveland responded with a quick burst to get the deficit back down to 17 with 5:43 to play, the game was too far out of reach at that point.

Curry, meanwhile, secured a triple-double of his own in the process.

With 3:47 remaining, head coach Tyronn Lue pulled his starters and waved the white flag on Game 2. For the second year in a row, the Cavs face a 2-0 series deficit as the Finals shift back to Cleveland.

Next: Golden State Warriors - 5 keys to winning the 2017 NBA Finals

Game 3 will be at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday.