Golden State Warriors: 3 takeaways from Game 2 vs. Cavaliers

The Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 122-103, going up 2-0 in the NBA Finals for the third straight year. Here are our takeaways.

The Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 122-103 in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals Sunday night. The familiar and predictable tenor to the contest, which stood in contrast to that of Game 1, went beyond the final score.

Although it is technically the hardest time to play NBA basketball, offense has come easy for the Warriors at Oracle over the last three Junes, save an infamous Game 5 and Game 7. It took until overtime of Game 1 this year for that recognizable feeling to return, but it was present from the opening tip of Game 2.

We’ll get into the “why” and “how” later, but first, the “what.” Stephen Curry scored 33 points and hit an NBA Finals-record nine 3-pointers. Klay Thompson somehow put in 20 points on 13 shots despite a high-ankle sprain. Kevin Durant scored 26 points for the second time this series, but ramped up his floor game across the board, shooting less, rebounding with more physicality, facilitating with purpose and competing harder on defense. He was a game-high +24.

LeBron James had 29 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds, but it was his performance that was of the most relative benefit to the Warriors. We’ll get into that, and more, in our Game 2 takeaways.