The Series Starts Ends When the Home Team Loses

(Still from si.com video)

Warriors superstar Kevin Durant almost single-handedly won Game 3 of the NBA Finals as he scored 43 points in Golden State's 110-102 victory over Cleveland. The Warriors have won the first three games of the Finals.

Out of 130 instances, no NBA team has ever come back to win a 7-game series after losing the first three games.

So the series is over, and it's impossible for Cleveland to win.

[Hey, anything can happen---didja forget that the Cubs won the World Series after a 108-year drought? La la la, I'm not listening.]

NBA Finals Game 1

Wow. What a game.

Possible game- or season-ending injury to Klay Thompson (it wasn't).

Overturning of an offensive foul by Kevin Durant in the last 40 seconds; the review perhaps was contrary to rules and cost Cleveland the game.

"Chippiness": "The Cavaliers’ Tristan Thompson challenged [Draymond] Green to a fight after the two engaged in a brief skirmish in the final seconds."

Blunder by Cavalier J.R. Smith in the final seconds of a tie game:

Only good things could happen, and Smith had three obvious options. He could attempt a game-winner, by lofting a quick put-back or dribbling into a turnaround jumper. He could call for timeout and let coach Tyronn Lue draw up a play. Or he could pass out to LeBron James, who had already scored 49 points on Thursday and who had hit two game-winners earlier this postseason.

Instead, J.R. Smith, thinking the Cavs had the lead (according to his coach), dribbled out the remaining seconds, and the Warriors won in overtime.

Overtime.

Great performance by Stephen Curry, who rained in 3-pointers and took it to the rim with balletic grace.

One of the all-time greatest Finals performance by one of the all-time greatest NBA players, LeBron James, who scored 51 points. The Warriors threw everyone at him but couldn't stop him.

Art imitates life. LeBron James is the super-being Thanos, who an army of super-heroes couldn't take down in Avengers: Infinity War.

I’m not saying LeBron James and Thanos are the same person, but have you seen them in the same room together? #StayWoke pic.twitter.com/gGKWfcGOE8

— Kierre Luat (@KierreLuat) May 6, 2018