LeBron James and Kyrie Irving didn’t have to say anything in response to the remarks Stanley Johnson made after the Detroit Pistons fell two games behind in the opening round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs. The Cleveland Cavaliers’ All-Stars let their game do the talking on Friday night, as the Cavs won Game 3, 101-91 at The Palace in Auburn Hills. As the Pistons face a must-win situation on Sunday, their defense will have to find a way to stop both King James and Kyrie Irving or suffer elimination from the NBA Playoffs. The Cavaliers are now just one win away from facing the winners of the Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks series.
RT FOXSports “RT FOXSportsOH: LeBron James calls Kyrie Irving’s late game 3 the biggest shot of the game. https://t.co/QXID12DCUI ”
— Tommy Mason (@tommymason006) April 23, 2016
James summarized Irving’s game and his clutch 3-pointer.
“Kyrie was spectacular… He’s just a great player.”
Kyrie Irving’s ‘spectacular’ performance
Having missed most of the NBA Finals last season, Irving could have another shot at the Golden State Warriors at the conclusion of the NBA Playoffs. The year 2016 could be a defining year for Kyrie, especially if he continues to have games like he did against the Pistons on Friday night. Irving had a game-high 26 points, registering a plus-nine, and grabbing four rebounds after just under 40 minutes on the court. He went 11-for-20 when shooting field goals, 3-for-6 from downtown.
END OF 3RD: Cavs lead the Pistons, 79-73. Kyrie Irving leads the way with 20 points and 4 assists. #CavsPistons pic.twitter.com/RPFKTO01bL
— Cavaliers Nation (@WeAreCavsNation) April 23, 2016
It was his 3-pointer with just 0.7 seconds on the shot-clock — and 43 seconds left in the game — that will go down as one of the best plays of the 2016 NBA Playoffs. It put the Cavs up by eight and would be the last field goal of the game. In NBA Jam terms, it was the “nail in the coffin” for the Detroit Pistons, and the beginning of the end of their playoff run.
RELATED REPORTS BY THE INQUISITR
LeBron James Gives Up McDonald’s To Be The New Face Of Blaze Pizza
NBA: Are The Cleveland Cavaliers Starting To Play Like The Golden State Warriors?
Boston Celtics’ Playoff Hopes On Life Support Pending Avery Bradley News
LeBron James and the other Cavs
Just days after Pistons rookie Stanley Johnson talked smack about his playoff opponents and their leader, someone other than LeBron stepped up big for Cleveland. But that’s not to say LeBron didn’t have a fantastic game of his own. James had 20 points, 7 assists, and a game-high 13 rebounds. Kevin Love also had 20 points, going an impressive 7-for-10 from the field and grabbing 12 boards.
Cavaliers lead the Pistons 54-53 at halftime
Kyrie leads all scorers with 13 points LeBron 11 points, 7 rebounds pic.twitter.com/Mug4ToMwbn
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 23, 2016
Tristan Thompson grabbed 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, and J.R. Smith finished with 9 points, and 9 rebounds. Coming off of the bench, Matthew Dellavedova had 12 points and shot 80 percent from the field.
Where To Watch
Game 4 of the NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Quarterfinals featuring Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers will be Sunday, April 24, at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Coverage is scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. EST, pending the conclusion of the Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics on TNT.
Sounds of the #NBAPlayoffs … our inside look at the start of the 2016 postseason! https://t.co/QpjFbLqvoP
— NBA (@NBA) April 22, 2016
Celtics vs. Hawks coverage begins at 6 p.m. EST on TNT. The Hawks lead the series 2-1 over the Celtics. If the Cavaliers sweep the Pistons, they’ll be guaranteed a longer break than either the Celtics or the Hawks in round two of the NBA Playoffs.
[Photo credit Gregory Shamus]
