LeBron James scores 51 points but Warriors beat Cavs in game one

To end the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry made his routine buzzer-beater near half-court.

Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James scored a career playoff-high 51 points, the most in finals history in a losing cause and the most in any finals game since Michael Jordan struck for 53 in 1993 against Phoenix.

Then there was Cavs icon LeBron James and Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry, engaging in a bit of trash talk and a playful push, after the former blocked the latter’s shot in overtime. James finished with a ridiculous 51 points, eight assists and eight rebounds for nothing.

“The reason for the trigger is that we had doubt as to whether or not James was in the restricted area”, Mauer said. “So we had to change it to a blocking foul”.

James felt that call changed the course of the game.

“So when they called the charge, I was surprised, but I’m glad they reviewed it”, he said. “It was a huge play, a huge play”. “I will never give up on JR, it’s not in my MO, I never give up on my players”. “But he shot the shot I don’t know, maybe he was trying to increase his points but that was some (expletive) but I was there to contest”.

There were several calls down the stretch that angered James, with the biggest coming after James drove past Stephen Curry for a three-point play that put Cleveland up 104-102 with 50 seconds left.

Next, Cleveland’s J.R. Smith made a play that may one day live in the same type of infamy that Chris Webber’s “timeout” against North Carolina has since 1993.

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said, “He thought it was over”.

Smith denied that interpretation, insisting he knew the game was tied. “George shot the free throw, I got the rebound”, Smith said. Then they got right up in each other’s face-of-the franchise.

James: What do you mean “Am I not sure?”

Golden State answered moments later with a 14-4 run, Curry and Thompson sinking 3-pointers and Durant’s six points including a slam dunk to cap the spurt as the Warriors led 84-78 entering the fourth quarter.

Durant struggled with his shot but wound up with 26 points on 8-for-22 shooting and nine rebounds.

James was asked for his view of the argument, which also included Klay Thompson, Shaun Livingston of the Warriors and Tristan Thompson of the Cavaliers.

“We got lucky”, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said in his postgame press conference.

Twitter could not believe what they saw and had the memes ready to go.