CLEVELAND: Richard Jefferson put the Cavaliers’ defensive mission against the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the NBA Finals very simply.
“Our goal is stop any explosion,” Jefferson said Friday morning.
Jefferson was talking about the Splash Brothers, who had yet to dive into the deep end of the 3-point pool.
Two-time league MVP Curry looked disengaged in the Cavs’ 30-point victory in Game 3 and had been plagued by foul trouble. Thompson hadn’t shown his demoralizing touch, with Shaun Livingston and Draymond Green leading the way in the Warriors’ two victories at home to start the series.
But Curry and Thompson seemed poised for the fuse to be lit.
“I mean, me and Steph haven’t really shot the ball as well as we want to. That’s all right. We’re still up 2-1, and law of averages, it will all even out,” Thompson said after the Cavs’ triumph Wednesday.
The pair got their groove back Friday night in Quicken Loans Arena and their performances left the Warriors one victory away from their second consecutive NBA championship. Golden State broke open a nip-and-tuck game in the fourth quarter and defeated the Cavs 108-97.
The Cavs trail 3-1 in the series with a possible closeout Game 5 Monday night in Oakland.
After combining for 20 points in the Warriors’ Game 1 victory, 35 points in Golden State’s Game 2 triumph and 29 in Game 3, Thompson and Curry began to find their stroke. With Curry popping in 38, they totaled 63 points and hit 50 percent from beyond the arc.
The Cavs did manage to avoid a massive outburst by Curry, like the one on May 9 in the Western Conference semifinals. That night Curry returned from a knee injury and scored 17 of his 40 points in overtime to beat the Portland Trail Blazers. On Friday, Curry scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to finish off the Cavs.
Jefferson will likely be distraught.
The Cavs tried to make life miserable for the Splashes on Friday. Kyrie Irving turned in one of the highlights of the first half when he rejected a Curry shot with 4:17 left in the second quarter. LeBron James blocked an 8-foot jumper by Curry, swatting it away with 2:18 left in the third quarter.
Thompson, operating with a bruised thigh suffered on Timofey Mozgov’s hard screen in Game 3, continued to be hounded by J.R. Smith.
Through three games, the Splash Brothers had shot 40 percent from the field, 36 from 3-point range. In the Warriors’ 20-game playoff run entering Friday, Curry was shooting 45.5 percent overall, Thompson 44.1.
Even Cavs fans had to concede their problems would not continue. But some gamesmanship by James on Wednesday showed that the Cavs would resort to anything to get in Curry’s and Thompson’s heads.
James sent Curry a not-so-subtle message when he blocked a layup by Curry during a break in the action near the end of the third quarter that night. Afterward, James didn’t hesitate to explain.
“When you have the greatest shooter in the world trying to get an easy one or trying to get in rhythm, it’s our job to try to keep him out,” James said. “No matter if it’s after the whistle or not. If you’re a great player and you see the ball go in, then you start feeling it.”
Jefferson knew another 20-point night by the Splash Brothers might be a pipe dream. He knew the Warriors were thinking about 50 or 60 or 70 from Curry and Thompson.
“I’m never expecting that. I know they’re expecting it, and they want it,” Jefferson said. “But our job is to try and stop that. We’ve done a pretty good job trying to contain them. You can’t ever fully stop them, and when you do, you open up opportunities for other guys.”
Jefferson knew it might take the Cavs playing “to exhaustion,” especially since Warriors coach Steve Kerr uses his bench wisely to limit Curry’s and Thompson’s minutes so Golden State can keep up the fast pace it loves.
Now the Splash Brothers have settled down, and in turn heated up. Their confidence has been stoked, even though it wasn’t the explosion the Warriors sought.
But with Game 5 in Oracle Arena, Thompson’s “law” looms. The Cavs are on the brink of elimination. Playing to exhaustion might not be enough.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her blog at www.ohio.com/marla. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.