Yes, the Golden State Warriors lost a 3-1 lead in the 2016 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite a dominant season (73-9 record), the Warriors couldn’t secure Game 5 without Draymond Green, leading to Cleveland’s historic comeback , ultimately winning the series 4-3.
Golden State’s 3-1 Lead
It was a series inflection moment for both the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers, as Golden State once led the series 3-1 before Cleveland’s historic comeback. However, the Warriors dominated the 2016 season with an NBA-best and record-setting 73 -9 and were the first team in NBA history to pull it off. Coming into the Finals, they were finally stabilized by Curry ‘s tremendous regular-season statistics: 30.1 points per game, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in concert with his 402 three-pointers made. Through four games in the Finals, the Warriors held a commanding 3-1 series lead with an average point differential of +12.5, pacing 110 ppg against Cleveland’s 97.5. A Golden State dominance of both sides of the court gave fans and analysts the feeling that the Warriors would win their second championship in as many years.
Everything turned upside down in Game 5: Draymond Green is maybe the most versatile defender and one of the leaders of the Golden State crew , and his suspension because of the accumulation of flagrant foul points dropped Golden State’s defensive efficiency by almost 20% without him. Through 14 playoff games before his suspension, Green was posting 14.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per contest along with a Defensive Rating of 98.4. His absence created an uptick in Cleveland’s score as LeBron James and Kyrie Irving took advantage to both score 41 points in Game 5, pushing Cleveland’s score up to 112. The Warriors, however, were poor on the offense and wrapped up the game with just 97 points. This little defense gap for Green further disrupted Golden State’s usual high-energy game that had seen the unrelenting pressure create consistent turnovers and blocks.
The longer the Finals went, the more the momentum of Cleveland grew. The Cavaliers forced Golden State to commit turnovers and capitalize on fast breaks in Game 6, holding them to just 101 points while scoring 115 themselves. LeBron James had an average contribution of 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists throughout the Finals and really stepped up his game. His stats in Games 5-7 went up to 36.3 points on average, making two triple-doubles, as he tried to take some pressure off the Cavaliers . Kyrie Irving also proved to be a very important offensive player in this series, as he averaged 27.1 points, including 53.8% from beyond the arc in the last three games. In Games 5-7, Golden State’s scoring average fell to 96.7-a far cry from the team’s double-digit dominance over Cleveland through the first four games of the series.
The Game 7 showdown in Oakland ranked as one of the most-viewed games in NBA history, with over 30 million viewers. Both teams were below their average: Cleveland finished at 93 points and Golden State at 89. Key plays defined the final game: LeBron’s iconic chase-down block of Andre Iguodala with less than two minutes remaining and Irving’s clutch three-pointer in the final minute. In contrast to that, Curry had an awful day, averaging 24 throughout the series and finishing game 7 with 17 points on 6-for-19 shooting, while Klay Thompson added just 14 points, below his series average of 19.6 points. This precipitous decline in scoring from Golden State’s most reliable players outlined just how hard it was for them to regain their rhythm against a re-energized Cavaliers team .
Game 5 Turning Point
Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals marked the shift in momentum as the Cleveland Cavaliers began their epic comeback against the series-leading Golden State Warriors. Without the suspended Draymond Green – due to accumulated flagrant fouls – Golden State struggled to maintain its usual defensive intensity . Green’s absence was important because, during the regular season of 2015-2016, he averaged 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks, often at the heart of efforts to deny opponents clear scoring chances. His defensive rating throughout the playoffs had stood at an elite 98.4, speaking to the Warriors’ overall ability to control fast breaks and rebounds . In Game 5, Golden State allowed Cleveland 112 points, a significant increase from the average 97.5 points they had held the Cavaliers to in the first four games. That was a defensive hole which brought in a huge change in which Cleveland could control both the pace and the score of the game.
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving took turns dismantling the blocked Warriors defense, as each scored 41 points, an NBA Finals record by two teammates in one game. James added 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks for good measure-just to reiterated his capability of dominating the game on all fronts. Irving was efficient at 17-for-24 from the field, including 5-for-7 beyond the arc. This high level of play enabled Cleveland to attain an offensive rating of 118.5 for Game 5, well above the 104.3 mark through the first four games. Without Green, the Warriors did not have much versatility on defense as the Cavaliers shot 53.0% from the field, compared to Golden State’s 36.4%. The Warriors never had the energy of Cleveland as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined to score 62 points, on collective 20-for-47 shooting from the field that finally hurt the overall efficiency of the team.
The absence of Green also disrupted the rebounding effort of Golden State as Cleveland grabbed 45 rebounds against their 39. Green had averaged 9.5 rebounds per game during the regular season and was able to guard multiple positions, allowing the Warriors to run a much faster-paced game often outrebounding opponents. In Game 5, though, Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson racked up 15 rebounds, including 4 offensive boards, that gave the Cavaliers second-chance opportunities to score and add to their total. The Warriors weren’t able to close out on the glass and control possession, further increasing the disparity in scoring, and thus placing additional pressure on Golden State’s backcourt to carry more of the load. Without Green orchestrating the ball, the Warriors went from averaging 25 assists per game to managing just 18 in Game 5, in ways that contributed to the overall inefficiency of the game.
Beyond the numbers, Game 5 was a psychological turning point . Without Green in the game, the Cavaliers attempted to capitalize on this and further the series in their direction, pushing the pressure back towards the Warriors, who suddenly found themselves in a position where they could lose the dominant lead that they had built. That dynamic became apparent as Cleveland extended their lead and the team was forced to depend on Curry and Thompson to close the gap. Curry, who averaged 30.1 in the regular season, was held to 25 points on 8-for-21 shooting Wednesday – including just 5-for-15 beyond the arc. Thompson also didn’t shoot his usual standard, going 11-for-20. The reliance on outside shooting made the Warriors offense more predictable, and thus Cleveland’s defense could focus on the perimeter; they managed to hold Golden State to a series-low 97 points after averaging 110 through the first three games. This critically lowered the shooting accuracy and rhythm. Further, the importance of Green’s playmaking and versatility was highlighted because his presence means the Warriors can execute a more dynamic and unpredictable offense throughout the season.
LeBron’s Dominance
LeBron James was legendary in leading the Cleveland Cavaliers’ comeback from a three-game deficit against the Golden State Warriors to win the 2016 NBA Finals and seal his status as one of the best players in NBA history. Throughout the series, LeBron averaged 29.7 points , 11.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists in the seven-game set and became the first player ever to lead both teams in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks throughout an entire Finals series. This was an unprecedented feat, showing his all-around impact on the game, as he contributed meaningfully in every statistical category. LeBron scored 41, 41, and 27 points in Games 5, 6, and 7, respectively, while adding two triple-doubles in Games 5 and 7 to help Cleveland close the series and secure their first ever NBA championship. His leadership in those critical games was typical of how he could change his style of play to accommodate the needs of the team by increasing his minutes and pushing his body to deliver consistent results.
His defense was just as critical to Cleveland’s success. He averaged 2.6 steals and 2.3 blocks over the course of the Finals, each highs for him in any playoff series or regular-season span. These marks hit an apex in Game 7, where he produced Perhaps the most memorable moment in Cavaliers history with a game-sealing, chase-down block on Andre Iguodala in the waning moments of the game. This iconic block prevented Golden State’s first lead of the game and provided Cleveland with a boost on the defensive side of the ball when it was needed most. His series defensive rating of 101.4 showed how effective he was on that end of the floor, as he guarded multiple positions throughout and contested shots at the rim—a place where Cleveland had struggled earlier in the series. This defensive prowess added to his offensive contributions, thus enabling Cleveland to reduce the Warriors’ high-paced game and also to minimize the effect of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson by keeping them below 90 points in Game 7.
Another huge factor was LeBron’s efficiency in shot selection that highly contributed to the success of the Cavaliers. He shot 49.4% from the field over the seven games, including extremely effective work in the paint, where he finished with more than 70%. His aggressiveness attacking the basket drew fouls against the Golden State defense and often sent him to the line for extra attempts; an average of 7.4 free throw attempts with an end of 72.1% conversion rate made him finish the game for his opponents. He took 11 free throws in Game 6 alone, while recording 41 points on a 59.3% shooting percentage. The ability to drive to the hoop created high-percentage scoring opportunities not just for himself but freed up space for his teammates since defenders had to be drawn into the paint. This strategic approach helped Cleveland outscore Golden State in points in the paint, an area they dominated, averaging 48 points per game in the final three games.
Kyrie’s Clutch Shot
The clutch three-pointer by Kyrie Irving in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals will always be a milestone moment in NBA history, culturally capturing Cleveland’s hard-earned battle and securing the Cavaliers’ first championship. With less than a minute remaining and the score tied at 89, Irving confidently took the step-back three over Stephen Curry. The now-iconic shot gave Cleveland a 92-89 advantage and would prove to be the defining margin in the contest. shot, scored with 53 seconds remaining, essentially sealed the game as Golden State was unable to recover, ultimately losing 93-89. Irving was confident enough to take such a high-pressure shot on the road against a 73-win team—a legacy to his incredible skill under pressure. The shot—terribly difficult for most players—was one of those all-or-nothing moments; Irving made it and was very instrumental in Cleveland’s historic comeback from a series 3-1 deficit.
By the end of the Finals, Kyrie Irving had established himself as a consistent and formidable scorer, leading the team with 27.1 points per game on 46.8% shooting from the field, including 40% from beyond the arc. His acute shooting kept Cleveland competitive for the most part, especially in Games 5, 6, and 7, when he averaged 30.3 points per game-high of 41 points in Game 5. Irving’s shooting and willingness to taking shots in crucial situations were important because, more often than not, he was able to eclipse expectations set forth by Golden State’s defense—one of the league’s best during the season. In Game 7, he went for 26 points on 10-for- 23 shooting from the field and 2-for-5 from beyond the arc, could create his own shot, and find openings tight against defenses. Having elite ball-handling skills, he managed his way through defenders of Golden State, shooting 50.6% on contested shots in the Finals, underlining efficiency even in tough situations.
The contributions Irving made offensively were not limited to just scoring; his creation opened shots for teammates that allowed LeBron James and others to capitalize on the attention he drew from the defense. Through three quarters of action in Game 7, Kyrie had already scored 23 points , setting the stage for his iconic shot. This three-pointer not only broke the tie but also was Cleveland’s last field goal of the game; after it, the Cavaliers went into lockdown mode and relied on free throws thereafter. At the same time, he averaged 4.2 assists per game throughout the Finals, creating for others constantly alongside LeBron. In the meantime, Irving’s combo playmaking and scoring skills were crucial in the game plan of the Cavaliers in the series, where he and LeBron created more than 60 percent of Cleveland’s points. His presence as a dual scoring and passing threat forced Golden State to adjust its defense—mostly leaving other Cavaliers open, or he took advantage of operating in one-on-one situations.
Curry’s Performance Dip
Stephen Curry is starting to get less effective, especially in the last games of the series, in which the Golden State Warriors were not able to close the 2016 NBA Finals series after being ahead 3-1. Curry had led the league in scoring for most of the regular season with an average of 30.1 points per game, shooting a remarkable 45.4% from beyond the arc. He had also made 402 three-pointers-setting a record. However, all this changed during the Finals, when he averaged just 22.6 points per game, shooting 40.3% from the field and 40% from three-point range. This was a steep drop-off from his usual output during the regular season, as the more intense pressure and aggressive switching in the Cavaliers’ defense curtailed Curry’s rhythm. His struggles in Game 7, in particular, were very evident, scoring only 17 points on 6-for-19 shooting and going 4-for-14 from beyond the arc, well below his usual efficiency and the kind of scoring Golden State leaned on.
That burden was further complicated by the fact that Cleveland switched on Curry relentlessly, making sure to use physical play to deter him off screens. Through six games in the Finals, Curry is averaging 6.5 contested shots per game—a marked increase from his usual playoff burden of 4.0 per contest. This ramped-up defensive pressure immediately translated to his three-point shooting, as his three-point shooting percentage in the Finals fell to 40%, in contrast to the 45.4% he managed during the regular season. In Game 6, Curry fouled out with just 30 minutes of play, which limited the time he could spend on the court and closed with 30 points but on inefficient shooting (8-for-20 from the field and 6-for-13 from three). He was unable to pull away from Cleveland’s tight defense with continuity, so he never established his usual flow of scoring and was less effective as the Golden State primary attack. He averaged 4.7 points per game on drives during the regular season, mostly because of his ability to use his quickness and shooting touch around the rim to his advantage. But in the Finals, drives netted just 2.6 points per game for Curry, as the Cavaliers—primarily LeBron James and Tristan Thompson —used their shot-blocking presence and size inside to deter him. This defensive pressure certainly took a toll on his shooting percentage, as Curry shot just 47.4% from within the arc in the Finals, compared to 55.4% during the regular season. In Game 7, he attempted just three shots within the paint, converting only one, as Cleveland’s defense took away his opportunities to score close to the basket, further diminishing his offensive output.
His playmaking also suffered in the Finals, which in turn influenced Golden State’s ball movement and rhythm on offense. After averaging 6.7 assists per game during the regular season, his average in the Finals dropped to just 3.7 as Cleveland’s defense forced him into isolation mode and clogged up passing lanes throughout. In Game 7, Curry managed just a season-low two assists, his low in any game of the series. His turnovers increased, too, averaging 4.3 in the Finals compared to 3.3 during the regular season. He added four turnovers to his foul-outs in Game 6, further limiting Golden State’s offensive efficiency. His turnover in the final minutes of Game 7, trying to make a behind-the-back pass that went out of bounds, was pivotal in preventing Golden State from attempting a tie and representative of the atypical mistakes throughout his performance in the Finals.
Draymond’s Suspension
Draymond Green ‘s suspension for Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals was a pivotal point in the series, perhaps most strongly affecting the Golden State Warriors ‘ defensive and offensive dynamics. Throughout the regular season and playoffs, Green had been very instrumental to the Golden State Warriors, playing an average of 34.7 minutes per game while averaging 14.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. With his ability to play defense in multiple positions, Green often switched assignments across several positions and was instrumental in Golden State leading the league with a defensive rating of 103.8. He should immediately raise the on-court intensity level for the Warriors while enabling them to switch onto guards and bigs, which will work to control tempos, help reduce opponent scoring efficiency, and create transition opportunities off turnovers. But his suspension for reaching the flagrant foul point total—called after that tussle with LeBron James in Game 4—forced the Warriors to adjust and alter their plan of attack, thus creating a gaping hole in both their defense and offense in Game 5.
Without Green, Golden State lacked the muscle in the post to handle the surges of offense from Cleveland in the fifth game. Through the playoffs, he had averaged 1.7 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. He had been the anchor behind Golden State’s attempt at protecting the paint and contesting shots on the perimeter. Without him, Cleveland pulled away, outscoring Golden State 112-97—a heavy drop in defensive efficiency for Golden State. Of course, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving proved the most likely to capitalize off it; each netted 41 points apiece while shooting over 50% from the field. The Cleveland field goal percentage jumped 10%, from 43.8% in Game 4 to 53% in Game 5, while the Golden State defensive rating ballooned to 118.5 in Game 5, its worst of the series. Green’s absence was also very well noted on the glass , as Cleveland outrebounded Golden State 45-36 with Tristan Thompson hauling down 15 rebounds—four on offense—to create multiple second-chance scoring opportunities that put added stress on Golden State’s shorthanded lineup.
Offensively, the suspension of Green affected how the Warriors moved the ball and spaced the floor—the two elements that fueled their high-scoring, three-point-heavy attack. All season, Green was a secondary playmaker for Golden State, averaging 7.4 assists per game thanks to a series of passes that often freed up Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson for open three-point shots simply by threatening to score himself and being able to pass out of the situation. Green’s presence allowed Golden State to average 25 assists per game in the Finals, a number which dwindled to 20 in Game 5 as the team labored without him to institute its normal pass-happy flow. Curry and Thompson combined for 62 points in Game 5, but those were tougher to come by and less efficient than Curry went 8-for-21 from the field, Thompson went 11-for-20-off during a series against teams that usually struggle to contain just one of them. Green’s absence as a facilitator forced Curry and Thompson into more isolation plays, which allowed Cleveland’s defense to key on them more intensively and reduced their effectiveness and Golden State’s overall offensive efficiency.
Green’s suspension also influenced Golden State’s transition play , a primary area in which his defensive rebounding and quick outlet passing had been greatly instrumental. He had averaged 1.5 steals and 9.5 rebounds in the regular season and playoffs, many of those leading to fast breaks resulting in easy baskets from Golden State before the opposing defense could get set. For the series, Golden State was averaging 14.5 fast-break points a game, but on Wednesday, that number was halved to 8.
Momentum Shift
The dramatic momentum shift in the 2016 NBA Finals came after the initial 3-1 series lead of the Golden State Warriors , which was met by an inspired Cleveland Cavaliers comeback that altered the course of this series. Up through Game 4 , the series seemed in control for Golden State. Three wins had been engineered by an average margin of 15 points. Cleveland’s 112-97 win in Game 5 marked a different dynamic. This victory was catalyzed by Draymond Green ‘s suspension, which rendered Golden State without their primary defensive anchor and secondary playmaker . Cleveland exploited this absence as LeBron James and Kyrie Irving top scored for them with 41 points each, becoming the first teammates in NBA Finals history to do such a feat in the same game. This great performance gave the much-needed confidence boost to Cleveland, starting a momentum shift that would help them through the remainder of the series.
Coming back home in Game 6 with renewed energy, Cleveland annihilated Golden State, 115-101. LeBron James had one of the best games of his playoff career, scoring 41 points for the second straight game, adding 8 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 steals , and 3 blocks. The Cleveland defense clamped down—hard enough to hold Steph Curry to 30, but in fairly inefficient shooting: 8-for-20 from the field and 6-for-13 from three-point range. Eventually, he even fouled out in frustration—a rarity, and an omen of increased defensive intensity from the Cavaliers. Whereas Golden State had 14 turnovers compared to Cleveland’s 12, the Cavs capitalized on those extra possessions to gain momentum. By holding Golden State below its usual three-point shooting efficiency , Cleveland managed to take away the Warriors’ best means of offense and gain its second consecutive victory; even more so, shifting momentum in Cleveland’s favor by tying the series 3-6.
Going into Game 7 , that shift in momentum was palpable in both teams’ performance and mindset . Despite being on the road in Oakland , Cleveland came in with a lot of confidence after being only the third team to ever overcome a 3-1 series deficit. in NBA history at that point. The Cavaliers’ defensive adjustments continued to stymie Golden State’s offense as Cleveland held the Warriors to 38.6% from the field and just 27.3% beyond the three-point arc. Stephen Curry never managed to find his regular-season form and finished Game 7 with 17 points on 6-for-19 shooting, including 4-for-14 from beyond the arc. On the other hand, the Cavaliers drew on the momentum built up from Games 5 and 6, with LeBron James recording a triple-double : 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in a performance that firmly sealed Cleveland’s growing dominance of the game. The chase-down block by LeBron against Andre Iguodala in the final minutes, along with other defensive plays, only underscored further that it was Cleveland that took hold of the momentum and now set both pace and pressure points .
