Golden State Warriors go 1-0 up after drama-packed NBA Finals clash

2:13pm

Final thoughts

There will be so much discussion about charge calls and mental blunders but what stands above all is Golden State Warriors are 1-0 up in the NBA Finals.

LeBron James became just the sixth player in NBA history to score 50 points in the NBA Finals but his 51 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists weren't enough to power his unheralded side to a shock away win.

The Cavs had every chance to make this a reality. George Hill had a free throw with four seconds to play which could have put his team up by one.

He missed. Cavs teammate JR Smith made a brilliant read to pull in the offensive rebound but he thought the Cavs were ahead so ran away from the basket and condemned them to overtime.

It was an epic blunder and a spirit-sapping one. The look of disappointment LeBron gave him said it all and the visitors barely fired a shot in the overtime as the Warriors won 124-114.

Steph Curry was excellent with 29 points, six rebounds and nine assists while Kevin Durant added 26 points, nine rebounds and six assists while Klay Thompson had 24 points and Draymond Green added 13 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and five steals.

Combined the Warriors big four proved too much for James' historic night and this seems like the the theme of this series.

If the Warriors can create for each other, LeBron might need 70 to get keep his side in the contest a Golden State had 31 assists to just 18 from the Cavs.

James well feel hard done-by after he took a charge on a Durant drive with 36 seconds to play but the call was reviewed and changed to a block. At the time it felt harsh but replays showed he was sliding as KD left his feet.

LeBron was amazing but the Warriors had the better team. One wonders what could possibly change that this series.

The Warriors have three wins to go, the Cavaliers have a mountain to climb.

Thanks for following the blog today, I hope it added something to this thrilling contest and I wish you all a great weekend.

We will have blogs for the rest of this series so come back to us on Monday morning at 10am (AEST) for game two.

1:58pm

Jalen Rose says he doesn't know how Cavs recover

ESPN analyst Jalen Rose says he doesn't know how the Cavs bounce back from all this tonight, says this was the Cavs best chance to win this series by snatching this win today.

The Cavs have unlimited resilience and they won the rebound count 52-38 - this means they can stay in the game, just need to make their shots.

1:55pm

The numbers

1:53pm

Chauncey Billups going in on JR

"Mr Big Shot" Chauncey Billups has gone all out on JR Smith calling his mental errors "unprofessional".

"There ain't no giggles with what JR Smith done. It's unprofessional. I think it cost them the game. Bad gambles, miss-reads on plays. It's just unprofessional. It's negligence. It's just unprofessional."

Wow.

1:51pm

Watching brief

The NBA will review those final plays and I wonder if they could give Draymond Green a retrospective technical foul or fine for taunting Thompson after he was ejected.

If Green was suspended it would make a massive difference to game 2. He may just cop a fine but who knows. Green was suspended during the 2016 NBA Finals and it cost a loss.

1:48pm

Curry speaks

He says he and LeBron were talking some trash after LeBron blocked him.

He says LeBron was amazing tonight and all the other stuff (Thompson, Draymond arguing) wasn't anything to do with the game.

Curry adds game ones are always weird as teams adjust to the NBA Finals atmosphere.

1:47pm

Warriors win

Game is over after a long delay. Warriors win 124-114 in Oakland. Game 2 on Monday in Oakland.

James had 51 pts, the highest in his NBA playoff career but it still wasn't enough.

Hard to know what it will take for Cavs to get a win in this series.

1:45pm

NBA etiquette

In the NBA it is seen as disrespectful if you shoot the ball while dribbling out the shot clock.

When the result is decided players will dribble it out so no one gets injured on a nothing play.

So Thompson took offence at Livingston shooting, tried to hit him hard with his elbow and the referee saw his attempt as too hard so appeared to eject him for it.

They are reviewing it now. Thompson is ejected and he pushed the ball into Draymond's face so could face some heat for that.

1:41pm

Crazy finish

The Warriors were dribbling it out but Livingston took a shot and Tristan Thompson fouled him, then was ejected.

He then tried to fight it out with Draymond Green after he said something. Thompson pointed to the exit like he wanted Green to come with him!

Instead they have subbed Green out.

1:38pm

LeBron gets 50

LeBron passes 50 pts making both free throws, just the sixth 50pt game in NBA Finals history.