Cleveland Cavaliers storm back into the NBA Finals with a crushing 120-90 win over Golden State Warriors in Game 3
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving both put in stellar shows to get Tyronn Lue's men back in contention for championship ring
ALL series long, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors have dared LeBron James to take them on, to try to beat them on his own.
After two horrendous losses in Oakland, King James returned to his native Cleveland to lead his Cavaliers to an astonishing 120-90 win.
The statement win has sparked belief in the Cavaliers camp that they can go on to win this series.
Game 4 will now be even more decisive, as another blow-out win for Tyronn Lue's men would certainly give Steve Kerr's Warriors something to consider.
On Wednesday night at the Quicken Loans Arena, LeBron stood tall... And so did the rest of the previously beleaguered Cavs roster.
On the night, LeBron tallied a whopping 32 points to go with 11 rebounds, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
He was ably supported - for the first time this series - by Kyrie Irving, who exploded for 30 points and an impressive eight assists.
The star duo put up 51 shots between them making 26 of them, truly sharing the load in the absence of Kevin Love, due to the head injury he suffered in Game 2 at the Oracle Arena.
LeBron and Kyrie were supported heavily by the mercurial JR Smith, so quiet throughout the Finals so far.
Smith dropped 20 points on the night - more than any Warriors player on the night - on 7-13 shooting, including draining five from three-point territory.
Having suffered two heavy defeats in the series openers, after Wednesday's performance, LeBron roared: "We finally got back to our game.
"It was a good flow, a collective team win."
Worryingly for the Cavs, however, was the lack of fire-power once more off the bench - who combined for just 15 points on the night.
On the Warriors end, Curry was kept uncharacteristically quiet by the energetic Cavs, with the league MVP practically MIA in the first half, chalking up just two points.
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He ended up with 19 on 6-13 shooting, far less than the All Star guard is accustomed to.
Harrison Barnes dropped 18, while Curry's fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson could only muster ten.
On the loss, coach Kerr was in despondent mood, claiming his side were 'soft'.
He said: "We were soft. When you're soft, you get beat on the glass and turn the ball over.
"They just punched us right in the mouth."
Meanwhile Curry was hugely critical of his own performance, saying he needs to raise his level for Game 4 to close out the series.
He added: "I've got to play 100 times better than that. I'm fine. [That's] Not the way we wanted the night to go."
Ultimately, the Cavs were just the better side. They wanted the win more, the energy on the court was plain to see.
From James diving to save a loose ball early on, to Tristan Thompson doing the dirty work on the offensive boards, this was a Cavaliers we have not been treated to this NBA Finals.
The win on home soil now extends their home record in the post-season to 8-0, with one more game in Ohio before the flight back to the west coast.
LeBron had called this clash at the Q 'do or die' ahead of tip off.
Well, he and the Cavs did. And they are still alive, at least for now.