The Cavs and Warriors played in a Christmas classic on Monday afternoon in Oakland, with the Warriors emerging with a 99-92 win over their rival from the East.
Neither team played particularly well on the offensive end, as the defenses shined in a chippy, physical contest. Kevin Durant (who came very close to getting ejected in the first quarter) led the way for the Warriors with 25 points and six boards, but his defense was very impressive, especially in lineups with Draymond Green and Jordan Bell, as that trio put the clamps on Cleveland’s offense at the rim.
While Durant’s defensive effort was impressive, two plays down the stretch will get a great deal of scrutiny for a pair of stops he had on LeBron James that caused many to cry foul. The first came on a LeBron drive on the left side, where there was contact before James lost the ball out of bounds.
I’ll just leave this clip here and let you guys fight it out pic.twitter.com/msrjDpz2SC
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) December 25, 2017
That no-call, which gave Golden State the ball back, caused some murmuring discontent on Twitter, but a late drive by James in which there was even more egregious contact from Durant on multiple occasions that led to another LeBron turnover.
LeBron fouled twice by KD and no call? Sup @NBA pic.twitter.com/9zLTOXwpfY
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) December 25, 2017
You can see contact to the body on the initial drive that was almost certainly a foul and then he sweeps across James’ left arm to get to the ball in his right arm (which he does manage to make contact with).
https://twitter.com/_MarcusD2_/status/945422041003544577
On its own, that would’ve had people fairly upset but after the no-call just minutes earlier, Twitter went crazy over Durant getting away with what may have been another foul with fans, media and even current players noticing the missed calls.
Amen lmao https://t.co/XQ9LmR7Sl5
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) December 25, 2017
3 fouls in 1 possession and no call!! Crazy lol
— Norris Cole (@pg30_Cole) December 25, 2017
Lmao I.T was 3 fouls in that play 😂😂😂
— Isaiah Canaan (@SiP03) December 25, 2017
That’s a foul
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) December 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/SheaSerrano/status/945421787264966656
Marginal contact? Marginal contact? What the fuck is that? Who gives a fuck if it’s marginal. The shit’s a fuckin foul.
— 🎄Black Big Lebowski🎄 (@LaJethroJenkins) December 25, 2017
KD with three fouls on two LeBron "turnovers" during Cleveland's most critical two possessions of the game. Very trash end to this game.
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) December 25, 2017
KD's fouled Lebron on the last two possessions and they haven't been called
— The Anonymous Nobody (@el_budget) December 25, 2017
He got fouled three times.
— Zac Jackson (@AkronJackson) December 25, 2017
that’s a foul by KD but KD is clamping bron up.
— Brandon Caldwell (@_brandoc) December 25, 2017
KD is getting away with some serious ish right now
— Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) December 25, 2017
How are these not foul calls on Durant? I get you want to go home cause it’s Christmas, but cmon
— Matthew Coca (@matthewcoca) December 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/Gibberman10/status/945421853341782016
https://twitter.com/jgsiegel/status/945421803404476416
Lol literally both of Durant’s defensive “stops” were fouls. So long as he has his self-passes torch I guess!
— Verts (@Verts) December 25, 2017
durant's done a really good job defending bron by fouling in the final two minutes
— Hot Dog Man (@JoshuaZavadil) December 25, 2017
There will be plenty of eyeballs on Tuesday’s Last Two Minute Report from the league regarding these two plays.
