Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James reacts to a call during the second half of Game 1 of basketball’s NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cavaliers in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, May 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
A controversial video review foul reversal left Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue feeling “robbed” after the Golden State Warriors ripped the Cavaliers 124-114 in overtime in Thursday’s NBA Finals opener.
Stephen Curry scored 29 points, Kevin Durant added 26 and Klay Thompson had 24 to spark the defending champions to victory despite LeBron James scoring a playoff career-high 51 points in defeat.
“To do what he did tonight and come out robbed, it’s just not right,” Lue said.
READ: Warriors survive Cavs, LeBron’s 51 points to open NBA Finals
A physical, heated and emotional game marked the start of the fourth finals in a row between the teams and the eighth in a row involving James, who echoed Lue’s theft theme.
“There were some plays that we had taken away from us,” James said. “We’re in the fight now. They got a great taste of it tonight.”
The crucial moment came with 36.4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter as Durant was whistled for a charging foul that was overturned on video review into a blocking foul on James, giving Durant two free throws he made to lift the Warriors level at 104-104.
“I read that play just as well as I’ve read any play in my career, maybe in my life,” James said. “I seen the play happening. I was outside the charge line. I stepped in, took the contact. It’s a huge play.”
Lue said James was clearly outside the line so the play should never have been reviewed, much less reversed.
“For our team to come out and play their hearts out and compete the way we did, man, I mean, it’s bad,” Lue said.
“It has never been done, ever, in the history of the game. And then tonight in the finals on the biggest stage, when our team played well, played our ass off, man, it ain’t right. It ain’t right.”
Referee Ken Mauer defended the choice to review the call.
“We had doubt as to whether or not James was in the restricted area,” Mauer said. “It was determined he was out of the restricted area but he was not in a legal guarding position prior to Durant’s separate shooting motion. So we had to change it to a blocking foul.”
Golden State coach Steve Kerr said he had seen such a reversal “not often, but I’ve seen it a couple times.”
Durant said he had a block-charge reversal in the regular season.
“I knew once it was 30 seconds to go that they could review that situation,” Durant said. “I knew he was late on the drive and I knew I had my man beat and he came over a little late. So when they called the charge I was surprised, but I’m glad they reviewed it.”