Coming out of the timeout, Steve Kerr finally gave in—Andre Iguodala checked in, signaling the Warriors' shift to their Death Lineup.
On the Cavaliers' sideline, Michael Malone clenched his fist in excitement.
This was exactly what he wanted.
Kerr had made the right read—Malone was forcing Golden State into a small-ball war.
It was the same strategy Memphis had used against Miami years ago.
With Dwyane Wade leading Cleveland's bench, the Cavs had depth, and in a long, physical series, that mattered almost as much as Han Sen's dominance.
Of course, none of this works if Jokić doesn't show up.
He wasn't a superstar—not yet—but his presence had already dictated the Warriors' game plan.
And immediately? The difference was night and day.
Jokić struggled.
This wasn't just about strength—Draymond had a rare mix of physicality, wingspan, and mobility that made life hell for post players.
Jokić had a height advantage, but he couldn't bully Draymond with his weight.
And worse?
He could barely even get the ball.
Green's fronting defense was elite, and when Jokić tried to seal inside, Draymond's low center of gravity slowly nudged him further from the basket.
For all his trash talk, peak Draymond was a defensive nightmare.
Malone adjusted instantly—he abandoned Jokić's low-post touches and switched to Han-Jokić pick-and-rolls.
Golden State had been blitzing Han all night, forcing the ball out of his hands.
But that played right into Malone's hands.
If they kept trapping, Han would simply feed Jokić as the short-roll playmaker.
And Jokić's passing?
That was already historical-tier.
---
Kerr countered with a LeBron-Curry pick-and-roll, and the game turned into a battle of elite duos.
By the 10-minute mark, Cleveland held a 32-28 lead, and both teams started their bench rotations.
New Rotations:
- Cavs: Deron Williams, Dwyane Wade, Kyle Korver, Robert Covington, Tristan Thompson.
- Warriors: Shaun Livingston, Patrick McCaw, Klay Thompson, LeBron James, David West.
Compared to their regular-season matchups, both teams had made adjustments.
- Cleveland: Covington was glued to LeBron. They had depth, so they could afford the energy drain.
- Golden State: Klay was playing extended bench minutes to keep spacing alive.
---
Cavs' first possession:
Deron Williams ran a pick-and-roll with Thompson, then whipped a pass to Wade on the weak-side cut.
McCaw had height and strength, but his rookie inexperience showed—he got completely lost on Wade's fake cut.
David West rotated, but Wade glided past him with a Euro step, finishing a reverse layup over LeBron.
Buckets.
On the other end, LeBron bulldozed his way inside, drawing Covington's primary defense and forcing Thompson to rotate.
And LeBron?
He threw the elbow—not enough for a flagrant, but enough to shove Thompson off-balance before pulling a soft fake to bait the foul.
Thompson immediately protested, gesturing at the ref.
But this wasn't the regular season.
This was playoff officiating—physicality was encouraged.
Jokić had been getting the same treatment inside.
The whistle was consistent—just not in Thompson's favor.
LeBron went to the line.
Two free throws.
The first? Swish.
The second? Brick.
Thompson snatched the board.
---
Cavs pushed in transition.
Deron hit Wade on the run, and Wade went for a spinning floater over LeBron.
Tough shot.
Momentum-based floaters were hard to control, but Wade had been here before.
The ball floated perfectly—kissed off the glass—and dropped.
Wade had 4 straight points off the bench.
This was why Cleveland's bench was dangerous—they didn't have a normal sixth man.
They had Prime Dwyane Wade Lite coming off the bench.
- 17.5 PPG
- 50% FG in the playoffs
Cleveland wasn't a one-man show—Han had a real supporting cast.
---
LeBron came back down.
Same strategy—he attacked Covington to force help.
But this time?
Thompson wasn't waiting for the whistle—he grabbed LeBron mid-air and yanked him down.
LeBron crashed to the floor, immediately furious.
But then?
He looked up.
Thompson's 6'9" (2.06m) frame loomed over him, his arms crossed, his face stone cold.
LeBron turned—screamed at the ref instead.
Technical foul.
Malone wasn't happy.
This wasn't the plan.
TT's bench role was supposed to give Cleveland interior stability.
Instead?
He had 2 fouls in a minute and a tech on top.
Bad news.
Malone had to sub him out—he called on Nene.
As Thompson walked off, he was still fuming.
Ty Lue immediately pulled him aside.
"Calm down, man. We need you."
Cleveland was in control—this wasn't the time for dumb ejections.
---
LeBron sank the technical free throw.
And on the next play?
He drove, kicked it to Klay Thompson, who had just used an off-ball screen to curl open.
Klay caught, loaded—
But the pass was too low.
By the time he gathered, Wade had closed out.
Klay still fired.
Back iron.
His rhythm wasn't there yet.
And when Klay wasn't feeling it?
His off-balance shots never fell.
But the long rebound bounced straight to LeBron.
This time?
He took zero chances.
LeBron cocked it back and hammered in a tomahawk dunk.
The Warriors' bench exploded.
LeBron pounded his chest, screaming toward the crowd.
Momentum shift?
Not yet.
But he was trying to build one.
---
Final possession of the quarter.
Wade went full vintage mode, pulling up for a step-back three at the buzzer.
Miss.
The first quarter ended.
Score: 36-32, Cavs lead.
---
As the second quarter began, both teams made further lineup adjustments. The Warriors subbed out Klay Thompson and brought back Zaza Pachulia.
For the Cavaliers, Robert Covington checked out for Dante Cunningham.
But the more surprising move?
Nene was also pulled, and instead of Tristan Thompson, Dewayne Dedmon was sent in.
Every player had a specific role—a stage where they thrived.
Against the Bulls, Nene had been great at battling Dwight Howard, but as Malone had feared, his aging legs simply couldn't keep up with LeBron's drives.
And with TT's emotions all over the place tonight, this was a chance to test Dedmon.
More than that?
It was a message—Cleveland wasn't desperate for TT.
---
For Dedmon, this was everything.
His emotions were at an all-time high.
He had meant what he told Han before—if even Nene was struggling for minutes, what chance did he have?
Before tonight, he hadn't played a single second in the playoffs.
And now?
His first postseason action was in the NBA Finals.
For a moment, he wondered—did Han know something?
Why else would Han pull him aside for extra training before the series?
And then, just before checking in, Malone pointed to him.
"You're up."
Han walked over and added one more thing.
"Make the most of this. You might not get another shot."
Han wasn't a prophet—he hadn't predicted TT's emotional breakdown tonight.
But what he told Dedmon was still the truth.
For most fringe NBA players—unless your name was Bronny James—you only got one real chance.
If you proved yourself, another opportunity would come.
If you weren't ready?
That was it.
There were too many guys waiting for their shot.
That was the reality of the league.
---
At the start of the second quarter, the Warriors had possession.
Seeing an unfamiliar face on the Cavaliers' lineup, LeBron immediately called for a pick-and-roll with Pachulia.
Once the mismatch was created, he exploded to the rim.
LeBron didn't just attack—he went up for a poster dunk over Dedmon.
Didn't even see him as a threat.
But then—
BOOM.
The dunk bricked.
Dedmon had held his ground, absorbing the contact without getting knocked back.
His long arms—7'4" (2.24m) wingspan—had just enough reach to contest the finish.
LeBron took him too lightly.
The arena murmured.
That was a bad look.
LeBron turned to the refs, arms outstretched—pleading for a bailout whistle.
No call.
The league wasn't run by Nike anymore.
And the 'Chosen One'?
He wasn't chosen now.
---
Cleveland pushed the ball the other way.
Wade collapsed the defense, forcing Pachulia to rotate.
He dished it off—Dedmon, rolling to the rim.
He went up strong—
SMACK!
LeBron pinned it to the glass.
The crowd erupted.
The camera cut to Malone—waiting for a reaction.
Panic? Frustration?
Nothing.
Malone was calm.
Dedmon wasn't here to score.
If he could do his job defensively, that was already a win.
Cavs ball.
Wade inbounded, then immediately attacked.
A quick spin. A sharp stop.
He floated it over LeBron's reach—bucket.
The crowd buzzed.
So far tonight, Wade had only missed one shot—an ill-advised deep three at the buzzer.
Everything else? Buckets.
And against LeBron specifically?
This was already the second time he had scored on him using that exact move.
LeBron's expression darkened.
---
On the other end, he went right back at Dedmon.
Another iso.
Another drive.
Another miss.
And Dedmon even grabbed the rebound over him.
LeBron was livid.
Dedmon was better than expected—on any other team, with this kind of defense, he'd be in the rotation.
Malone nodded in approval.
Dedmon was exceeding expectations.
---
Cleveland attacked again.
Deron Williams ran a pick-and-roll with Dedmon—then dumped it off to Wade.
Wade was everywhere.
This time, he hit a step-through layup past Pachulia—but as he rose, LeBron rotated over.
And then—
CRASH.
LeBron sent Wade flying into the photographers.
The whistle blew—defensive foul.
And then, a moment no one expected.
LeBron walked over.
Extended his hand.
For a split second, Wade hesitated.
Then—he took it.
LeBron pulled him up and gave him a light tap on the back.
For LeBron fans, it was a brotherhood moment.
For Han Sen?
He wasn't buying it.
His eyes narrowed.
This wasn't about sportsmanship.
LeBron had been publicly flamed for his treatment of Wade earlier in the season.
Now?
He was adjusting.
---
But Han wasn't upset about LeBron.
He was annoyed at Wade.
Dude.
LeBron just bulldozed you into the baseline, and all it took was one fake apology for you to forgive him?
This was classic Wade.
A good guy.
Too good.
Han exhaled.
Then, he stood up.
Wade went to the free-throw line.
Han subbed in for Deron.
It was early for a rotation shift, but—
Kerr reacted immediately.
He pulled McCaw and sent Klay back in.
---
Wade hit one of two at the line.
Golden State pushed the ball up.
LeBron had the rock.
Han was right there.
Clear message: "I'm here for you."
LeBron didn't attack right away.
He pointed, directing traffic.
Klay ran off-ball screens and caught the pass—contested three.
Miss.
Rebound, Dedmon.
Han took the ball up.
He signaled for Cunningham—pick-and-roll.
Then, he made his move.
A sudden drop step.
Exploding downhill.
LeBron saw it.
He matched him stride for stride.
They both hit the paint—Han ahead, LeBron chasing.
Then—
BOOM.
Han stopped on a dime.
LeBron wasn't ready—
Han's elbow caught him straight in the chest.
LeBron collapsed.
The whistle blew—offensive foul.
And then—
Han extended his hand.
The crowd lost it.
He had just mirrored LeBron's exact move from earlier.
Now, all eyes were on LeBron.
His face said it all.
Pure conflict.
If he rejected it, he'd look salty as hell.
If he took it, he'd look weak.
But ultimately?
He reached out.
And just as their hands were about to meet—
Han retracted his hand.
Ran it through his hair.
Turned away.
Then, without even looking back—
"Guess I just changed my mind."
The arena erupted.
The cameras cut to Wade, eyes wide in shock.
Han had just pulled the ultimate mind game.
The 'King' had been played.