Warriors overcome LeBron James' 51 points, capitalize on J.R. Smith's flub, to win Game 1 of NBA Finals

LeBron James scored 51 points for the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Oakland on Thursday night, but it wasn't enough. The Golden State Warriors won in overtime, 124-114, after a drama-filled and entertaining start to the fourth straight Cavs-Warriors championship battle. Stephen Curry scored 29 points for the Warriors, Kevin Durant 26, and Klay Thompson 24, but the most memorable and consequential play was Cavs shooting guard J.R. Smith dribbling the ball into overtime with 4.7 seconds left at the end of the fourth quarter, with the score tied and James looking on in disbelief.
Smith said after the game that despite speculation, he "knew we were tied, I thought we were going to call timeout. If I thought we were ahead, I'd have held onto the ball and let them foul me." But video footage and amateur lip-reading suggest otherwise:
James himself was agnostic on the question of whether Smith knew the game was tied.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In any case, James can take some comfort in his own masterful performance. Along with notching 51 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, this was his eighth 40-plus night in 19 playoff games this season, tying a record for most 40-point playoff games in a single year held by Jerry West. Game 2 is Sunday night in Oakland.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The rise of child 'witchcraft' cases in the UK
Under the Radar Faith-based child abuse, centred on accusations of witchcraft and demonic possessions, has harmed thousands of children
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
The Week contest: Missed inheritance
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - March 7, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - March 7, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published