One of the most notable moments for the dynasty Golden State Warriors was when they wiped out the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Finals.
Many believe that one of the reasons behind that championship is the Warriors’ success in Game 1 lockup, supported by the blunder of Cavaliers player Jr Smith.
The second half of the fourth quarter when regulations were concluded, George Hill missed a free throw. Smith grabbed the rebound and then inexplicably dribbled through the court.
That play sent the game overtime, and the Warriors decisively scored 124-114. That mistake changed momentum to Golden State, leading to a 4-0 sweep in the final.
Former Warriors player Nick Young described the moment on a recent podcast. He reveals that Smith’s decision created a shocking moment for the Warriors roster.
“I was confused. He seemed very confident. I thought they were winning. I said, ‘Wait, did we win?’ I said, ‘When he rebounded?'” he said.
“I was very confused because we knew (we) had gone up, but he rebounded and he could easily go back, but he dribbled and that made me think. I looked at the shot’s watch wrong,” he added.
Young also explained that at that moment the Warriors felt confident in the Cavaliers. They knew their dynasty would continue.
“We felt like a final (WES), but we knew that if LeBron averaged 50, LeBron (James) could change the series,” he said.
LeBron James averaged 34 points per game, but overcoming the Warriors led by Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry was not enough. The 1-0 lead they secured provided the foundation for their championship run.
This Game 1 victory serves as an example for the Indiana Pacers in this 2025 NBA Finals after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the opener.
Securing early momentum often proves decisive in the Championship series. Records show that 60% of teams that won Game 1 won the championship.