CLEVELAND Ohio Here is a look at some of the winners and losers following Sunday's 114 111 Cleveland Cavaliers victory against the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3 of the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals.
Winner Jeff Teague
Lost in the shuffle after Teague clanked a step back 3 pointer at the end of regulation that would have given the Hawks the win was the Atlanta point guard's brilliant late effort in which he was nearly unguardable. Teague scored 17 of his team high 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. He finished 9 for 23 from the field including three 3 pointers and a perfect 9 for 9 from the free throw line in 42 minutes.
Loser Matthew Dellavedova
Warranted or not the criticism Dellavedova drew from Atlanta Hawks players after Sunday's game for his hustle and tenacity in going after loose balls will result in his every move from here on out being put under the microscope by opponents referees analysts and the NBA. Don't be surprised to see a few more fouls coming his way early in a game or even a stray elbow.
Winner Referee Ken Mauer
Regardless of the furor generated by network analysts or Atlanta fans over Dellavedova's actions on the play that resulted in Al Horford's ejection Mauer and his crew got the call exactly right. Referee Tony Brothers was right on top of the initial scrum and blew his whistle before the activity escalated. And even though the review took as long as it did Mauer's explanation for the ejection fit the definition of a flagrant foul (2) perfectly. He made contact above the shoulders to the shoulder and head area of Dellavedova Mauer said. In his explanation as to why Dellavedova received a technical foul on the play Mauer went on to lend credence to Horford's claim that the Cavaliers guard was diving at his legs. We felt that (Dellavedova) made contact with his head and shoulders into the knee area of Horford Mauer said.
This is the elbow Al Horford got ejected for. http //t.co/wPvsZfGDEJ https //t.co/3asON2lfSQ
SB Nation ( SBNation) May 25 2015
Loser Sheldon Mack
Mack gave the Hawks a scoring boost off the bench with 13 points in 28 minutes including 3 for 7 from 3 point range. But it was his two wide open misses as the clock expired in overtime that will stick with Atlanta fans heading into Game 4. Coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game that the Hawks would not be able to replace Kyle Korver's shooting ability on the floor but that they would look for contributions from players like Mack and Kent Bazemore to pick up the slack. Bazemore was 2 for 3 from distance but when Mack found himself open twice in the closing seconds he was unable to deliver.
Winner Tristan Thompson
Was there a bigger offensive rebound in Game 3 than the one Thompson plucked off a LeBron James missed jumper with 36 seconds left in overtime Probably not. But the ensuing assist from Thompson that led to a James 3 pointer and a 2 point Cavaliers lead was probably bigger. James said later that he screamed Thompson's name as loud as he could in an effort to get the ball back. I saw it in his mind that he wanted to go back up for that shot James said. I wanted another opportunity at it... Make or miss I'm just satisfied with the result.
Loser Reggie Miller
The TNT Network analyst and NBA Hall of Famer's campaign against the Cavaliers continued Sunday when he compared Matthew Dellavedova's play to a wrestling move That's WWE Miller said after watching a replay of the Dellavedova Horford tussle during the television broadcast of Game 3. Miller previously ranted against Hawks center Pero Antic being assessed a flagrant foul for his high hit on LeBron James in Game 2.
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