Moments after the final buzzer sounded for Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Matthew Dellavedova was screaming his lungs out and punching his fist through the air in delight. Why not? His Cleveland Cavaliers had just won their biggest game of the season by defeating the powerful but young Golden State Warriors, who are armed with the league’s MVP, Stephen Curry.
The Cavs weren’t supposed to win Game 2 with Kyrie Irving out. Nearly everyone who wasn’t from Ohio or not a Cavs fan was counting the team out after Irving could not return to play in the series following a season-ending knee injury in Game 1.