Video: Stephen Curry shakes LeBron James, drains jumper in Game 1 win

In a game bursting with highlights, the Warriors pulled off a 108-100 overtime victory over the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Among the many head-turning plays was Stephen Curry's shake-and-bake midway through the fourth.

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jun 4, 2015

Stephen Curry got the last laugh in Game 1—and a pretty good one in the fourth quarter, too.

In a game bursting with highlights, the Warriors pulled off a 108–100 overtime victory over the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Among the many head-turning plays was Curry's shake-and-bake midway through the fourth.

James finished Thursday with a game-high 44 points (a Finals career best), but Curry got the best of him on an isolation play during Golden State's rally. With James switched onto Curry, the NBA's MVP drove hard before pulling out a nifty spin move. James's legs wilted and Curry stared him down before knocking down a critical midrange jumper.

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Curry finished the game with 26 points (10-of-20 shooting from the field) and eight assists. The Warriors will take a 1-0 Finals lead into Game 2 on Sunday.

GALLERY: Sports Illustrated's best photos from Game 1 of the NBA Finals

SI's Best Photos from Game 1 of the NBA Finals

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

SI's Best Photos from Game 1: Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors got the better of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, winning 108-100 in overtime. The Game 1 victor of the NBA Finals has a 48-20 series record.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

LeBron James scored a finals-best 44 points against Golden State, but saw his team fall in overtime in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Andre Iguodala scored 15 points off the bench for the Warriors, including this dunk.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Kyrie Irving had a great opening game, beating the Warriors off the dribble to score 23 before he left with an injured leg.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Cleveland center Tristan Thompson and Golden State center Andrew Bogut battle for the ball.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Timofey Mozgov had a couple of massive slams against the Warriors.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Steph Curry pressures Kyrie Irving.

Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Klay Thompson puts up a runner over the outstretched hands of Tristan Thompson.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

LeBron James was matched up against Steph Curry on more than one occassion.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Tristan Thompson looses the handle on the ball in a second-half sequence.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Marreese Speights of Golden State keeps the ball away from J.R. Smith. Speights scored eight points in nine minutes and had two rebounds.

Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

LeBron James launches one of his 38 shots.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

The Warriors rallied from an early 14-point deficit, much to the delight of their bench and their fans.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Kyrie Irving played solid defense on Steph Curry at times, blocking this shot and another in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Fans show their love for Riley and Steph Curry.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Andrew Bogut attempts to stop LeBron James.

Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Klay Thompson sizes up Iman Shumpert.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

J.R. Smith made 3 of 13 from the field and was the only Cleveland reserve to score in Game 1.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

LeBron James gave Golden State fits in regulation, but missed three shots and had two turnovers in overtime.

Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Draymond Green brings the ball upcourt.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Tristan Thompson played a team-high 47 minutes for Cleveland, scoring two points and pulling down 15 rebounds.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

J.R. Smith's hairdo was flashier than his game in the Finals opener.

Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Kyrie Irving made 10 of 22 shots and contributed six assists, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks.

Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Steph Curry does a postgame interview after scoring 26 points with eight assists.

Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

The Warriors treated the home crowd and a national tv audience to a rendition of the National Anthem by 10-year-old San Jose resident Nayah Damasen.