CLEVELAND _ After the Cavaliers collapsed in Game 3 to the Golden State Warriors, LeBron James sounded as if he was ready to collapse.
"It's physically and emotionally draining because I give everything to the game and want to put myself and my teammates in position to be successful," James said after the game. "I lay it all on the floor, and I did that tonight. Gave everything I had both physically and mentally. So obviously I'm drained right now."
There aren't many more deflating losses than the one the Cavaliers suffered Wednesday night.
They had a chance to show that the Warriors are beatable and to get back into the NBA Finals. Up six with 3:09 left, the Cavaliers went scoreless the rest of the way and now face a 3-0 deficit after their 118-113 defeat.
Kevin Durant was quiet throughout the game but brilliant down the stretch, scoring seven consecutive points in the last 1:15 to lift the Warriors. James was brilliant throughout the game but quiet down the stretch.
He finished with 39 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. But in the last 3:45, James missed three shots, including a layup, committed a costly turnover with a chance to tie in the waning seconds, and was guarding Durant when he made the go-ahead three-pointer with 45 seconds left.
But James said multiple times after the game, he couldn't have done any more for the Cavaliers.
"I gave everything I had," James said. "Win, lose or draw you live with the results."
This isn't the first time James has talked about giving everything he had. He has sounded resigned to the fact the Cavaliers just don't have the players to match up with the Warriors. Cavs coach Tyronn Lue sees it too.
After the Warriors went on a 10-0 run to end the first quarter with James on the bench, he played all but 34 seconds of the final three quarters. Guard Kyrie Irving played the entire second half and finished with 38 points.
The Cavaliers were in desperation mode and needed players who could produce. Starting center Tristan Thompson, and reserves Richard Jefferson, Deron Williams and Iman Shumpert combined to go 0-for-8 with three points in nearly 54 minutes.
But like James, Irving faltered with the game on the line. He missed two shots in the final 1:52, including a layup.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he was hoping James and Irving would wear down from going one-on-one the entire game. It appeared they might have because in closing time the Warriors were much fresher. But James wouldn't blame fatigue.
"We missed shots," James said. "I gave everything I had so at times throughout the game I was tired. But that's just because I was just playing as hard as I could. But I was able to get second, third and fourth winds. I don't [attribute] us losing this game because we got tired. We missed shots."
