© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
With the game clock set to expire at the end of the third quarter in Game 2, Stephen Curry missed a contested three-pointer in the left corner. He retreated backwards and bumped into Cavaliers reserve Kendrick Perkins, who apparently did not attempt to move his legs to allow Curry to brace his fall.
Curry and Perkins came face to face before the Warriors guard removed himself from the situation. Several players from both teams jabbered at each other near the Cavs bench.
Multiple Warriors players told @ChrisBHaynes they were disturbed by Kendrick Perkins’ reluctance to move as Stephen Curry backed into him on the sideline in Game 2. https://t.co/uxAVgrSlcS pic.twitter.com/LHYDRMtXvd
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 4, 2018
According to ESPN, “some Warriors believe it was a dangerous play,” Chris Haynes wrote.
When asked about the incident postgame, Curry said, “it was much ado about nothing.” He separately told ESPN, “I’m not going to get into it.”
The incident may have contributed to Curry’s 16-point fourth quarter explosion. He drilled five three-pointers in the final period of Golden State’s 122-103 win, which extended its series lead to 2-0, adding to the four he had already made. Curry’s nine threes Sunday night are an NBA Finals record.
“He went off after (the Perkins incident),” Draymond Green told ESPN.