At halfti, the Cavaliers held a 54-45 lead over the Warriors.
It wasn't just tactical adjustnts—Cleveland's defensive intensity had skyrocketed.
The Kyrie Irving trade had transford the Cavs into a defensive powerhouse, which was a key factor in their victory over the Celtics.
Especially at ho, where the crowd's energy amplified every defensive stand.
The score might've been low, but the physical toll was heavier than the previous two gas.
Steve Kerr had prepared for a grind, but this was beyond what he expected.
The direct result?
The Warriors couldn't unleash their usual third-quarter explosion.
Instead, they were forced into a defensive war against the Cavs.
And when that happened, the physicality on the court spiked.
---
Draymond Green, already ntally shaken from being targeted all night, was struggling offensively.
But once the ga turned into a defensive slugfest, his presence resurfaced.
However, with the Cavs relentlessly attacking the rim, the defensive burden on Draymond grew heavier.
After J.R. Smith drove to the basket, drawing Draymond's fourth personal foul, the frustration Kerr had tried to suppress at halfti exploded again.
Draymond stord over to LeBron, trying to discuss defensive rotations.
LeBron's face?
Pure confusion.
First of all, it was Draymond's assignnt that failed.
Second, J.R. wasn't even LeBron's man to guard.
So why was Draymond trying to involve him?
Draymond's reaction?
Irritated.
Sure, LeBron wasn't directly responsible—but defense is a system.
And the system was collapsing because of LeBron.
LeBron's obsession with leaking out for fast breaks left holes everywhere, forcing teammates to rotate and cover for him, eventually breaking the defensive structure.
The final domino?
Draymond—left alone as the last line of defense.
But LeBron didn't get it.
"If we're not turning defense into offense, why even bother defending?"
LeBron's mindset was stuck in Kerr's philosophy:
- High-speed transition offense.
- Relentless fast breaks.
That's why he joined Golden State in the first place.
And now Draymond was telling him it was wrong?
The discussion quickly escalated into an argunt.
Even as Kerr called Pachulia to sub in for Draymond, the two kept going back and forth.
Watching this unfold, Han Sen had seen enough.
Old-school fans would've smiled here—
Because years ago, when LeBron was with the Thunder, Han had playfully egged on a similar argunt between him and Westbrook.
But Han had matured since then.
No more childish antics.
This ti?
He walked over, serious as ever.
"Calm down. It's just basketball."
But the tension was already too deep.
Neither LeBron nor Draymond even acknowledged him.
Han shrugged.
"Guess I'm not built to be the good guy. Ti to be an asshole."
He leaned in, right into Draymond's ear—
And raised his voice:
"CALM DOWN, DRAYMOND!"
Draymond snapped his head around, glaring at Han, furious.
"You deaf, or just dumb?" Han continued, voice sharp.
"Do you really want to get traded? You think you're on LeBron's level? No? Then calm down—it's just business."
---
Malone had once said—
"Championships always co with sacrifices."
When Kevin Durant joined the Warriors in 'history', Curry sacrificed the most—
Because Durant needed shots.
Now that LeBron was here, the player making the sacrifice was Draymond Green.
His stats were down.
His role was diminished.
The only thing holding him together?
LeBron's off-court business connections.
Han's reminder wasn't an insult—it was a favor.
If Draymond got traded?
Those off-court deals? Gone.
Han was basically saying—
"If you're going to swallow your pride, do it right. Be like Anthony Davis—sit there, sulk, and shut up."
But Draymond?
He wasn't Davis.
He didn't respond.
He didn't argue with LeBron again, either.
He just walked straight to the bench.
LeBron's gaze lingered on Han—a mix of emotions.
Han didn't flinch.
"No need to thank ."
Then he turned and walked away.
Mission accomplished.
---
With Draymond on the bench and Pachulia subbing in, the Warriors' defense crumbled.
Especially their ability to rotate and recover.
Malone adjusted instantly.
No more driving to collapse the defense.
Instead, he spread the floor and let Jokić go to work in the post.
Golden State was too scared to double-team—Jokić's passing was lethal.
So it turned into a one-on-one clinic.
Jokić vs. Pachulia.
And Pachulia?
He didn't stand a chance.
---
Midway through the third quarter, the tension finally snapped.
Jokić, battling for position, suddenly charged straight into Pachulia—
Like a raging bull.
No warning. No buildup.
Just pure fury.
Pachulia hit the floor hard, landing awkwardly on his shoulder.
He stayed down, clutching it in agony.
The refs imdiately stopped the ga.
Warriors players gathered around—
But no one confronted Jokić.
Why?
Because the guy who'd normally do that—Draymond Green—was on the bench.
And LeBron?
Didn't even flinch.
Pachulia wasn't worth the trouble.
---
During the tiout, the referees huddled around the scorer's table, reviewing the play.
The arena's jumbotron lit up with the replay.
At first glance, Jokić's reaction seed irrational—a sudden, unnecessary burst of aggression.
But the slow-motion footage?
It told the truth.
Pachulia was infamous for his dirty plays, dating back to the series where he injured Kawhi Leonard.
But "foot sliding" wasn't his only move.
The man had a full arsenal:
- Hip checks
- Elbows to the ribs
- Cheap shots below the belt
- Scissor leg locks
- And his signature: "Fist-to-Palm"
What's that?
It's a dirty trick—you throw a punch toward soone's head,
But right before contact, you open your fist—turning it into a slap.
To the refs?
It looks like nothing more than an aggressive hand check.
But to the player?
It's a cheap shot with serious sting.
---
Jokić wasn't reacting to just one play.
Pachulia had been chipping away at him all ga—
Grabbing.
Pulling.
Nudging.
That final "Fist-to-Palm"?
The last straw.
And Jokić?
He snapped.
Pachulia probably thought he could get away with it—
But he underestimated Jokić's temper.
---
Before the refs even finished reviewing the play, Pachulia was escorted to the locker room—shoulder hanging limp.
The final ruling?
A Flagrant 1 on Jokić.
Golden State got two free throws and possession.
But for Cleveland?
The real win?
Jokić wasn't ejected.
So, in the end:
- Pachulia's cheap shot earned the Warriors two free throws...
- At the cost of his own shoulder.
Compared to his infamous injury on Kawhi Leonard?
Yeah—definitely not worth it this ti.
---
As Jokić walked back to the bench, Han gave him a firm pat on the shoulder.
"Reckless," Han muttered. "But necessary."
If Jokić had been ejected, it could've cost Cleveland the ga.
But this outco?
Not bad.
Because now?
Everyone in the league would think twice before pulling dirty tricks on Jokić again.
They'd seen what happens when he finally snaps.
And no one wanted to be next.
---
Despite the scuffle, it was just a small Chapter in a larger story.
The Warriors managed to convert their two free throws and possession into 4 quick points, trimming the lead slightly.
But with Draymond still on the bench, the Warriors' interior defense was exposed, and that little run wasn't enough to shift montum.
In the end, the Cavaliers defended their ho court, winning 103-94, and taking a 2-1 series lead.
---
At the post-ga press conference, LeBron didn't waste ti.
"Jokić's actions violate the spirit of the ga. The league should suspend him."
When it ca to Wade, LeBron treaded lightly.
But Jokić?
No hesitation.
"That wasn't basketball—that was intentional."
Steve Kerr echoed LeBron's frustration, as if Jokić's foul had single-handedly changed the outco.
But it was clear what they were doing—
Shifting the narrative.
By focusing the dia's attention on Jokić's foul, they could divert attention from the real story:
- The heated argunt between LeBron and Draymond.
- The cracks in the Warriors' chemistry.
For Golden State, burying the internal drama was priority #1.
Because if that issue festered, the Warriors were already dead in the water heading into Ga 4.
---
When the Cavaliers' press conference began, reporters pounced on the Jokić situation.
Han didn't flinch.
"I've said it before—if they don't want to play real basketball, we won't either. I think Nikola was standing his ground. That was his response to Pachulia."
He even threw in a reference to the "Stand Your Ground" law, calling it justified self-defense.
When asked about a potential suspension, Malone was blunt:
"Nikola's already paid the price. If the league suspends him, they should've suspended Pachulia years ago when he took out Kawhi."
The debate over Jokić's fate beca the centerpiece of the post-ga discussion.
---
But while the dia fixated on Jokić—
The fans?
They had other ideas.
Social dia was on fire, not about Jokić, but about the now-infamous chant:
"LeBron will trade you!"
It had beco bigger than Han's taunt or Wade's throat-cut gesture.
Because at the heart of every sports fan lies one universal truth:
We love chaos.
Fans even started debating potential trades for Draymond.
---
The top comnt ca from a Celtics fan:
"Trade Draymond for Al Horford—it's a win-win."
At first glance, it seed odd.
After all, Karl-Anthony Towns was the Celtics' weak link in the Eastern Conference Finals, not Horford.
But the logic was clear:
- Towns is on a rookie contract—salary mismatch.
- He's young with endless potential—trading him would be a disaster.
anwhile, Draymond's defensive versatility made him a perfect fit alongside Towns.
And for Golden State?
- Horford could smooth things over with LeBron.
- Less drama.
- More stability.
But the second-most-liked comnt ca from a Warriors fan:
"Why don't we just trade LeBron?"
It was a wild thought—
But not entirely baseless.
Draymond's defensive value was arguably higher than LeBron's current production.
Plus, LeBron's 1 1 contract gave him leverage over the front office.
Draymond?
- Long-term deal.
- Team-friendly contract with the new TV money.
The replies were a mix of chaos:
- LeBron stans screaming about loyalty.
- LeBron haters suggesting trade packages.
The top reply?
"If we can flip LeBron for Anthony Davis, the league's over."
---
While fans debated, the Warriors dropped a bomb:
Zaza Pachulia—out for the season with a dislocated shoulder.
Shortly after, the NBA announced that Jokić's Flagrant 1 from Ga 3 had been upgraded to a Flagrant 2.
Since Jokić already had two flagrant points this season—
That ant an automatic one-ga suspension.
---
During practice, Jokić approached Han, his face heavy with guilt.
"Boss... I'm sorry."
He knew what his absence ant.
Han didn't hesitate.
"Don't apologize. You did nothing wrong."
It was the sa stance he'd taken at the press conference.
Sotis, you have to show your opponents you're not to be ssed with.
Han had done the sa thing when he'd taken out Ginóbili years ago.
But then, Han placed a hand on Jokić's shoulder, his voice lower, more direct:
"But even in war, you've got to be smart. You don't win by taking yourself out."
In the playoffs, every move mattered.
Hurting the opponent was fine—but not at the cost of your own team.
Han had learned that lesson the hard way.
Now it was Jokić's turn.
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