King LeBron keen for Delly honours

The King of Cleveland, LeBron James, says his Cavaliers teammate Australian Matthew Dellavedova deserves plenty of recognition for his NBA finals efforts.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova (R) and LeBron James

LeBron James says his Cavaliers teammate Matthew Dellavedova deserves plenty of recognition. (AAP)

They are Cleveland's unlikely dynamic duo or odd couple: LeBron James and Matthew Dellavedova.

In Cleveland they are also royalty.

James, after his sidekick Delly's heroic, perhaps legendary, game three performance in the NBA Finals says if Australia wants to bestow a knighthood on the point guard from country Victoria he will support it.

"Whatever that guy wants or needs, I'm all for it," James laughed.

Dellavedova was extraordinary in Cleveland's 96-91 victory on Tuesday over the Golden State Warriors to take a 2-1 series lead and move just two wins from claiming the championship.

Hit by exhaustion, dehydration and severe cramping, the team's medical staff checked him into a Cleveland hospital so fluids could be pumped intravenously.

The Cavaliers had already lost NBA All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love earlier in the playoffs and on Tuesday there were fears shooting guard/forward Iman Shumpert could be lost when he was forced into the locker-room mid-game with a shoulder injury.

Dellavedova and Shumpert will play in Thursday's (Friday AEST) game four in Cleveland.

"I just cramped up a little bit and they thought the best form of recovery was to go to the hospital for a little bit, get an IV," Dellavedova, who participated in a light training and video session on Wednesday, told reporters.

"So, I'm feeling pretty good."

Dellavedova ruled out any chance of sitting out, or having a reduced role in game four.

"I told him I was going to limit his minutes and he said, 'No you're not'," Cavaliers head coach David Blatt said.

Dellavedova, who went undrafted in 2013 and was only initially signed to a $US100,000 guaranteed contract by the Cavaliers, logged 20 points, five rebounds and four assists in 38 relentless minutes on Tuesday.

He threw himself on the floor for loose balls, dived into the crowd, threw an alley-oop pass to James, hit key three-pointers, pulled off a Harlem Globetrotter-style circus shot and shut down the Warriors' best player Stephen Curry for the second consecutive game.

"I think he dove on the floor an NBA record six times last night," James said.

"Last night he was on the ground again after the game in the hospital so you can probably say seven times.

"He gives us everything he has and we all appreciate it as his brothers lining up beside him."

Blatt says he won't set a minute limit on Dellavedova in game four, but will closely monitor him.

"The tank is low and we're doing everything we can to fill it back up," Blatt said.

Dellavedova limited Curry to just three first half points.

Curry ended up with 27 points for the game, most coming in the final quarter when Dellavedova wasn't guarding the NBA MVP.

Curry admitted he has to play better.

"I know his strength and weaknesses and he knows mine and we are going to keep battling," Curry said.

"I hope I get the best of him over seven games.

"We'll work that out."

As good as James has been on the court - averaging 41 points in the first three Finals games - and as glowing as he has been about Dellavedova, the Cavaliers' captain needs a lesson on Australian sport.

"Delly comes from a rugby background," James, describing Dellavedova's toughness, said.

"If you guys have ever had an opportunity to watch a rugby game you see how tough it is.

"That's what it's about.

"He brings it all."

Dellavedova, of course, grew up playing Aussie rules in Victoria and is a Collingwood fanatic in the AFL.

Delly likely won't bother to correct his leader.

The dynamic duo have bigger things to deal with.


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4 min read

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Source: AAP


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