Matthew Dellavedova wasn't the Cleveland Cavaliers' hero this time, but it didn't matter.
When you have LeBron James on your team and sharp-shooters like JR Smith coming off the bench, the Australian point guard was able to have a woeful shooting night and still help the Cavaliers defeat the Atlanta Hawks 97-89.
The away win in game one of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday gives the Cavaliers a decisive advantage.
Traded from the New York Knicks midway through the season, Smith was the difference.
"I got into rhythm early and stayed aggressive," said Smith, who scored 28 points including eight three-pointers.
James also had a monster game, overcoming an ankle injury with 31 points and eight rebounds.
Dellavedova was the Cavaliers' surprise packet last week, providing a team-high 19 points in knocking the Chicago Bulls out of the playoffs.
But the Australian point guard on Wednesday was scoreless with 0-6 shooting, including four failed three-pointers.
Dellavedova was still valuable to his team.
Each time Cavaliers' coach David Blatt brought him into the game with the Cavaliers trailing, Dellavedova was instrumental in stifling Atlanta's All-Star scorers Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver and helping to erase the deficits.
In the second quarter, with the Cavaliers down 43-39, Dellavedova was subbed in and within two minutes the score was 45-45.
With starting point guard Kyrie Irving hampered by tendinitis in his left knee and other injuries, it was Dellavedova who Blatt turned to run the team in the final minutes when the Hawks made a final push.
Dellevadova clocked up 24 minutes on the court.
Teague was the Hawks' top scorer with 27.
The win raises the prospect of Dellavedova's Cavaliers facing fellow Australian Andrew Bogut's Golden State Warriors in the NBA Championship series.
The Warriors won the first game of the Western Conference series on Tuesday over the Houston Rockets with game two on Thursday (Friday AEST).
Share
