NBA Finals: Matthew Dellavedova Plays Unlikely Hero, Cavs Win Again

June 10, 2015

The underdog Cleveland Cavaliers won Game 3 of the NBA Finals Tuesday night 96-91 to take a 2-1 lead against the Golden State Warriors.

Of course LeBron James carried the team yet again, nearly putting up another triple-double, but a guy named Matthew Dellavedova had a career game and continues to become a star in the making.

Dellavedova, or “Deli,” as they call him, is a 24-year-old Australian who played college in the states at D-1 Saint Mary’s. Outside of Cleveland he was a virtual unknown in the sports landscape. Not any longer.

Filling in for the injured Kyrie Irving, Deli finished the game with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. He is the talk of the sports world Wednesday after making scrappy plays like this:

You can’t question the little dude’s effort.

Deli, along with Iman Shumpert, were actually hospitalized after the game for severe cramping. Needless to say it’s been an intense Finals.

Both Game 1 and Game 2 went into overtime, and after the Warriors cut a 20 point deficit to 3 late in last night’s 4th quarter, Game 3 almost went into extra time as well.

LeBron finished with 40 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists.

Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports.

Photo Credit: Getty

Josh is originally from the small berg of Arthur, Ill, proudly the Amish capital of the state. It also has one hell of a pumpkin patch.

Josh has enjoyed dipping his toes into a variety of careers since graduating from the University of Alabama, the most rewarding thus far having served as a youth director in southern California for four years, and his broadcasting career which has garnered two Emmy awards and three Edward R. Murrow Awards.

Josh enjoys loud rock music, Tom Hanks movies, dogs that like to cuddle and long runs. He is also always in search for America's greatest cheeseburger. Follow him here if you would like to be friends!