Kyrie Irving Says Game 3 Loss Hurts, Warriors Made 'Big-Time Plays' Down Stretch

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving admitted the team's Game 3 loss to the Golden State Warriors "hurts" at his postgame press conference Wednesday.

"It hurts, we did some great things tonight, but down the stretch they made some big-time plays," Irving told reporters after the Cavaliers' 118-113 loss, which put them down 3-0 in the series. "It definitely hurts. I'm human, as are my teammates."

Irving scored 38 points on 16-of-29 shooting and was at times the Cavaliers' offensive catalyst, particularly in the second half. He pulled off an array of dizzying drives to the rim, finishing through contact, and had his best game of the Finals despite a bad outside shooting night.

After two blowout wins in Golden State, Wednesday felt like the Cavaliers' best chance at a victory. They held a 113-107 lead with a little more than two minutes remaining and appeared to have their foot on the gas pedal. The Warriors subsequently went on an 11-0 run to finish the game, with Irving taking an ill-advised three off the dribble after Kevin Durant hit a go-ahead bucket.

Irving finished the game 0-of-7 from beyond the arc. He is 2-of-13 overall in the last two games on threes. 

The Cavs, who last year became the first team to ever come back from a 3-1 Finals deficit, will now be tasked with winning four straight if they hope to repeat as champions. The last two teams that have trailed 3-0 in the Finals have been swept, the most recent being Cleveland in a 2007 matchup with the San Antonio Spurs.