Undrafted backup Matthew Dellavedova shut down Stephen Curry in Game 2
Curry shot 0-8 and turned the ball over four times when Dellavedova was on him. One of the best shooters in league history finished the night 5-23 from the field, including 2-15 from behind the arc. It was the most missed three-pointers in a single game in NBA finals history.
Even before Kyrie Irving's season-ending injury, Dellavedova had developed into one of the Cavaliers' most important players in the playoffs.
With his stellar performance against Curry, the 6'3" guard from Australia, who Draft Express described as a player who struggled on the defensive end in both college and high school, has now recorded a string of strong defensive games against All-Star point guards during the playoffs.
While 13 different point guards were taken ahead of him in the 2013 NBA draft, Dellavedova has thrived with the Cavs, and has earned the praise of his teammates.
"[Curry's poor shooting] had everything to do with Delly," four-time MVP LeBron James told ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "He just kept a body on Steph. He made Steph work. He was spectacular, man, defensively. We needed everything from him."
"He's keeping us alive and putting us on his back, his 6-foot-3 back, and carrying the team," Tristan Thompson added.