Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova, bottom, and Golden State Warriors forward David Lee go to the floor for a loose ball during the second half of Game 3 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 9, 2015. AP
CLEVELAND— Scrappy Cleveland guard Matthew Dellavedova, who has emerged as an unlikely star in the postseason, was hospitalized early Wednesday after suffering from severe cramps after Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Dellavedova scored 20 points and played 38 minutes in the Cavaliers’ 96-91 win over Golden State on Tuesday as they took a 2-1 lead in the series. Dellavedova has been starting in place of All-Star Kyrie Irving, who broke his kneecap in Game 1, and was just discharged from the Cleveland Clinic following surgery.
The Cavaliers said Dellavedova received IV treatments at Quicken Loans Arena following the game before he was taken by ambulance to the hospital. A team spokesman said Dellavedova, who walked to the ambulance under his own power, was cramping in “multiple areas.” The team will have an update on the 24-year-old Australian at Wednesday’s practice.
As is his style, Dellavedova came up with several loose balls in Game 3 by diving on the floor, and he flattened a chair on Cleveland’s bench while hustling on one play.
“He’s going to throw his body all over the place,” LeBron James said. “He gave everything’s he’s got.” TVJ