[2] The name echoes a series of bitter disappointments during Cleveland's 52-year championship drought, including The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot, The Catch, The Move, and James's own 2010 televised special, The Decision.
[3] Unlike these other events, however, "The Block" was in Cleveland's favor, and helped the Cavaliers win the city's first major sports title since 1964.
Back-to-back 3-point field goals by shooting guard J.R. Smith and a layup by Kyrie Irving briefly tied the game at 54.
Warriors' guard Stephen Curry made a layup in transition and a 3-pointer on the following possession to give Golden State a 59–54 lead.
LeBron James responded with six straight points, making three consecutive free throws after being fouled on a shot fake, and then connecting on his only 3-pointer of the night with 4:53 to play.
After Thompson put in a layup off the glass with 4:39 left to tie the game, Golden State and Cleveland began trading missed chances.
The only Cavaliers player who appeared to be in position to defend the fast break was Smith, who quickly began back-pedaling towards his own basket.
Good defense by Smith on the initial layup attempt forced Iguodala to delay the release of his shot by a few tenths of a second, double-pumping before softly floating the ball up toward the glass.
James, who had been trailing the play the entire length of the floor, sized up the shot and sprung at the ball from behind, knocking the potential layup off the glass with 1:50 left.
This is cited both as a key sequence in deciding the outcome of the game, and as one of the most clutch defensive plays in NBA history.
[6] Immediately after Irving's three, the Warriors brought the ball up-court, opting not to call a timeout, and although Golden State got a preferred switch and matchup of Curry on Kevin Love, Love made arguably "the biggest defensive stop of the entire NBA season", and forced Curry into a contested 3-pointer, which he missed.
LeBron James with the rejection!The play was referenced by Nicki Minaj in the song Do You Mind by DJ Khaled, which she was featured in later that summer.