One of the most remarkable moments for the Golden State Warriors in their dynasty era was when they swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Finals.

Many believe one of the reasons behind that championship was the Warriors’ success in locking up Game 1, aided by the blunder of Cavaliers’ player J.R. Smith.

In the late fourth quarter with regulation tied, George Hill missed a free throw. Smith grabbed the rebound, then inexplicably dribbled up court, apparently thinking Cleveland was ahead or expecting a timeout.

That play sent the game into overtime and the Warriors decisively won 124-114. That blunder turned momentum to Golden State, leading to a 4-0 sweep in the finals.

Nick Young reveals Warriors’ confusion during J.R. Smith’s blunder

Former Warriors player Nick Young explained that moment on a recent podcast. He reveals that Smith’s decision created a shocking moment for the Warriors roster.

“I was confused. The way he looked so confident, I thought they [were] winning. I said ‘Wait, we winning?’ I said ‘When he got the rebound?’” he said.

“I was so confused because I knew we [were] up, but he got the rebound and he could have easily [gone] back up, but he dribbled out and that made me think. I looked at the shot clock wrong,” he added.

Warriors believed real Finals were against the Houston Rockets

Young also explained that in that moment, the Warriors felt confident against the Cavaliers because they had just beaten the favored Houston Rockets 4-3 in the Western Conference Finals. They knew their dynasty would continue.

“We felt like the finals [were] the Rockets, but we knew LeBron [James] could change the series if LeBron was averaging 50 like he did,” he said.

LeBron James averaged 34 points per game but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Warriors led by Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry. The 1-0 lead they secured provided the foundation for their championship run.

Indiana Pacers can learn from Warriors’ Game 1 momentum strategy

That Game 1 victory can serve as an example for the Indiana Pacers in this 2025 NBA Finals after they beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in their opener.

Securing early momentum often proves decisive in championship series. Records show that 60 percent of the teams that have won Game 1 have gone on to win the championship.