Matthew Dellavedova had a career-high 20 post season points as the Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors 96-91 to hand Cleveland a 2-1 finals series lead.
Dellavedova registered a career-high playoff tally of 20 points as the Cavaliers went 2-1 up in the series with a 96-91 victory over the Warriors in Cleveland. He also had five rebounds and four assists in his 38-minute performance.
So exhausted was the 24-year-old after the game that he suffered severe cramping and was placed on an IV drip.
"Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova experienced severe cramping tonight following Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Cleveland. He underwent a treatment process, including an IV, that prevented him from being available for media following the game. He will continue receiving treatment tonight at the Cleveland Clinic and his status will be updated tomorrow afternoon," the Cavaliers announced in a statement on their website.
The Australian point guard was involved in a controversial moment early in the contest when he collided with Warriors forward Draymond Green but by the end of the match, the Cavaliers faithful were chanting "Delly" in honour of their new cult hero.
Dellavedova, who gained overnight stardom after he shut down league MVP Steph Curry in game two in Oakland, was again all over his highly rated counterpart before a late flurry from Curry almost got Golden State over the line.
Adding to his reputation for relentless intensity, Dellavedova dived to the floor several times to recover loose balls and was fouled after securing possession with a trademark dive late in the fourth quarter. He coolly knocked down both free throws to keep the Cavaliers in front down the stretch.
Such was his popularity on social media, at one stage he was generating 3700 tweets per minute. All up, 380,000 tweets mentioned Dellavedova during the match.
Cavaliers star LeBron James again led his team with a stellar performance of 40 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. He was lavish in his praise for Dellavedova after the game.
"He is made of steel or something. If there's a ball on the ground he is going to be the first guy on the ground. He showed that multiple times tonight," James said.
"He gives us everything until the tank is empty, and he has a small little reserve tank that he continues to work through. He is huge for our team, he gives us that grit, that grit that we need. He was huge for us."
Warriors Australian centre Andrew Bogut had an quiet game with four points, six rebounds and one blocked shot in 17 minutes.
Cleveland host game four at 11am (AEST) on Friday.
