National Basketball Association

The Latest: Steve Kerr deeply saddened by loss of Sean Rooks

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:33 p.m. ET

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CLEVELAND (AP) The Latest on Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers (all times local):

7:50 p.m.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr says he is devastated by the unexpected death of former NBA player and fellow former Arizona Wildcats standout Sean Rooks, who died Tuesday.

Kerr opened his pregame remarks before Game 3 on Wednesday night with a statement about Rooks, doing so without being prompted by a question. He also spoke about how upset he was over Rooks' death at the Warriors' shootaround session earlier Wednesday.

''He was a gentle giant,'' Kerr said. ''He always had a smile on his face ... heart of a teddy bear. I'm devastated for his family, especially his kids.''

Rooks' son, Kameron, is a 7-footer playing for California - where he's a teammate of Kerr's son, Nick. Rooks is survived by his daughter Khayla and his mother Deborah Brown.

''Unbelievably sad,'' Kerr said.

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7:40 p.m.

The streets were rocking outside Quicken Loans Arena in the build up to Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

With a band blasting pop hits, fans hoisted jumpers on a court set up next to the building while others tossed back adult beverages hoping the Cavaliers could cut into Golden State's 2-0 lead in the series.

Stuart and Adrienne Biel flew from Washington D.C. with their 4-year-old daughter, Josie, who showed off her wristbands and proudly proclaimed she took an afternoon nap in hopes of making it through the game.

The Biels were like many Clevelanders - on edge.

''I'm cautiously optimistic,'' Adrienne said.

Her husband, a life-long Cleveland fan, wasn't so sure if the Cavs could end the city's 52-year championship drought.

''As a Cleveland fan, I'm not sure this is going to be the year it ends,'' he said. ''It's been a long time. Some day. I'm just glad to be here.''

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7:25 p.m.

Richard Jefferson will replace concussed Kevin Love in the starting unit for Cleveland in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, and LeBron James will start at power forward in an effort to try and match Golden State's speedy lineup.

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue made the announcements about two hours before tipoff, a move that wasn't necessarily surprising given that Jefferson was in a starters' uniform when the team held its morning shootaround.

The team ruled Love out several hours before Game 3. He remains in the NBA's concussion protocol, after taking an elbow from Golden State's Harrison Barnes in the back of the head and having to leave Game 2 on Sunday night.

''He's frustrated that he's not able to play,'' Lue said. ''But that's the protocol. ... Someone else has to step up right now.''

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7:10 p.m.

Vince Carter got a bronze trophy at these NBA Finals.

He's still hopeful on getting his hands on the gold one.

Carter was recognized Wednesday as the winner of this season's Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award, given to the player deemed the NBA's best teammate based on selfless play, leadership on and off the court as a mentor or role model, plus commitment and dedication to the team.

''That's who I am,'' Carter said before Game 3 in Cleveland on Wednesday night. ''I just try to be a great teammate.''

Carter was introduced by Shane Battier, who was wearing one of his Miami Heat championship rings. Carter said he still wants a chance to be part of a Finals win of his own.

Carter, 39, said he still wants a chance to be part of a Finals win of his own.

''Being here is pretty awesome as well,'' Carter said.

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6:40 p.m.

LeBron James says Game 3 is ''do or die'' for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The league says teams have to win four games to win a series, but he's right nonetheless.

When Game 3 between Cleveland and Golden State tips off Wednesday night, the Cavaliers will try to avoid becoming the 13th team to fall into a 3-0 hole in the NBA Finals. The last team to find themselves in such a predicament was - oddly enough - the Cavaliers in 2007, against San Antonio.

No team in NBA history has successfully rallied from a 3-0 deficit. And in the last 60 years, eight of the nine teams that lost the first three games of the title series wound up getting swept. The one exception there was Seattle, which pushed Michael Jordan and Chicago to six games in 1996 before succumbing.