A former Cleveland Cavaliers role player's intense coffee consumption led to a hospital trip right in the middle of the 2015 NBA Finals. The story of Matthew Dellavedova's caffeine-fueled collapse after a heroic defensive effort against Stephen Curry has resurfaced, offering a wild footnote to a playoff run that ended in defeat. The Cavaliers' current squad is also facing adversity, having lost four of their last five games including a 93-130 defeat to the New York Knicks on May 26.
NBA analyst Brian Windhorst recently recounted the incident on a podcast. He described Dellavedova as a "big believer in just coffee, coffee, coffee," consuming it pregame, at halftime, and between the third and fourth quarters. In Game 3 of the 2015 Finals, Dellavedova was tasked with guarding Warriors star Stephen Curry. He stuck to Curry relentlessly for four quarters, helping the Cavaliers, who were heavy underdogs, secure a key win.
After the game, Dellavedova got into a cold tub. His entire body seized up with a full-body cramp. Windhorst said the player was "very Aussie" and didn't complain, but he couldn't move. Team medical staff started an IV in one arm, then another in the second arm when he didn't improve. He was ultimately transported by ambulance to the hospital.
The episode highlights the extreme lengths players go to for playoff success. Dellavedova's performance was a key part of the Cavaliers' push that year, especially after Kyrie Irving's injury. His tenacious defense on one of the league's best shooters became legendary in Cleveland, even though the team ultimately lost the series in six games. It's a reminder of the physical toll the NBA playoffs exact.
That kind of gritty, all-out effort is what fans hope to see from their team in tough stretches. The current Cavaliers are in a difficult run of form, with a recent record of 1 win and 4 losses in their last five outings. Their last result was a 93-130 loss to the New York Knicks, following earlier defeats of 108-121 and 109-93.
While the Dellavedova story is a blast from the past, the present-day Cavaliers are handling their own challenges. Their recent form shows a team searching for consistency. After a 125-94 win over the Detroit Pistons on May 18, they dropped four consecutive games, all to the New York Knicks. The scores were 115-104, 109-93, 108-121, and finally 93-130.
Rebounding from such a streak requires resilience, much like Dellavedova showed by even taking the court after his hospital visit. The team will need to channel that same determination. Looking ahead, managing player health and endurance remains a constant focus for any NBA contender, especially during a grueling playoff series or a packed regular-season schedule. Fans can monitor player availability on our injuries section.
