The NBA Finals are set to begin as the Cavaliers and Warriors are ready for Game 1 live from the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday.
This is a rematch of last year's final round which saw Golden State topple Cleveland in six games to win its first NBA title in 40 years. While the Warriors look to repeat, the Cavaliers are in search of their first NBA title in franchise history and enter 0-2 there all-time.
After securing his second straight MVP Award -- which includes the first unanimous vote in NBA history this past season -- Stephen Curry is looking to help lead the Warriors to their second straight NBA title.
LeBron James, meanwhile, enters his sixth straight NBA Finals -- four with the Heat and two with the Cavaliers -- and his seventh NBA Finals overall. LeBron is 2-4 through his first six appearances in the championship round.
The Warriors ousted the Thunder in seven games in the Western Conference finals to get here, while the Cavaliers overcame the Raptors in six. Golden State took both meetings from Cleveland this season.
Curry may be a threat to James' run as face of the leauge, but he isn't looking to be.
"It's really annoying for me. That's not what I'm playing for, to be the face of the NBA or to be this or that or to take LeBron's throne or whatever," Curry told ESPN. "You know, I'm trying to chase rings, and that's what I'm all about. So that's where the conversation stops for me."
James, who made some interesting comments after Curry won the MVP this year, also downplayed a potential rivalry.
"You guys make rivals," James said via ESPN. "I think it's great for the sport. It's great for all sports. I don't think me and Steph, when you talk about rivalries, you talk about Carolina-Duke, you talk about Ohio State-Michigan. It's hard to say LeBron and Steph. If there's a smaller scale or another word for a rival."
Game Live Stream & Details
Matchup: Cavaliers at Warriors NBA Finals Game 1
Time: 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT)
Venue: Oracle Arena, Oakland, Calif.
Radio: Cleveland (WTAM 1100); Golden State (KNBR 680).
Betting Odds: The latest betting odds for this game can be found here.
This game can be live streamed for free here.
