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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Hunter Felt

Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the Golden State Warriors: NBA finals, Game 6 – as it happened!

Kyrie Irving takes on the Warriors early in Game 6
Kyrie Irving takes on the Warriors early in Game 6. Photograph: Ken Blaze/USA Today Sports

And here’s our report from tonight’s game:

Updated

Final thoughts

Email from Luis Charlze Puhawan

Cavs dominated from start to finish. Doubts about them possibly winning completely gone. Well played, people!
(And oh hi baby if you’re reading this, love you!)

That about sums it up. It looks like for the first time this series that the Warriors are on the ropes. It’s crazy how this series has turned. There’s been a lot of drama throughout these Finals despite the fact that there really hasn’t been a truly close game at any point here.

Maybe we’ll get one in Game 7? We’ll be covering it live here in the Guardian, so we hope you’ll join us for what will be the last game of the NBA season. This however marks the end of our live NBA coverage today. I want to thank everybody for reading, especially everyone who send out emails and tweets. My sincere apologies for not being able to include all of them here in the liveblog.

Ciao!

Differing opinions

Email from Sonny Rivera:

Hey Hunter,
Just wanna say, this is how LEGENDS are made.
This is how you separate the REAL SUPERSTARS from the social media “superstars.”
This is LBJ’s chance to be mentioned in the same breath as HIS AIRNESS.
SHOUT OUT FROM THE PHILIPPINES - THANKS FOR THE UPDATES!

Carole Lindner:

We Will Win Game 7. Adios LBJ.

We will have a Game 7

So the Cleveland Cavaliers have tied the NBA Finals up. Now comes their biggest challenge: can they complete the comeback by pulling off a victory in Game 7 on the road? Well, we’re going to have to wait until Sunday to find out.

Cavaliers win!

Warriors 101-115 Cavaliers, FINAL

And the Cavaliers have won Game 6!

Warriors 97-113 Cavaliers, 1:00, 4th quarter

Okay we’re basically done here.

Warriors 91-112 Cavaliers, 1:54, 4th quarter

Tyronn Lue is emptying the Cavaliers bench (in other words, it’s Mozgov time)

Warriors 89-110 Cavaliers, 1:54, 4th quarter

Tyronn Lue is emptying the Cavaliers bench (in other words, it’s Mozgov time)

Warriors 87-108 Cavaliers, 2:59, 4th quarter

Barbosa gets to the line, makes one free throw of two. James hits another three-pointer, which makes it back-to-back Finals games where he’s scored 41 points.

Warriors 87-105 Cavaliers, 3:23, 4th quarter

And J.R. Smith hits a three pointer. James gets on the line, that’s a foul on Green, makes both free throws. This one feels pretty much over, to be honest now.

Warriors 87-100 Cavaliers, 4:22, 4th quarter

Steph Curry fouls out!

Plus, he picks up a technical foul after arguing it. In frustration he throws out his mouthpiece which hits a fan. (Curry promptly apologizes for the last bit.)

Irving makes the technical foul.

Warriors 87-99 Cavaliers, 4:22, 4th quarter

J.R. Smith puts Klay Thompson back on the line. He makes one of two.

True. But I provide the human element.

Warriors 86-99 Cavaliers, 4:31, 4th quarter

LeBron finds Tristan Thompson near the basket for an easy score. Steph Curry drives in for a layup. You can feel Golden State’s desperation here and it feels like they’re extra-dangerous now.

LeBron then defuses the situation, however, setting up Thompson for another shot and then blocking a Steph Curry layup on the other end. The crowd is loud, the Warriors take a timeout.

Warriors 84-95 Cavaliers, 5:52, 4th quarter

Well that’s one way to make up for fouling a three-point shooter. J.R. knocks down a three of his own.

Barbosa, who continues to impress whenever he has the opportunity, hits a three-pointer here.

LeBron’s takeover continues, knocking down another short-range jumper.

Warriors 81-90 Cavaliers, 6:48, 4th quarter

J.R.Smith with a silly foul, which is very J.R. Smith thing for him to do, which puts Klay Thompson on the line where he hits 2 out of 3 free throws. That’s exactly how the Warriors want to score here.

Around the world:

Warriors 79-90 Cavaliers, 7:00, 4th quarter

So that thing where we said that LeBron James was going to have to take over this quarter? Well he hits a mid-range jumper and a layup in short succession and Golden State has to call a timeout. The clock is starting to become a factor here.

Warriors 79-86 Cavaliers, 8:06, 4th quarter

But Curry’s still in the game for the moment. He knocks down a three-pointer to keep the Warriors in the hunt.

LeBron with a layup following an Irving miss.

But Leandro Barbosa answers with a three-pointer. They’re not going away.

Warriors 73-84 Cavaliers, 9:22, 4th quarter

And Steph Curry picks up his 5th foul! That could be really, really, really huge obviously.

And we have fans checking in from elsewhere:

Warriors 73-84 Cavaliers, 10:03, 4th quarter

LeBron James with a jumper over three defenders. He’s definitely in “do it myself’ mode.

Which backfires the very next play as he steals a pass and misses a layup that Livingston grabs and dishes off to Barbosa who knocks down a basket.

Email from Luis Charlze Puhawan:

Irving too tired. This is up to LBJ now. And what the hell is wrong with Curry?

That has been the million dollar question throughout these Finals, hasn’t it?

Awesome. Love hearing from other countries.

Warriors 71-82 Cavaliers, 10:41, 4th quarter

Kyrie Irving gets double-teamed and trapped and is forced to call a timeout. Great, great defense by Golden State there.

Warriors 71-82 Cavaliers, 11:42, 4th quarter

LeBron James gets fouled by Harrison Barnes to start the 4th quarter, calmly knocks down both of his shots.

Email from Mark Lester Dizon:

The beast has been release! #lbj #greatness

That was definitely LeBron James’s most… LeBron like moment of the Finals so far. He might need to be that player throughout most of this quarter for the Cavaliers to survive the Warriors’ upcoming onslaught.

Email from Shawnee Holman:

Yo live stream can I join

I don’t have a live stream, but I hereby welcome you to this liveblog.

Warriors 71-80 Cavaliers, end of the 3rd quarter

Klay Thompson with a driving layup and it’s just a 9 point deficit headed into the fourth quarter. It’s decidedly more nervous here at Quicken Loans.

Warriors 69-80 Cavaliers, 1:31, 3rd quarter

And the nightmare scenario might be happening here for Cleveland. Klay Thompson hits back-to-back three-pointers and the Warriors are poised to be right back in this when the fourth quarter begins.

Warriors 63-80 Cavaliers, 2:14, 3rd quarter

Shaun Livingston with a basket. Remember that game where he was the most dangerous scorer on the court? That feels like months ago.

Warriors 61-80 Cavaliers, 3:19, 3rd quarter

And this has become LeBron James vs Klay Thompson.

Klay Thompson makes a layup. LeBron gets on the line, makes one of two free throws. Thompson makes his second straight shot, LeBron drains a three-pointer.

It’s starting to get too late to trade baskets like that, though.

Email from Michael Aston:

I guess GS wants the home court coronation? This is inexplicable...or did the Cavs just figure ‘em out?

Curry’s not right. They’re struggling defensively without Bogut. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving are monstrously effective offensive players. It’s a combo of things, I think.

Warriors 57-76 Cavaliers, 4:37, 3rd quarter

LeBron has had enough of this.

He makes a layup and then, after yet another Warriors turnover, he throws down a dunk that forces Golden State to take a timeout. That felt huge.

Warriors 57-72 Cavaliers, 5:24, 3rd quarter

The Warriors run my favorite of their plays: the Festus Ezeli Dunk Cameo. They’re sticking around….

Warriors 55-72 Cavaliers, 5:37, 3rd quarter

Steph Curry makes a shot, picks up a foul, hits his free throw. Cavaliers are staying around.

Love misses a three-point attempt, but irving gets the rebound and knocks down a jumper.

Warriors 52-70 Cavaliers, 6:37, 3rd quarter

Brandon Rush is in for a clearly ailing Iguodala. Steph Curry picks off a Kevin Love pass and J.R. Smith manages to foul him before he can get off a shot. The gambit seems to work, as Curry manages to hit only one of two free throws.

Email from Mark Lester Dizon:

I think Barnes is feeling the Finals pressure.

I would say that he could be hurting his value in free agency but who am I kidding. He’s going to get zillions of dollars no matter what thanks to the rising cap.

Warriors 51-70 Cavaliers, 6:52, 3rd quarter

Kevin Love with a three pointer! If he gets going, Golden State are effectively doomed.

They might be doomed anyway, of course, depending on how these next 5-7 minutes go. Klay Thompson knocks down a three, Draymond Green makes a layup and the Cavaliers, sensing a Warriors run, call a timeout.

Warriors 46-67 Cavaliers, 8:27, 3rd quarter

Kevin Love on the line once more, drawing a foul on Iguodala, he makes two more free throws. Then on the other ends he blocks a Steph Curry jumper.

Andre Iguodala gets fouled by Tristan Thompson and goes to the line… and misses both. It’s been that kind of night.

Warriors 46-65 Cavaliers, 9:22, 3rd quarter

JR Smith hits a three. He’s been quietly putting together a good game here as well.

Steph Curry hits a three to put the Warriors on the board in this second half.

Warriors 43-62 Cavaliers, 10:03, 3rd quarter

Steph Curry picks up another four and the Warriors really, really did not need that to happen in the opening minutes here. Kevin Love goes to the line, makes a free throw and thus doubles his points total for the game.

Barnes misses another three. If this were a drinking game, you would be dead.

2nd half starts!

Warriors 43-61 Cavaliers, 10:42, 3rd quarter

Green starts of the third quarter with a three… that doesn’t go. James misses a jumper. Curry gets the rebound. Klay Thompson… misses a three.

LeBron James with a dunk, that gets some cheers. Harrison Barnes tries a three… no of course it does’t go in. Nothing is going in for him. I have never seen a player THIS cold.

And we on Basketball Twitter all made fun of him when he said this. Maybe coaches do sometimes know stuff.

If the Cavaliers manage to drop this game after the first half they put together, it could very well go down as the worst single-game loss of LeBron James’s career. So… for those of you who enjoy rooting for him to fail, it might be worth sticking with this game.

Carole Lindner continues to give us the view from Warriors Nation:

This may be ‘your house,’ LBJ, but you. are. not. the. Ref.

Now that I’ve had a second to catch my breath, I will remind everyone that I’m fielding your emails (to Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com) and tweets (to @HunterFelt).

Halftime!

Kyrie Irving scored 20 points in the first half and, honestly, it felt like way more than that. Steph Curry has scored 18, but it feels like only half that.

Oh, and somehow Harrison Barnes has been worse than Kevin Love and his single point. Barnes is 0-6 with no points, no assists and two measly rebounds.

Warriors 43-59 Cavaliers, end of the 2nd quarter

The Dahntay Jones Cameo has been extended into a supporting role. Green fouls him, puts him on the line, and he knocks down two more free throws.

Shaun Livingston commits the Warriors’ final turnover of the first half, throwing a pass easily intercepted by J.R. Smith, and the buzzer goes off. That’s as great of a first half as the Cavaliers could have possibly hoped for.

Warriors 43-57 Cavaliers, 1:00, 2nd quarter

LeBron gets called for a foul on Curry, who hits one of two free throws. Klay steals a pass from Evil Twin Tristan and knocks down a shot he really, really needed.

And we have a Dahntay Jones sighting! He hits a jumper, absorbs a foul, and makes the “and one.” Not a bad cameo.

Warriors 39-54 Cavaliers, 1:54, 2nd quarter

Klay Thompson hits one of two free throws.

Email from Raymond Reardon:

Is the Cleveland Cavaliers title chances heading south in the last quarter : Scores first quater to south end 31 CC v 11 GS.
Second quarter to south end 27 GS v 18 CC ?

Well, the Cavaliers played pretty much as good as they have ever in that first quarter. That was never going to be sustainable.

Warriors 38-54 Cavaliers, 2:11, 2nd quarter

Jefferson fouls Klay Thompson in the act of shooting. He will go to the line… but after the Warriors call a timeout here.

Danny Ainge is probably working on that deal as we speak.

Warriors 38-54 Cavaliers, 2:32, 2nd quarter

Irving gets back to the line, hits one of two free throws. Tristan Thompson knocks down yet another shot. Klay Thompson misses and it’s almost as if we’re in a Body Switch comedy between the two players.

LeBron James with a driving layup. The Cavs have survived this Warriors run. It won’t be the last, however.

Warriors 38-49 Cavaliers, 3:53, 2nd quarter

Curry misses a 32-foot three pointer that would have quieted this crowd dead had it gone in. The Cavaleirs offense has fallen apart here. They need points badly here to stave off this Warriors run, which they get when Irving gets on the line and hits two free throws.

Michael Aston:

Irving seems to think he’s permitted to be the star here.. Damn...Joy to witness

Updated

Warriors 38-46 Cavaliers, 4:39, 2nd quarter

Draymond Green with a layup, maybe he heard about the sick burn I just made on him. The Cavs take a 30 second timeout.

Warriors 36-46 Cavaliers, 5:11, 2nd quarter

Steph Curry with a pull-up three pointer from outer space and it’s a 10 point game.

Carole Lindner:

No, Roscommon, it’s not over. We have a deep bench and our Team will prevail. p.s. My family are from Roscommon & Tagline. Go Warriors!

We might be seeing the Warriors’ counter-punch right now.

Warriors 33-46 Cavaliers, 5:41, 2nd quarter

Irving with a rare miss and Barbosa has the rebound, he gets it to Iguodala who dishes an assist to Klay Thompson who makes a layup. That’s the closest they’ve looked like their old selves all game. The Cavaliers take notice and take a timeout.

Warriors 31-46 Cavaliers, 6:37, 2nd quarter

Curry gets to the line, makes two free throws.

To be fair, it could be argued that Draymond Green really isn’t playing this game, either.

Warriors 29-46 Cavaliers, 6:46, 2nd quarter

Well Iguodala is healthy enough to make three-pointer at least apparently.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, so is LeBron.

Warriors 26-43 Cavaliers, 7:39, 2nd quarter

J.R. Smith picks off a Klay Thompson pass, yet another Golden State turnover, and gets the ball to Irving, who simply can’t miss.

Warriors 26-41 Cavaliers, 7:50, 2nd quarter

Andre Iguodala is apparently battling lower back tightness. Which is more good news for Golden State. He is still available to play, though.

Tristan Thompson makes another basket, one which is answered by Leandro Barbosa.

Warriors 24-39 Cavaliers, 8:53, 2nd quarter

Kyrie Irving gets to the line and knocks down two free throws. Steph Curry knocks down a three.

Email from Ludvic Kraku:

What’s happening to the Warriors?
I guess they are being punked again.

I’m not going to say anything is going wrong with Golden State until the second half. But, obviously, they could be a tad better.

Warriors 21-37 Cavaliers, 9:59, 2nd quarter

Steve Kerr is searching for answers here, and maybe Leandro Barbosa, who’s been really good when he’s played, could provide part of the answer.

Jefferson fouls Barbosa on a three attempt and he drains all three of his freebies.

Carole Lindner:

Draymond & Steph - and now it begins.... except for @#%&* bad calls.... again.

It has felt a little one-sided so far in this game, although I expect that to even out over the course of the game.

Warriors 18-37 Cavaliers, 10:23, 2nd quarter

Kevin Love picks up his third foul. This one puts Green on the line. He hits both of his free throws, the Warriors are starting to chip away here.

But the problem for them is that Irving just isn’t missing. He knocks down another basket to keep the Cavaliers cooking.

Warriors 16-35 Cavaliers, 10:57, 2nd quarter

And Irving with a three pointer…. That’s immediately answered by Curry. This sequence looks more like the type of game I was expecting.

Kevin Love gets on the free throw line and knocks down one of two free throws. It feels like the Cavs have been splitting their free throws all series long.

Warriors 13-31 Cavaliers, 11:41, 2nd quarter

The good news for the Warriors is that it’s still way early and they can still make up large deficits in relatively short amounts of time.

Steph Curry starts the second quarter getting to the line after being fouled by the still mostly ineffective Iman Shumpert. He makes both free throws.

Email from Michael Aston:

Gotta feel in’ this will settled tonight. Tho’ I am back on board with Cleveland..I want ‘em to pull it out but.... That Love return might be the back breaker...anyway, come on Cleveland.

Well things look slightly better for the Cavs since you sent this out. This was the lowest scoring first quarter the Warriors have had all season.

Warriors 11-31 Cavaliers, end of the 1st quarter

Tristan Thompson with a layup. The crowd here is loud. Like rock concert loud.

Finally, finally, the Warriors score again. Iguodala hits a long jumper right before the end of the first quarter.

Warriors 9-29 Cavaliers, 1:21, 1st quarter

Mo Williams comes out of retirement… er, I mean, off the bench, and he immediately scores. .Ezeli puts Jefferson on the line. He hits only one of two free throws, which is the closest thing to good news that Golden State has gotten over the past five minutes of game-time.

Warriors 9-26 Cavaliers, 2:33, 1st quarter

And Tristan Thompson with the dunk. Who would have thought he would be the most valuable Thompson in this series?

Oh hey, LeBron takes one to the rim as well. This is now officially way out of hand for Golden State.

No clue. I mean, Bogut can’t have been THIS big of a difference-maker, could he?

Warriors 9-22 Cavaliers, 3:23, 1st quarter

Ezeli fouls Tristan Thompson, who is determined to put all of California into foul trouble before this game is over. He goes to the line and makes both of his freebies.

He hasn’t been right for most of this series. I’m convinced we’ll find out that Curry has been playing through something hurt once this season is over.

Warriors 9-20 Cavaliers, 3:53, 1st quarter

Irving hits a jumper. Festus Ezeli, dangerous as always when he’s close to the basket, lays one in and that prompts the Cavaliers to take their first timeout.

Warriors 7-18 Cavaliers, 4:39, 1st quarter

Klay Thompson finally gets involved with the scoring, hitting a basket. J.R. Smith with a long three extends the Cavaliers lead. Richard Jefferson hits a jumper. This is as good as I’ve seen the Cavaliers play in weeks.

Warriors 5-13 Cavaliers, 5:37, 1st quarter

Curry finally hits his first three of the game. Maybe that will warm him up… well, perhaps not. He gets called for another foul and he’s going to the bench. Shaun Livingston replaces him.

Warriors 2-13 Cavaliers, 6:18, 1st quarter

Draymond Green changes that, driving to the basket for the first Golden State basket. But Irving knocks down a three-pointer on the other end. Then he blocks Barnes’s jumper and gets the ball back to LeBron for an emphatic dunk. What a start for Cleveland.

Warriors 0-8 Cavaliers, 7:03, 1st quarter

And the Warriors turn it over. Richard Jefferson gets a steal… but Irving misses a three and they turn it over.

And then Steph misses a three on the other end. This is getting clang-y. Tristan Thompson gets the rebound and LeBron gets a basket. Warriors still remain scoreless.

Email from Carole Lindner

Hundreds of people gathered here in the NBA D-League 2015 Champions Santa Cruz Warriors Arena for a Watch Party. We are here cheering The Warriors on for a Golden win!

Well, so far the Warriors haven’t given fans much to cheer about but it’s hard to imagine that they’re going to keep missing open shots like this.

Warriors 0-6 Cavaliers, 8:51, 1st quarter

Two-handed jam by LeBron James, assisted by Richard Jefferson (already in for Kevin Love). Warriors take their first timeout. .

Warriors 0-4 Cavaliers, 9:22, 1st quarter

Pull-up jumper by Kryie Irving and we have our first field goal of the game. Been something of a defensive effort so far.

Warriors 0-2 Cavaliers, 10:08, 1st quarter

And Tristan Thompson draws fouls on both Steph Curry and Harrison Barnes in the span of seven seconds. Thompson goes to the line, and makes one of two free throws.

And Kevin Love picks up his second foul. Maybe he won’t be playing very much this game after all.

Warriors 0-1 Cavaliers, 11:10, 1st quarter

Kevin Love immediately picks up his first foul, followed shortly by Draymond Green. Green puts LeBron James on the line, where he makes one of two free throws. And we having scoring, kinda.

Warriors 0-0 Cavaliers, 11:37, 1st quarter

J.R. Smith tries a deep three and it’s… yeah that’s not a great decision that.

Opening tip

Cavaliers get the ball and we’re on our way!

And we have American royalty in the house. And also Jay-Z.

Opening tip is next!

And we have player introduces. I’m gonna guess that Draymond Green hears some boos.

National anthem time. Everyone in the arena joins in, which is patriotic I guess but I still would rather have Carlos Santana here again.

Dellavedova was maybe the third most important Cavaliers player in last year’s NBA Finals (which goes a long way in explaining why they lost). He’s mostly been on the bench this go around.

Email from Robert Haase:

What is this email supposed to do?

It’s basically a trick to get readers to do the blogging for me, to be honestly.

Email from Sandra Gonzalez:

Warriors! I feel that Curry was waiting for Green for the win

It’s definitely true that the Warriors just weren’t the Warriors without Draymond. For that reason, don’t be surprised if the Cavaliers attempt to bait Green into doing something ejection-worthy tonight.

Cleveland Cavaliers starters

Kyrie Irving, G
J.R. Smith, G
LeBron James, F
Kevin Love, F
Tristan Thompson, C

Golden State Warriors starters

Steph Curry, G
Klay Thompson, G
Andre Iguodala, F
Harrison Barnes, F
Draymond Green, C

They’ll be going small with Green playing center.

See, I don’t think the Cavs can win this game if Kevin Love doesn’t have, at the very least, a decently productive game.

Which probably also partially explains why I’m leaning towards Golden State.

Head coach Steve Kerr had been talking like Festus Ezeli was going to be starting in Andrew Bogut’s place tonight. It looks like that was a bit of gamesmanship on his part, as Andre Iguodala will be starting. Ezeli will be off the bench.

Email from Mark Lester Dizen:

I think they want them to wear black because last game the jersey color was black. lucky color. #ALLIN

Fair enough. And, hey, as a quasi-goth back in my high school days I should note that I approve strongly of the color.

Tonight in Cleveland they’re having the fans all wear black t-shirts in what they’re describing as a “black out.” Which... do the Cavaliers not realize that having everyone dressed in black for what could be their final game of the series makes it look like they’re preparing for a funeral?

Predictions

Okay, I suppose I should at least make a wild guess of what’s going to happen, just don’t be shocked if it ends up being completely wrong.

If you’ve been following me throughout these playoffs you can already guess my prediction. Yes, once again, I’m saying that the Warriors are ending things today, probably in a way that will provide maximum pain for the fans here in Cleveland. I’m thinking that the Cavs blow a late lead, Klay Thompson ties the game at the buzzer and the Warriors win easily in overtime.

Basically what LeBron James’s Miami Heat team did to the San Antonio Spurs a few years ago.

Your thoughts? How does this thing play out? You can send them here either through email (to Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com) or tweet them (to @HunterFelt).

This definitely feels like the biggest toss up game of the series. There’s not a single outcome that would shock me here.

So far my favorite part of this series might just be the fact that ABC has brought in beloved sideline reporter Craig Sager, currently battling cancer, to cover Game 6 tonight.

Preamble

So, who expected that this series would even have a Game 6?

When the Golden State Warriors won Game 5 in Cleveland it looked like the only thing still up in the air was who was going to be the series MVP. After all, no team that has started 1-3 in the NBA Finals has gone on to win the championship.

Who knows, maybe this series would be over if it weren’t for the fact that Draymond Green was suspended for Game 5. Certainly Green believes that. The Cavaliers took advantage of Green’s absence on defense, with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving becoming the first teammates in NBA Finals history to ever score 40 points in the same game. So now, the Cavaliers are heading back home with a chance to force a Game 7.

Oh, yeah, it also didn’t hurt the Cavaliers that Andrew Bogut, the Warriors’ other defensive anchor, suffered a knee injury in the second half of Game 5. Yesterday it was announced that Bogut was out for the remainder of the series with bone bruises. That’s another loss the Cavaliers could potentially exploit in this series (and, hey, considering how depleted they were in last year’s Finals, the Cavs aren’t going to be feeling sorry for Golden State’s injury situation any time soon).

So, either the Warriors will win the championship tonight, capping off what might be the greatest season in NBA history or the Cavaliers will force an improbable Game 7. Either way, we’re going to witness something special today. If you want to join in on the discussion you can either email us (the address is Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com) or send us a Tweet (@HunterFelt) and we’ll use your comments, questions, predictions and jokes here throughout the course of the next few hours.

It’s Game 6 of the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors vs the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Opening tip should be sometime after 9:00pm EST but fear not, I shall return earlier than that.

Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Les Carpenter on the Cavaliers’ two-man band:

Still, this is what the Cavs may have to do if they hope to somehow pull off an upset of the Golden State Warriors. They will need to have James and Irving carry them the rest of the way, maybe even scoring the bulk of the team’s points as they did on Monday night. For while Irving’s emergence as a near-equal to James has allowed Cleveland to believe they have a chance in these Finals, they also showed the gaping holes in the rest of the Cavaliers line-up.

Kevin Love continues to look lost and the rest of the Cavs aren’t talented enough to give Cleveland much hope of finding a magic extra option beyond James and Irving. JR Smith has had some big moments but hasn’t been consistent. Richard Jefferson has played well but he’s also 35 and long past his years of being a realistic option for a team in a long playoff series. If Cleveland are going to pull the greatest of all Finals comebacks they will have to ride James and Irving to the tile. And that is extremely hard to do.

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