OAKLAND – Upon release of the NBA schedule, every contender identifies a few games that have special significance, generally in the way they provide self-measurement.
One such game surely noted by the Warriors and Cavaliers occurs Christmas Day at Oracle Arena, where the teams meet for the first time since the NBA Finals in June.
When the Warriors (27-1) won that series in six games, LeBron James and the Cavaliers (19-7) immediately realized the road to a championship might have to go through Oakland.
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Though the game is billed as an NBA Finals rematch, Cleveland in June had star guard Kyrie Irving for only one game and didn’t have star forward Kevin Love at all. Both are expected to be in the lineup on Friday.
BETTING LINE
Warriors by 7.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Golden State Warriors
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Draymond Green vs. Kevin Love. There are many matchups worth watching, but this one is the most curious because LeBron is proven and Kyrie is on minutes-restriction, leaving Love as Cleveland’s X-factor. Green will be the primary defender, and his priorities will be to keep Love off the glass and hug him at the arc. If Green is successful at one, the Warriors will take it. If he’s successful at both, the Cavs will go only as far as LeBron takes them.
LAST 10
Warriors: 9-1. Cavaliers: 7-3.
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: F Harrison Barnes (L ankle sprain) is listed as doubtful. F Kevon Looney (R hip surgery) is listed as out.
Cavaliers: G Mo Williams (R thumb sprain) is listed as questionable.
SERIES HISTORY
The Warriors defeated the Cavs 4-2 in the 2015 NBA Finals and have won seven of the last nine regular-season meetings.
QUOTABLE
“You want to leave an impression on teams as you go through the season. That’s what we’ve always been about, bringing our best effort every night, especially against teams that are playing well and having great seasons.” – Stephen Curry on the Warriors’ mentality in “big” regular-season games