2017-18 Game Preview

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The 2018 NBA Finals continue on Friday night in The Land as the Cavaliers and Warriors battle it out in Game 4. Tipoff from The Q is at 9:00 p.m. (ET).

After dropping Game 3, 110-102, the Wine &amp; Gold may be in a 3-0 hole, but they have played exceptionally well in elimination games, winning seven of their last nine dating back to 2015. This year, they are 3-0 in those situations.

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The Cavs also tend to do well in Game 4s, where they're 28-13 all-time and 12-3 since the 2015 Playoffs. Dating back to last postseason, the club has won seven-straight Game 4s.

Looking back to Game 3, there are a number of things the Cavs did well that they can carry over into Game 4 on Friday night.

For instance, the Cavs continue to outplay Golden State on the glass. The Cavs have outrebounded the Warriors by an average of 8.6 rebounds (47.3-38.7) so far in this series. Cleveland is also averaging 16.7 offensive boards and 19.7 second chance points. In Game 3, the Wine &amp; Gold had a 47-37 advantage on the glass and posted 15 offensive rebounds that led to 19 second chance points. This postseason, the Cavs have outrebounded foes by at least 10 boards on five occasions (all coming in the last eight games).

Cleveland will also get the chance to, once again, play in front of their home crowd, which supported the Wine &amp; Gold through all four quarters on Wednesday. So far this postseason, the Cavs are 8-2 when playing in The Land.

From an individual perspective, there are three players (LeBron James, Kevin Love and Rodney Hood) who will look to carry over their solid performances on Wednesday night heading into Game 4.

On Wednesday, LeBron notched his NBA-leading fourth triple-double this postseason (23rd of playoff career) with a team-high 33 points, a game-high 11 assists, 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 47 minutes. It was James’ 10th triple-double in an NBA Finals game, which is the most all-time (Magic Johnson is second with eight). James (110 30-pt games) also passed Michael Jordan (109 30-pt games) for the most 30-point performances ever recorded in NBA postseason history.

Kevin Love has recorded at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in all three games this series, averaging 21.0 points and 12.0 rebounds in 35.0 minutes. He is also shooting perfect from the foul line (12-12) and has extended his streak to 31 consecutive made free throws going back to the first quarter of Game 4 against Toronto on May 7. In five games against the Warriors this season (regular and post), Love is averaging 22.2 points, 12.2  rebounds and a .958 (23-24) clip from the charity stripe in 33.4 minutes.

During Game 3, Rodney Hood had his highest scoring game of the 2018 Playoffs, tallying 15 points on 7-11 (.636) shooting from the field and two blocks in 26 minutes as a reserve. Hood has now logged three double-digit scoring efforts this postseason.

At the other end of the court, the Warriors would like to see another exceptional performance from Kevin Durant, who had a postseason-high 43 points and 13 rebounds in 43 minutes on Wednesday. Durant carried Golden State, especially from behind-the-arc, hitting 6-of-9 deep balls.

The rest of the Warriors starters all posted double figure points while Jordan Bell knocked down 10 points off the bench.

FOX Sports Ohio: Before and after all Cavs playoffs games, FOX Sports Ohio will provide pre- and postgame coverage hosted by Jeff Phelps and Campy Russell that will include reporting and analysis from Fred McLeod, Austin Carr and Allie Clifton, with guest appearances from former Cavs coach Mike Fratello.

For live in-game updates, follow @cavs, @CavsJoeG, @CavsFredMcLeod, @MrCavalier34, @CavsJMike and @chones22 on Twitter.

Status Update: (Warriors) - None to Report

As Quicken Loans Arena starts to get dressed for Game 4, fans can burn some time by checking out these interesting facts, stats and milestones.

From a league perspective, LeBron James (231 BLK) is just three blocks away from passing Pau Gasol (233 BLK) for the 14th-most swats in league playoff history. With one more 40-point outing, James will hold the NBA record for most 40-point performances in a single postseason (currently tied with Jerry West, who had eight such games in 1965).

Also, JR Smith (285 3FGM) is just a single triple shy of moving past Derek Fisher (285 3FGM) for sole possession of eighth place in career playoff three-pointers.

From a franchise perspective, Kevin Love (309 FGM) needs five field goals to pass Zydrunas Ilgauskas (313 FGM) for third place on the Cavaliers all-time playoff field goals made list, while JR Smith (277 FGM) is four baskets away from passing Mark Price (280 FGM) for sixth place on that list.

If the Cavaliers win on Friday in Cleveland, then they'll return to The Bay on Monday, June 11 to take on the Warriors for Game 5 at 9:00 p.m. (ET) on ABC. Game 6, if necessary, will be on Thursday, June 14 in Cleveland, and Game 7 will take place back in Oakland on Sunday, June 17.

Before you make your way downtown for Friday's Game 4 matchup between the Cavaliers and Warriors, be sure to take note of the Huron Rd. lane closures that may effect your travels. For more information, CLICK HERE

cavswarriors-game-preview-june-8-2018

#CavsWarriors Game Preview - June 8, 2018

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The 2018 NBA Finals shifts to Cleveland as the Cavaliers and Warriors face off in Game 3 on Wednesday night. Tipoff from The Q is at 9:00 p.m. (ET).

Despite dropping Game 2, 122-103, in Oakland on Sunday evening, the Wine &amp; Gold get the opportunity to make a dent in the Warriors' 2-0 Finals lead while playing in front of their home crowd, where they're 8-1 this postseason.

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In fact, since Game 1 of their First Round series against Indiana (4/18/18), the Cavaliers have won eight-straight games at The Q, tying their longest home win streak in franchise playoff history (4/17/16 – 6/8/16). Over their current home win streak, Cleveland is outscoring its opponents by an average of 12.0 points (109.0-97.0), shooting .488 from the field and .391 from beyond the arc.

As mentioned, the Cavs will use the Wine &amp; Gold fans to their advantage on Wednesday as they try to overcome a 2-0 series deficit for the fourth time in franchise playoff history and second time this postseason (2007 ECF vs. DET, 2016 Finals vs. GSW, 2018 ECF vs. BOS).

Only four teams have rallied from an 0-2 series deficit in The Finals, which includes the Cavaliers 4-3 win over Golden State in 2016. The others are the 1969 Boston Celtics (over Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3), the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers (over Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2) and the 2006 Miami Heat (over Dallas Mavericks, 4-2).

With the crowd on their side these next two games, the Cavs will want to continue excelling at one of their best areas of play: rebounding. Cleveland has outrebounded the Warriors by an average of 8.0 rebounds (47.5-39.5) so far in this series while also averaging 17.5 offensive boards and 20.0 second chance points.

The Wine &amp; Gold are also going to need great individual efforts from a number of players.

LeBron James (1,327 PTS), who passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,317 PTS) for second place on the all-time NBA Finals points list, has had an excellent series so far and will look to mimic his last two performances this Wednesday night in Cleveland.

On Sunday in Game 2, James posted a double-double (29 PTS, 13 AST, 9 REB, 2 STL, 44 MIN) and now has 14 double-doubles this postseason, tying his career high (14 in 2015). Through two games this series, LBJ is averaging 40.0 points on .558 (29-52) shooting from the field, .455 (5-11) from deep, .850 (17-20) from the foul line, 8.5 rebounds, 10.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 45.5 minutes.

James' fellow starter, Kevin Love, will also look to tally a similar performance from Game 2. On Sunday, Love recorded his seventh double-double this postseason and second straight 20-10 performance with 22 points, a game-high 10 rebounds, two steals and a block in 35 minutes.

At the other end of court, the Warriors will be looking to grab an all-important 3-0 series lead on Wednesday after snagging their Game 2 win on the back of Steph Curry.

In Game 2, Curry led his squad with 33 points off 11-26 shooting from the field, while also tying the record for most three-pointers made in a Finals game after hitting nine deep balls through 38 minutes.

Kevin Durant also excelled from the floor for Golden State, hitting 10-of-14 shots from the field as well as 2-for-3 from downtown for 26 points.

Radio: WTAM 1100, 100.7 WMMS, 87.7 La Mega

Status Update: (Warriors) - Andre Iguodala, (Left lateral leg contusion/bone bruise, Questionable)

As Quicken Loans Arena starts to get dressed for the 2018 Finals, fans can burn some time before Wednesday's Game 3 with these facts and milestones.

From a league perspective, LeBron James (237 GP) will pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (237 GP) for sole possession of the fourth-most playoff games played by any player with an appearance in Game 3. James (109 30-pt games) also needs one more 30-point game to break a tie with Michael Jordan (109 30-pt games) for the most in NBA playoff history.

Also, with another 40-point outing, James will hold the NBA record for most 40-point performances in a single postseason (currently tied with Jerry West, who had eight such games in 1965).

JR Smith (282 3FGM), on the other hand, is just four triples shy of moving past Derek Fisher (285 3FGM) for eighth place in career playoff three-pointers.

From a franchise perspective, Kevin Love (587 REB) is 13 rebounds away from 600 for his postseason career and also needs 11 field goals to pass Zydrunas Ilgauskas (313 FGM) for third place on the Cavaliers all-time playoff field goals made list.

Swish is also just four baskets away from passing Brad Daugherty (275 FGM) for seventh place on that list.

Following Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals, the Cavs and Warriors will do battle in Cleveland again this Friday for Game 4. Tipoff from The Q is set for 9:00 p.m. (ET) and will be televised on ABC. If necessary, Game 5 will be played back at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Monday, June 11 at 9:00 p.m. (ET) and will also be televised on ABC.

Before you make your way downtown for Wednesday's Game 3 matchup between the Cavaliers and Warriors, be sure to take note of the Huron Rd. lane closures that may effect your travels. For more information, CLICK HERE

cavswarriors-game-preview-june-6-2018

#CavsWarriors Game Preview - June 6, 2018

The Cavaliers look to even their NBA Finals series with the Warriors when the two teams do battle on Sunday in Game 2. Tipoff from Oracle Arena is at 8:00 p.m. (ET).

In a thrilling Game 1 duel, the Wine &amp; Gold kept pace with the Warriors through four-quarters before falling in overtime, 124-114, on Thursday night in Oakland.

Going forward, the Cavs will look to replicate their previous performance in Game 2, which history shows the Cavs tend to perform well in. In fact, Cleveland is 16-4 in Game Twos of any series, since 2009.

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Looking back to their well-rounded Game 1 performance, the Cavs excelled at a number of different areas, team-wise and individually.

From a defensive standpoint, the Wine &amp; Gold battled hard on the boards, out-rebounding the Warriors 53-38 (+15) - their biggest rebound margin this postseason. Cleveland’s 53 rebounds were also the most the team has tallied in the 2018 Playoffs. The Cavs have now recorded at least a 10+ advantage on the glass in four of their last six games, out-rebounding foes by an average of 7.0 boards (44.8-37.8) over that stretch (since May 19). Cleveland also pulled down 19 offensive rebounds that led to 21 second-chance points in Game 1 (both 2018 Playoff highs).

Of course, one cannot overlook the individual effort that LeBron James put on display Thursday night, which helped give the Cavaliers the edge they needed to force a tough outing against their rivals.

In Game 1, James finished with a franchise playoff record and postseason career-high 51 points on 19-32 (.594) shooting from the field, 3-7 (.429) from beyond the arc and 10-11 (.909) from the foul line, to go along with eight rebounds, a team-high eight assists, one steal and one block in 48 minutes. James became the sixth player in NBA history to score at least 50 points in a Finals game and the first since Michael Jordan scored 55 points on June 16, 1993 against Phoenix. He is also the first player to post a stat line of at least 51 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in a Finals game.

LeBron also became the sixth player in league history to play in eight-consecutive NBA Finals, joining Bill Russell’s 1950s-60s Celtics teams: Russell (10 in a row from 1957-1966), Sam Jones (nine), Tom Heinsohn (nine), K.C. Jones (eight) and Frank Ramsey (eight). In the 2018 Playoffs, James leads the NBA in points per game (34.9, second-highest in playoff career) and double-doubles (13, tied for his second-most in a single postseason), while adding 9.2 rebounds and 8.7 assists.

In his first game back since suffering a concussion in Game 6 of the ECF, Kevin Love quickly found his groove, posting his sixth double-double of the 2018 Playoffs with 21 points and a game-high 13 rebounds in 39 minutes during Game 1. It marked Love's 13th career 20-10 game in the postseason, as well as his first 20-10 performance in a Finals game.

Larry Nance Jr., who played in his first-ever Finals game on Thursday, had a near double-double in Game 1, tallying nine points (4-6 FG), a playoff career-high 11 rebounds and one steal in 19 minutes off the bench. It was his first double-digit rebound performance of his playoff career.

Each of these individual performances helped counteract another solid outing by the Western Conference Champion Warriors, who had three starters notch 20-plus point performances.

Sharpshooting point guard Steph Curry led GS with 29 points and tallied nine assists and six rebounds through 46 minutes, shooting 11-23 from the field and knocking down 5-11 from downtown.

Kevin Durant followed Curry with 26 points and had nine total rebounds in Game 1. Durant wasn't especially hot from behind-the-arc, however, hitting only one deep ball on seven tries.

Klay Thompson, who suffered a leg contusion early on in Game 1, returned in the second quarter and finished with 24 points on 8-16 shooting. He also knocked down five treys in his club's win.

Finally, the Warriors' fourth all-star, Draymond Green, got hot late in the game, hitting a three-pointer both in the fourth quarter and in overtime. Green finished the night with 13 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for a near triple-double.

Status Update: (Warriors) - Andre Iguodala, (Left lateral leg contusion/bone bruise, Doubtful), Klay Thompson, (Left lateral leg contusion, Questionable), Patrick McCaw, (Lumbar spine recovery, Probable)

As Game 2 looms on the horizon, check out some of these postseason milestones that could be passed come Sunday night in The Bay.

From a league perspective, LeBron James, who has scored 1,298 points in his Finals career, is just 20 points away from passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,317 PTS) for second-most in Finals history. James (109 30-pt games) needs one more 30-point game to break a tie with Michael Jordan (109 30-pt games) for the most in NBA playoff history.

LBJ will can also hold the NBA record for most 40-point performances in a single postseason (currently tied with Jerry West, who had eight such games in 1965) with just one more big outing this series.

JR Smith (281 3FGM), on the other hand, is only five triples shy of moving past Derek Fisher (285 3FGM) for eigth place in career playoff three-pointers.

From a franchise perspective, Kevin Love (110 AST) needs  a single assist to pass Larry Nance Sr. (110 AST) for sole possession of the eighth-most in franchise playoff history.

Swish (781 PTS) is also just two points away from passing Brad Daugherty (782 PTS) for sixth place on the Cavaliers all-time playoff scoring list.

Following Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals, the Cavs and Warriors will make their way to The Land for Games 3 &amp; 4, beginning with Game 3 on Wednesday, June 6 at 9:00 p.m. (ET) on ABC. Game 4 will follow on Friday, June 8. If necessary, Game 5 will see both squads return to The Bay on Monday, June 11.

cavswarriors-game-preview-june-3-2018

#CavsWarriors Game Preview - June 3, 2018

The Cavaliers and Warriors go head-to-head for the fourth-straight year as the two Conference heavyweights battle it out in the 2018 NBA Finals, beginning with Game 1 on Thursday night in Oakland. Tipoff from Oracle Arena is set for 9:00 p.m. (ET).

After defeating the Boston Celtics, 4-3, in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavs are back in the NBA Finals for the fourth-straight season and fifth time in franchise history (2007, 2015, 2016, 2017).

As mentioned, this is also the fourth year in a row that Cleveland and Golden State will square off in The Finals, which is the most consecutive meetings in a championship round among the four major pro sports leagues (NHL: three straight between Canadiens/Red Wings from 1954-56; NFL: three straight between Lions/Browns from 1952-54; MLB: three straight between Giants/Yankees from 1921-23).

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In the NBA, specifically, the Cavaliers and Warriors join the Boston Celtics (1957-1966, 1984-1987), Los Angeles Lakers (1982-1985) and Miami Heat (2011-2014) as the only franchises to make four-straight NBA Finals.

While those stats are impressive, both teams are focused on this year's matchup, rather than what happened in the past.

The Wine &amp; Gold have been playing solid defense this postseason and will try to carry that success over into the Finals. In fact, Cleveland is allowing just 99.9 points during the playoffs, the second-lowest mark among all 16 NBA playoff teams.

The Cavs are also one of the more resilient teams in the Association as seen in their recent comeback over the Boston Celtics in the East Finals. In the ECF, Cleveland overcame an 0-2 deficit for the third time in franchise playoff history (2007 ECF vs. DET, 2016 Finals vs. GSW) after limiting the Celtics to under 100 points in four of the final five games for an average of 92.4 points on .402 shooting from the field in that span.

Another key contributor to the Cavs success stems from the leadership exemplified by LeBron James, who will become the sixth player in NBA history to play in eight consecutive NBA Finals, joining Bill Russell’s 1950s-60s Celtics teams.

In the 2018 Playoffs, James leads the NBA in PPG (34.0) and double-doubles (13, tied for his second-most in a single postseason), while adding 9.2 rebounds and 8.8 assists (third-most in NBA Playoffs). In Game 7 against Boston, James became the third player in league history to post at least 35 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists in a Game 7, joining Dolph Schayes (35 PTS, 16 REB, 9 AST at BOS in 1959) and James Worthy (36 PTS, 16 REB, 10 AST vs. DET in 1988).

Following in the footsteps of their fearless leader, a number of James' teammates have shown that they'll do #WhateverItTakes to spot their captain.

Jeff Green, who stepped in for an injured Kevin Love in Game 7 of the ECF, had his highest scoring game and rebound performance of the 2018 Playoffs in the win over Boston, with 19 points and eight boards in 42 minutes of work. The Cavs improved to 5-1 when Green scores in double-digits this postseason.

JR Smith, in the meantime, has made at least three, three-pointers on nine occasions in the 2018 Playoffs, including the Game 7 win at Boston.

This Cavaliers team, with their explosive offense and stalwart defense, will need each and every player to be at the top of their game when they tipoff against the Golden State Warriors, who were also down at one point in their West Finals series with the Houston Rockets.

After going up 2-1 in their WCF series, the Warriors dropped two straight and found themselves in a 3-2 hole and on the verge of being dethroned. However, two late-game comebacks led by Klay Thompson and Steph Curry, helped push GS over the Houston hump. It was Thompson's 35 points and nine three-pointers that helped rally Golden State from down 17 in Game 6 and Curry's 27 points and seven treys in Game 7 that earned them a date with the Cavs on Thursday.

So far this postseason, Curry (24.8 ppg) and Thompson (20.5 ppg) are No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, on the Warriors' postseason scoring list. They both trail Kevin Durant, who is averaging 29 ppg over the course of three rounds.

Status Update: (Warriors) - Andre Iguodala, (Left lateral leg contusion, Out)

For Wine &amp; Gold fans, the all-important Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals can't come soon enough. However, here are some interesting milestones that will take your mind off of the wait.

From a league perspective, LeBron James (108 30-pt games) needs just one more 30-point game to tie Michael Jordan (109 30-pt games) for the most in NBA postseason history.

Kyle Korver (236 3FGM) is only one three-pointer away from passing Jason Kidd (236 3FGM) for sole possession of the 14th-most in NBA postseason play, while JR Smith (279 3FGM) is seven triples shy of moving past Derek Fisher (285 3FGM) for eighth place on that list.

From a franchise perspective, Kevin Love (109 AST) needs two assists to pass Larry Nance Sr. (110 AST) for eigth-most in franchise playoff history.

Swish (771 PTS) is 12 points away from passing Brad Daugherty (782 PTS) for sixth place on the Cavaliers all-time playoff scoring list.

Following Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals, the Cavs and Warriors will tipoff on ABC in Oakland for Game 2 on Sunday, June 3 at 8:00 p.m. (ET). The series will then move to Cleveland, beginning on Wednesday, June 6 with Game 3 and Friday, June 8 with Game 4. Tipoff from The Q for both games will be at 9:00 p.m. (ET) and will be televised on ABC.

cavswarriors-game-preview-may-31-2018

#CavsWarriors Game Preview - May 31, 2018

The Cavaliers travel to Beantown this Sunday night for a winner-take-all Game 7 matchup against the Boston Celtics for a chance to clinch the Eastern Conference Championship as well as a fourth-straight trip to the NBA Finals. Tipoff from TD Garden is set for 8:30 p.m (ET).

The Wine &amp; Gold enter the upcoming winner-take-all contest against the Celtics for the second time this postseason after going the distance with the Indiana Pacers in Round 1. Sunday's Game 7 will also be the Cavs' first in a conference finals matchup in franchise history.

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The Wine &amp; Gold are 4-2 all-time in Game 7s. Not including their Round 1 matchup with the Pacers, the other Game 7s in Cavaliers history: 1976 Semifinals vs. Washington (4-3), 1992 Semifinals vs. Boston (4-3), 2006 Semifinals at Detroit (3-4), 2008 Semifinals at Boston (3-4) and 2016 NBA Finals at Golden State (4-3).

As mentioned, with a win in Game 7, the Cavaliers can clinch their fourth-straight appearance in the NBA Finals as well as their fifth overall. The only franchises to make four-straight NBA Finals are the Boston Celtics (1957-1966, 1984-1987), the Los Angeles Lakers (1982-1985) and the Miami Heat (2011-2014).

Going back to 2009, Cleveland is 15-1 in potential series-clinching playoff games (2-1 this postseason), while also winning six of their last eight games when facing elimination since 2015.

The Cavaliers earned this exciting challence by defeating the Celtics, 109-99, in Game 6 on Friday night at The Q to even the series at 3-3. In the win, Cleveland pulled down a 2018
Playoff-high 15 offensive rebounds, which led to a 18-7 edge in second chance points.

Cleveland secured the victory after 48 minutes of non-stop defensive excellence. In fact, the club posted nine blocks in Game 6, their most this postseason. Over the last three games, the Cavs are averaging 8.0 blocks per contest, making them a fierce obstacle for the Celtics' offense.

From an individual perspective, Game 6 was won on the shoulders of LeBron James, who notched his NBA-leading 12th double-double of the 2018 Playoffs with game highs of 46 points (17-33 FG, 5-7 3FG), 11 rebounds, nine assists and three steals in 46 minutes. It also marked James’ seventh 40-point outing this playoffs, tying Michael Jordan (1989) for
the second-most 40-point games in a single postseason.

This incredible effort shouldn't come as a surprise to Wine &amp; Gold Nation, as LBJ has already proven he can come in clutch when his back is against the wall. In 22 contests when facing elimination (13-9 record), James is now averaging 34.1 points (highest in league history, minimum five games), 10.8 rebounds and 7.4 assists, including at least 40 points in each of the last three elimination games.

The Kid from Akron will look to mirror his Game 6 performance on Sunday in Game 7. After all, history shows us once again that James can do wonders in winner-take-all contests. Over his seven career Game 7s, LBJ has averaged 34.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.0 steals in 45.3 minutes. His teams are 5-2 in Game 7s, winning each of the last five (2018 First Round vs. IND, 2016 Finals at GSW, 2013 Finals vs. SAS, 2013 ECF vs. IND, 2012 ECF vs. BOS).

For Boston, a team that is undefeated at home this postseason, they'll look to get their hometown crowd behind them early as they aim to earn their first trip to the Finals since 2010 when they lost in seven games to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Celtics will look to their back court of Terry Rozier and Jaylen Brown (the guard combo combined for 55 in Game 6) to give them a spark early on Sunday, but like the Cavaliers, they'll also need a well-rounded effort if they want to play into June. That means getting starting center Aron Baynes going underneath the basket. The Australian center blanked in Game 6 despite solid efforts earlier in the series.

Boston will also look to their reserves to carry some of the load. While both Marcus Smart (10 pts) and Marcus Morris (10 pts) played well off the bench in Game 6, the rest of the reserves combined for only three points. Bench play for both teams could be the determining factor as to who will play in the Finals come Sunday night.

Status Update: (Cavs) - Kevin Love, (Concussion, Out)

Status Update: (Celtics) - Kyrie Irving, (Left knee surgery, Out), Gordon Hayward, (Left ankle rehab, Out), Shane Larkin, (Left shoulder sprain, Out), Daniel Theis, (Left knee surgery, Out)

For Wine &amp; Gold fans, the all-important Game 7 can't come soon enough. However, here are some interesting milestones that will take your mind off of the grueling wait.

From a league perspective, Kyle Korver (235 3FGM) is just two three-pointers away from passing Jason Kidd (236 3FGM) for the 14th-most in NBA
postseason play.

JR Smith (276 3FGM), on the other hand, is only one triple shy of moving past Paul Pierce (276 3FGM) for sole possession of ninth place on that same list.

From a franchise perspective, Kevin Love (109 AST) needs only two more assists to pass Larry Nance (110 AST) for eighth-most in Cavaliers playoff history.

Swish (759 PTS) can also pass another milestone, this time on the all-time playoff scoring list as he is just 24 points shy from passing Brad Daugherty (782 PTS) for sixth place on that list.

With Game 7 being the final cap on the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals, the winner of #CavsCeltics will go on to play either the Golden State Warriors or the Houston Rockets in the 2018 NBA Finals. Game 1 of The Finals will tipoff on Thursday, May 31 at 9:00 p.m. (ET) and will be televised on ABC. Both Games 1 &amp; 2 will be hosted by the winner of the Western Conference Finals no matter the outcome of either series.

cavsceltics-game-preview-may-27-2018

#CavsCeltics Game Preview - May 27, 2018

The Cavaliers will look to force a Game 7 on Friday night when they battle the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Tipoff from The Q is at 8:30 p.m. (ET).

The Wine &amp; Gold have their backs up against the wall following their, 96-83, Game 5 lost to the Celtics on Wednesday night. However, they have proven in the past that they excel in elimination games, going 5-2 since 2015 in such contests.

Helping their case on Friday will be the Wine &amp; Gold playing in front of their home crowd at The Q, a place they have excelled during this postseason. The Cavaliers are 7-1 in The Land during the 2018 Playoffs, winning seven straight and outscoring opponents by an average of 12.3 points (109.0-96.7) over that stretch while shooting .491 from the field and .391 from beyond the arc.

Let's not forget about the Cavs excellent defense. Through the first five contests of their ECF series, their defense has held the Celtics to a combined .424 shooting from the field (.327 3FG%). In Game 5, the Cavs held Boston to an opponent postseason low .365 (31-85) shooting from the field and gave up just 26 points in the paint. Cleveland also had seven blocks, led by Larry Nance Jr.’s playoff career-high four swats.

The Cleveland "D" has also been superb at home, and they will be looking to hold down the fort once again in Game 6. They have not allowed more than 100 points in five of their eight home games this postseason and have yet to let an opponent shoot at least .400 from beyond the arc at The Q.

Come Friday night, the Wine &amp; Gold will look to improve on their all-time home record versus Boston in the playoffs (15-6 overall, 9-3 at The Q). They have won 10 of their last 13 home games against the Celtics dating back to the 2014-15 season (regular and postseason).

From a player perspective, LeBron James who has had plenty of success in elimination games and will look to lead the charge for the Cavs in Game 6. In 21 contests when facing elimination, LeBron James is averaging 33.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists. His scoring average of 33.5 points is the highest for elimination games in NBA playoff history (minimum five games).

Since the 2015 Playoffs, James is averaging 36.9 points (.524 FG%), 12.0 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 2.57 steals and 1.43 blocks in 44.1 minutes in Cleveland’s seven elimination games, while scoring at least 40 points in four of the seven contests.

In Game 5, LBJ posted his NBA-leading 11th double-double of the 2018 Playoffs with a game-high 26 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and one steal in 39 minutes during Game 5. His 11 double-doubles this postseason are tied for the third-most he’s ever recorded in a single playoffs (11 in 2012, 13 in 2016, 14 in 2015).

On the other side of the court, the Celtics were led by starters Jayson Tatum and Al Horford. Tatum was able to lead Boston in points with 24, while Horford doubled up with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Tatum and Horford were helped out by some solid bench play. In fact, two reserves named Marcus (Smart and Morris) notched 13 points apiece. Morris grabbed six rebounds while Smart tallied four boards and four dimes to go along with his hot scoring touch.

As Wine &amp; Gold fans get geared up for a Game 6 showdown at The Q, they can burn some time by checking out some individual milestones that could be broken over the next few games.

From a league perspective, LeBron James (2,062 REB) will pass Karl Malone (2,062 REB) for sole possession of the sixth most rebounds in NBA postseason history with just a single board in Game 6.

James (225 BLK) can also move into sole possession of 15th place in career playoff blocks with one more swat on Friday, passing Rasheed Wallace and Robert Horry (both w/225 BLK).

The sharpshooting Kyle Korver (233 3FGM) is also just four more three-pointers away from passing Jason Kidd (236 3FGM) for the 14th-most in NBA postseason play.

In terms of franchise history, Tristan Thompson (559 PTS, 206 FGM) will move past John ‘Hot Rod’ Williams (559 PTS, 206 FGM) for sole possession of ninth place on the Cavs all-time postseason scoring and field goals made lists with his next point and field goal.

Kevin Love (109 AST) needs just two more assists to pass Larry Nance Sr. (110 AST) for the eighth-most assists in franchise playoff history.

If the Cavaliers are victorious following Game 6 on Friday, then the two teams will meet back in Boston for a Game 7 showdown on Sunday, May 27. If necessary, tipoff from TD Garden will be at 8:30 p.m. (ET) and will be televised on ESPN.

Before you make your way downtown for Friday's Game 6 matchup between the Cavaliers and Celtics, be sure to take note of the Huron Rd. lane closures that may effect your travels. For more information, CLICK HERE

cavsceltics-game-preview-may-25-2018

#CavsCeltics Game Preview - May 25, 2018

The Cavaliers travel to Boston for Game 5 against the Celtics on Wednesday night as the two squads compete for a series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Tipoff from TD Garden is at 8:30 p.m. (ET).

After falling to the Celtics in the first two games of the ECF, the Wine &amp; Gold rebounded with two straight home wins, including their, 111-102, win over the Celtics in Game 4 on Monday. With that victory, the Cavs have now extended their home winning streak to seven games.

CAVS TO DON WINE JERSEYS
        From where to catch all the action to Wednesday's game notes, Cavs.com has you covered.

In Monday's win, the Wine &amp; Gold shot .506 (41-81) from the field, which was their fourth game this postseason with a .500-plus clip (4-0). In the first half, the Cavs connected on 24-of-39 (.615) shots and scored 68 points, which was their highest scoring half of the 2018 Playoffs.

Through the first four contests of this series, the Cavs’ defense has held the Celtics to a combined .439 shooting from the field (.324 3FG%). In Games 3 &amp; 4, Cleveland allowed an average of 94.0 points (.403 FG%, .300 3FG%) and outrebounded Boston by 10.5 boards (46.0-35.5). During the Game 4 win on Monday night, the Cavaliers also set a 2018 Playoff-high with eight blocks.

From an individual perspective, there were a number of excellent performances to go around, but it was LeBron James who, once again, stole the show.

In fact, James recorded a game-high 44 points (17-28 FG) in Game 4, his sixth 40-point outing in this year’s playoffs. The last NBA player with that many 40-point performances in a single postseason was Allen Iverson (six) in 2001. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only Jerry West (eight in 1965) and Michael Jordan (seven in 1989) have tallied more 40-point games in one playoffs.

James also passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2,356 FGM) as the NBA’s all-time playoff leader in field goals made with his sixth field goal in the Game 4 victory.

LBJ wasn't the only one who contributed to the well-rounded victory. Tristan Thompson, for instance, contributed his third double-double of the 2018 Playoffs (17th of postseason career) with 13 points (6-10 FG), a game-high 12 rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks in 38 minutes during Game 4.

Coming off the bench, Kyle Korver lit The Q up after tying his playoff career-high with three blocks, while adding 14 points (4-7 FG, 2-5 3FG, 4-4 FT) and four rebounds in 25 minutes as a reserve in Game 4. Over the last eight contests (since May 1), Korver is averaging 12.8 points on .581 (36-62) shooting from the field, including .523 (23-44) from three-point territory, and 2.8 rebounds in 27.0 minutes.

Looking ahead to Game 5, the Wine &amp; Gold would love to see the same consistent efforts that came out of Games 3 &amp; 4. They do, at least, have history on their side where they're 5-2 in  Game 5s (since 2015). If they win this series, then the Cavs will overcome an 0-2 deficit for the third time in franchise history (2007 ECF vs. DET, 2016 Finals vs. GSW).

The Celtics will look to regain momentum they earned in the first two games as the series shifts back to Beantown.

In order to do so, they'll need their reserves to step up and not leave the pressure solely on the starting five. In Game 4, while all five Celtics starters scored in double digits, only three bench players were able to find the bottom of the hoop.

Boston's silver lining, though, came from starting shooting guard Jaylen Brown, who notched a team-high 25 points and six rebounds on Monday night. Terry Rozier helped out too, knocking down three treys in adding 16 points.

For Wine &amp; Gold fans, the all-important Game 5 can't come soon enough. However, in order to burn some time, here are some interesting milestones that could be passed come Wednesday night.

From a league perspective, LeBron James (2,052 REB) can pass Karl Malone (2,062 REB) with 11 more rebounds for sixth-most in NBA postseason history. James (225 BLK) can also move into sole possession of 15th place in career playoff blocks with one swat on Wednesday, passing Rasheed Wallace and Robert Horry (both w/225 BLK). K

Kyle Korver (231 3FGM), on the other hand, is just six three-pointers away from passing Jason Kidd (236 3FGM) for the 14th-most in NBA postseason play.

From a franchise perspective, Kevin Love (281 FGM) needs three more field goals to pass Larry Nance Sr. (283 FGM) for fourth place in field goals made in franchise playoff history.

With an appearance on Wednesday, Tristan Thompson (71 GP) can pass Zydrunas Ilgauskas (71 GP) and Anderson Varejao (71 GP) for the third-most playoff games played in Cavs history.

Thompson (558 PTS, 206 FGM) is also closing in on passing John ‘Hot Rod’ Williams (559 PTS, 206 FGM) for ninth place on the Cavs all-time postseason scoring and field goals made lists.

Following Game 5, the Cavs and Celtics will head back to The Land on Friday for a Game 6 showdown at The Q. Tipoff time is set for 8:30 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN. If necessary, Game 7 will move to TD Garden on Sunday, May 27 at 8:30 p.m. That game will also take place on ESPN.

cavsceltics-game-preview-may-23-2018

#CavsCeltics Game Preview - May 23, 2018

The Cavaliers look to bring their Eastern Conference Finals series with the Boston Celtics back to even this Monday night as both teams gear up for Game 4. Tipoff from The Q is set for 8:30 p.m. (ET).

On Saturday, the Wine &amp; Gold were able to narrow their ECF series deficit with Boston to 2-1 after a 30-point home win (116-86) over the Celtics in Game 3 at The Q.

CAVS TO DON BLACK JERSEYS
        From where to catch all the action to Monday's game notes, Cavs.com has you covered.

With their lopsided hometown victory, the Cavaliers are now 6-1 in The Land during the 2018 Playoffs, winning six-straight games at The Q and outscoring opponents by an average of 12.9 points (108.7-95.8) over that stretch while shooting .488 from the field, .397 from beyond the arc and .811 from the foul line.

The Wine &amp; Gold have not allowed more than 100 points in five of their seven home games this postseason. In Game 3, the Cavs held the Celtics to a 2018 postseason low in points (86) and FG% (.392), while also allowing just a .273 (6-22) mark from three-point range. Cleveland has yet to have an opponent shoot at least .400 from beyond the arc at The Q in this year’s playoffs.

Against Boston, specifically, Cleveland holds a 14-6 all-time home record versus Boston in the playoffs (8-3 at The Q). They have also won nine of their last 12 home games against the Celtics dating back to the 2014-15 season (regular and postseason).

For the Cavaliers, Game 3 was a microcosm of their home success during the 2018 Playoffs. In fact, a 2018 Playoff-high six Cavs players scored in double-digits during the Game 3 victory: LeBron James (27), Kyle Korver (14), Kevin Love (13), George Hill (13), J.R. Smith (11) and Tristan Thompson (10).

Another big reason why the Cavaliers were so dominant in Game 3 was their success from behind the arc. In fact, the Wine &amp; Gold shot 17-34 (.500) from beyond the arc in Game 3, their most three-pointers and highest 3FG% in the 2018 Playoffs. The Wine &amp; Gold also improved to 13-1 all-time when connecting on 15 or more three-pointers in postseason play.

Cleveland also was excellent from the charity stripe recently, shooting at least .800 from the foul line in four of their last five games, including Game 3 against Boston (.833, 25-30).

In terms of individual performances, once again, LeBron James stood out among the flock. James tallied a game-high 27 points (8-12 FG, 3-3 3FG, 8-10 FT), a game-high 12 assists, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 38 minutes in the Game 3 victory. He also leads all NBA players with 10 double-doubles this postseason.

LBJ's fellow forward, Kevin Love, also had a solid night from the floor, notching his fifth double-double of the 2018 playoffs (13 PTS, 14 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 30 MIN). Over the last six games, Love has four double-doubles and is averaging 21.2 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 33.3 minutes (since 5/3/18).

Coming off the bench, Kyle Korver was the definition of the word "excellent." After a perfect shooting night in Game 3 (14 PTS, 5-5 FG, 4-4 3FG, 20 MIN), the sharpshooter from Creighton  is averaging 12.6 points on .582 (32-55) shooting from the field, including .538 (21-39) from three-point territory, and 2.6 rebounds in 27.3 minutes over the last seven contests (since May 1).

At the other end of the court, the Boston Celtics couldn't find a way to get any sort of run going against the red-hot Cavaliers. In fact, only three starting players tallied double-digits (Tatum-18, Rozier-13, Brown-10). The Celtics' reserves didn't fare much better either after only Greg Monroe led his fellow bench players with 10 points in garbage time.

As Wine &amp; Gold fans get geared up for a Game 4 showdown at The Q, they can burn some time by checking out some individual milestones that could be broken over the next few games.

From a league perspective, LeBron James (2,351 FGM) is just six field goals away from passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2,356 FGM) as the NBA’s all-time postseason leader in field goals made. James (225 BLK) can also move into sole possession of 15th place in career playoff blocks with one swat tonight, passing Rasheed Wallace and Robert Horry (both w/225 BLK). In terms of rebounds, LBJ needs just 16 more boards, (2,047 REB) to pass Karl Malone (2,062 REB) for the sixth-most in NBA postseason history.

In terms of franchise history, Kevin Love (278 FGM) ranks sixth on the Cavaliers all-time postseason field goals made list and can jump into fourth place with six
more baskets in this series (Mark Price is fifth w/280 FGM and Larry Nance is fourth w/283 FGM).

Finally, with an appearance on Monday night in Game 3, JR Smith (71 GP) can pass Zydrunas Ilgauskas (71 GP) and Anderson Varejao (71 GP) for the second-most playoff games played in Cavs history.

Following Game 4's showdown on Saturday, the Cavs and Celtics will head back to Boston on Wednesday night for an 8:30 p.m. Game 5 tipoff on ESPN. If necessary, the two clubs will return to Cleveland on Friday, May 25 for Game 6. Tipoff for that matchup is also set for 8:30 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.

Before you make your way downtown for Monday's Game 4 matchup between the Cavaliers and Celtics, be sure to take note of the Huron Rd. lane closures that may effect your travels. For more information, CLICK HERE

cavsceltics-game-preview-may-21-2018

#CavsCeltics Game Preview - May 21, 2018

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2017‑18 Game Preview