NBA Finals rematch set as Curry’s Golden State Warriors and James’ Cleveland Cavaliers collide again

There has been a sea change in James’ Cavaliers this season, and they will provide far more formidable opponents for the all-conquering Warriors

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Stephen Curry and LeBron James will clash in the NBA Final for a second straight year. Photo: AFP

Associated Press

Published: 12:24pm, 31 May 2016Updated: 12:24pm, 31 May 2016

The Golden State Warriors’ historic season goes on, with just one left team to beat.

It’ll be fun. You know they’re rolling right now, they got a lot of guys going, but looking forward to the challenge

Draymond Green

It’s the same one they faced in last year’s NBA Finals.

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, looking far more formidable than the team Golden State defeated last year, are the opponents again for Stephen Curry and the Warriors beginning on Thursday night.

The Warriors barely got back, becoming the 10th team to climb out of a 3-1 hole by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 96-88 on Monday night in game seven of the western conference finals. After winning a record 73 games in 2015-16, they could claim the greatest season in NBA history with four more victories.

They beat Cleveland 4-2 last June, but the Cavaliers will arrive in the Bay Area in much better shape than a year ago as they try to end Cleveland’s 52-year title drought in pro sports.

Both James and Curry are the figureheads of their respective teams.

“It’ll be fun,” Warriors All-Star Draymond Green said. “You know they’re rolling right now, they got a lot of guys going, but looking forward to the challenge.”

Kyrie Irving, who broke his kneecap in game one last year, and Kevin Love, who had already been lost to shoulder surgery, are combining for more than 40 points per game in the postseason, poised to give James the help he didn’t have during his furious but futile one-man show last year.