NBA Finals schedule: Dates, times, TV for Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors or Oklahoma City Thunder

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors - Game 3 - Full Highlights | May 21, 2016 | 2016 NBA Playoffs

The Cleveland Cavaliers advanced to the NBA Finals by eliminating the Toronto Raptors in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday night, and the Cavaliers now await the Golden State Warriors or the Oklahoma City Thunder, which holds a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference Finals.

Game 6 of the Warriors-Thunder series is Saturday night in Oklahoma City.

Here is the NBA Finals schedule, depending on the series winnerfrom the West (all times EDT):

Golden State vs. Cleveland

Game 1, Thursday, June 2, at Golden State, 9 p.m., ABC

Game 2, Sunday, June 5, at Golden State, 8 p.m., ABC

Game 3, Wednesday, June 8, at Cleveland, 9 p.m., ABC

Game 4, Friday, June 10, at Cleveland, 9 p.m., ABC

x-Game 5, Monday, June 13, at Golden State, 9 p.m., ABC

x-Game 6, Thursday, June 16, at Cleveland, 9 p.m., ABC

x-Game 7, Sunday, June 19, at Golden State, 8 p.m., ABC

Carmelo: Yanks or Mets?

Cleveland vs. Oklahoma City

Game 1, Thursday, June 2, at Cleveland, 9 p.m., ABC

Game 2, Sunday, June 5, at Cleveland, 8 p.m., ABC

Game 3, Wednesday, June 8, at Oklahoma City, 9 p.m., ABC

Game 4, Friday, June 10, at Oklahoma City, 9 p.m., ABC

x-Game 5, Monday, June 13, at Cleveland, 9 p.m., ABC

x-Game 6, Thursday, June 16, at Oklahoma City, 9 p.m., ABC

x-Game 7, Sunday, June 19, at Cleveland, 8 p.m., ABC

x-If necessary

Livestream for all games:WatchESPN

LeBron James isn"t just going back to the NBA Finals. He"s returning with a team that"s healthy and whole, which makes this trip unlike last year.

Maybe it will lead to a different result.

James scored 33 points, Kevin Love had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and the ClevelandCavaliersbeat the Toronto Raptors 113-87 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals Friday night, winning the series 4-2.

Kyrie Irving had 30 points and J.R. Smith added 15 for theCavaliers, who will face the winner of the Golden State-Oklahoma City series beginning Thursday.

Cleveland would open at home against the Thunder but would be on the road against the 73-win Warriors, who trail 3-2 against Oklahoma City, heading into Saturday"s Game 6.

Last year, a depleted Cavs team lost in six games to the Warriors, left to wonder whether things would have worked out differently if Love (left shoulder) and Irving (left knee) had been at full strength.

That"s not a concern this time around.

"There"s definitely a different feeling," said James, who was emotional during his postgame interview on the court.

"I didn"t appreciate last year, myself personally, getting to the finals. So much was going on in my mind, knowing that Kev was out for the rest of the season and knowing that Ky was dealing with injuries all the way from the first round. Having these guys right here at full strength, having our team at full strength and the way I feel personally, I appreciate this moment, to be able to be a part of it and be there once again."

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Source: http://www.nj.com/knicks/index.ssf/2016/05/nba_finals_scenarios_cleveland_cavaliers_vs_golden.html

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NBA Playoffs: What time, channel is Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors, Game 6? (5/27/16)

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors - Game 6 - Full Highlights | May 27, 2016 | 2016 NBA Playoffs

With a victory in Game 6 on May 27, 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers can eliminate the Toronto Raptors from the NBA Eastern Conference Finalsand advance to the NBA Finals to meet the Golden State Warriors or Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Cavaliers lead the series, 3-2.

Here"s what you need to know:

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors

What: Game 6, Eastern Conference Finals (best of seven)

Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto

When: May 27, 2016

Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. Eastern

TV: ESPN

Livestream:WatchESPN

Line: Cavaliers -6.5

Report: Sixers likely to trade Okafor or Noel

To keep their season alive, the Raptors are counting on a home-court advantage that saved them before.

LeBron James and the Cavaliersmoved within one win of their second straight NBA Finals on Wednesday night by routing Toronto 116-78 in Game 5, the fourth lopsided game in a series where both teams have struggled mightily on the road.

Paced by the resurgent Kevin Love with 25 points, and 23 apiece from James and Kyrie Irving, the Cavs built a 43-point lead in the second half and demolished the Raptors. Toronto lost three games in Cleveland"s Quicken Loans Arena by a combined 88 points.

Fortunately, the Raptors are back home in front of their own frenzied fans and will host Game 6 on Friday night in Air Canada Centre, where the Cavs are 0-4 this season and lost Games 3 and 4 in this series.

After going 32-9 at home during the regular season, Toronto is 8-2 on its floor in the playoffs, and pulled off a Game 7 wins over Indiana and Miami.

The Raptors need it to be home sweet home one more time.

"We"ve got to play the same way we played the two home games we"ve had so far," Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said Thursday, a day after he was hounded by Cleveland"s guards and scored just 13 on 5 of 12 shooting. "That"s all we can do. Can"t worry about the road. We might not get a chance to go back on the road if we don"t play the right way tomorrow."

Toronto was overmatched from the opening tap in Game 5, falling behind by 18 after one quarter, 31 at halftime and finishing with 18 turnovers, five by Lowry.

"They"re drastically bad when you"ve got LeBron coming at you," Lowry said.

N.J. ties in 2016 NBA Draft

Series schedule

Tuesday, May 17: Cleveland 115, Toronto 84

Thursday, May 19: Cleveland 108, Toronto 89

Saturday, May 21: Toronto 99, Cleveland 84

Monday, May 23: Toronto 105, Cleveland 99

Wednesday, May 25: Cleveland 116, Toronto 78

Friday, May 27: Cleveland at Toronto, 8:30 p.m.

x-Sunday, May 29: Toronto at Cleveland, 8:30 p.m.

x-if necessary

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Source: http://www.nj.com/knicks/index.ssf/2016/05/nba_playoffs_what_time_channel_is_cleveland_cavali.html

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LeBron James" greatness on display, yet again, as Cleveland Cavaliers win East: DMan"s Report, Round 3, Game 6

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors - Game 6 - 1st Qtr Highlights | May 27, 2016 | NBA Playoffs

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James amassed 33 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and one steal in leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 113-87 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The Cavs won the Eastern Conference final, 4-2.

The game was televised by ESPN.

King"s court: There was nothing complicated about what happened Friday night at Air Canada Centre. LeBron decided the series needed to end, so it ended.

Special accomplishment: The Cavs advanced to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season, each with LeBron at the controls.

Incredibly special accomplishment: LeBron"s teams have reached the NBA Finals in six consecutive seasons. He did so with the Miami Heat in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

ESPN reporter Doris Burke spoke with LeBron on the court after the game.

Burke: "You know how hard it is to go to one Finals, and everything that goes into it. You will go to your sixth straight. Of what are you most proud?""

LeBron: "I don"t know, Doris. I"ve heard all the questions, and that right there is a stumper.""

LeBron will be the eighth player in NBA history to appear in six consecutive Finals. The other seven are Celtics of the 1950s and 1960s.

(If Cavs reserve James Jones plays in the Finals, it will be his fifth straight. He was a member of the Heat in 2011 but did not play against Dallas.)

LeBron will play in his seventh Finals overall. His first was with the Cavs in 2007.

LeBron will join Dennis Rodman as the only players with at least three NBA Finals appearances for two franchises (Rodman: Detroit, Chicago).

Difficult to fathom: In order to get to six straight Finals, LeBron"s teams have needed to win 18 consecutive Eastern Conference series. Eighteen.

Let it marinate.

Difficult to fathom, Part II: On Friday, LeBron secured at least one road victory in 25 consecutive series -- the longest such streak in NBA history. He broke a tie with Michael Jordan.

In the past two postseasons, LeBron has clinched a total of five series on the road.

Numbers game: LeBron has scored 5,364 points in the playoffs. Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton scored 6,215 points in the regular season.

Locking it down: LeBron scored 30+ for the first time in 14 games this postseason and, according to Burke, the 81st time in his career.

Burke: "You said you would step forward and have a game when you needed to. Why was it tonight?""

As Burke asked the question, plenty of fans remaining in the arena chanted: "Let"s go, Rap-tors! Let"s go, Rap-tors!""

LeBron: "First of all ... do you hear this?""

Burke: "I know. They"re incredible.""

LeBron: "Unbelievable respect, much respect, to these fans and to this country. This is unbelievable. I"ve never been a part of something like this in my 13-year career. This is special. They really appreciate what their team did.

"To get back to your question, Doris: I knew this was going to be a tough game coming into this building, and I just had to bring my game. I had to be in attack mode from the beginning, trust my shot. And I knew once my shot started going that I could start getting my teammates involved, and they were able to carry me down the stretch.""

LeBron scored 21 in the first half, during which he played 23:23. He finished 13-of-22 from the field in 40:57.

Happy to help: Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving amassed 30 points, nine assists and three steals. Cavs big Kevin Love had 20 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.

Irving"s long scoop-pass to Love for a transition 3-pointer was one of many highlights for Cleveland.

The Cavs are 6-0 in this postseason when LeBron, Irving and Love each score 20+.

Don"t forget about me: Cavs shooting guard J.R. Smith was 5-of-9 from the field, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range, for 15 points in 36 minutes. He posted a +22.

The Cavs shot 17-of-31 from beyond the arc; the Raptors, 8-of-25.

Droppin" dimes, droppin" dimes: When ESPN showed LeBron running into the locker room after the trophy presentation, on-site anchor John Buccigross said: "And you wonder why Kevin Love didn"t opt out and go somewhere else. This is why. Because when you hang around that dude, you get to the Finals. It helps your commercials, it helps your everything, because you"re always in the spotlight.""

More from Buccigross: "LeBron"s energy level is mesmerizing to watch. His fitness is off the charts. Like Michael when he played, he just does not get tired.""

Skip to my T-Lue: The Cavs" Tyronn Lue is 12-2 in his first postseason as an NBA head coach. He replaced David Blatt on Jan. 22 and went 27-14 in the regular season.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2016/05/lebron_james_greatness_on_disp.html

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Drake disses LeBron James on Instagram following Cleveland Cavaliers" Game 3 loss

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Atlanta Hawks - Game 4 - Full Highlights | May 8, 2016 | 2016 NBA Playoffs

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Drake wasn"t inside the Air Canada Centre for the Toronto Raptors" 99-84 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday night.

However, the rapper and Raptors ambassador, who is often seated courtside, enjoyed the game from afar.

He also decided to poke fun at LeBron James shortly after, as the Raptors handed the Cavaliers their first loss of the postseason.

Dissing James, who scored a team-high 24 points on 9-of-17 from the field in the loss, doesn"t always work out well.

We will see if James has anything extra for Drake, whose "Flying home for game 4" caption hints at an appearance on Monday night when the Raptors host the Cavs in Game 4.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2016/05/drake_disses_lebron_james_on_i.html

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Toronto Raptors End Cleveland Cavaliers" Winning Playoff Streak

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors - Game 3 - Full Highlights | May 21, 2016 | 2016 NBA Playoffs
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Source: http://www.npr.org/2016/05/22/479048527/toronto-raptors-end-cleveland-cavaliers-winning-playoff-streak

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