The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors in Game 5, thanks to the terrific performance of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Now, Stephen Curry and the Warriors are poised to win the NBA Finals 2016 at the Quickens Loans Arena on Thursday, June 16. Here's how you can watch NBA 2016 Finals live for free.
Check out the basic details about the Thursday's match-up below:
Where: Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland
When: Thursday, June 16
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Radio: KNBR 680 AM
TV: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN
For readers who don't have a cable TV subscription, they can still watch the game through Sling TV. Just register to Sling TV's free seven-day trial to stream SportsCenter along with all of ESPNs programs.
Additionally, NBA League Pass will air the Cavaliers vs. Warriors Game 6 on Thursday. The service is compatible on iPhone, iPad, Android Phone, Android Tablet, Apple TV, Roku, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita and Sony Blu-Ray.
The Warriors lead the series at 3-2. With a victory, the team would get its second consecutive NBA championship, while a defeat would force a decisive Game 7 back at the Oracle Arena. In the last game, the Warriors failed to generate good shots, and they weren't able to capitalize on three-point shots. Statistics show the team only converted 16-of-44 (.364) uncontested shots in Game 5, a paltry rate compared to the 49.9% they made during the regular season.
For Cavaliers, they had an amazing night with 112 points. Kyrie Irving and LeBron James scored 41 points apiece. With Draymond Green's absence, both players found holes in Warriors' defense. Sports analysts say the Cavaliers will rely on James' offense again on Game 6. According to SportsCenter, his track record of big-game success is unparalleled. He averages 32.4 points per game when facing eliminations which is the highest in NBA history.
However, it is expected James will have a harder time to score with Green back on the floor. The 6'7 Warriors forward is hailed as the most versatile defender in the NBA. He can guard one through five, plus he's a good shot blocker. His defensive presence will surely have a huge impact on Cavaliers offense.
Justin Neuman of Bleacher Report predicts the Warriors will beat the Cavaliers on Thursday. He says the Cavaliers essentially won with two players shouldering the entire scoring load on Game 5, and it's hard to sustain despite their home-court advantage. On the other hand, the Warriors have reliable bench players that can score. In addition, the killer combo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson is a huge problem for Cavaliers' defense.
