For the first time in major professional sports history, two teams will meet each other for the championship for the fourth consecutive year.
The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers will kick off their fourth straight NBA Finals on Thursday from Oracle Arena, marking the fourth time the W's have held home-court advantage.
Like 2015, when it was without Kevin Love and lost Kyrie Irving to a knee injury in Game 1, Cleveland will be in a severe underdog role. Love missed Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics with a concussion and isn't sure whether he will return in time for Game 1.