Warriors outlast Cavs in gritty NBA Finals rematch

After a rare tripleheader on ABC-ESPN last Christmas Day, when two games migrated from ESPN to TNT, the Disney networks reverted to their regular slate of five basketball games, with rating up +9% from last year’s three-game average.

The boys, who ranged from 10 to 19 years old, were flown from different parts of the country for the event as part of the Warriors’ Season of Giving community outreach initiative and the NBA Cares Season of Giving campaign, the team said.

Michael Jordan (1991, 1992, 1993) and Larry Bird (1986) as the fourth basketball player to win the award in the 85 years of its existence.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry participates in a shootaround as kids look on at the team’s practice facility in Oakland.

Warriors interim coach Luke Walton said after the win against the Cavaliers that Curry was scheduled to receive treatment and that he would have not a problem resting the reigning MVP if more time was needed for the calf to heal. But Curry appeared in more ballots and the horse wasn’t even considered by one-third of the USA editors and news directors who voted.

Not being highly recruited coming out of high school, Curry wowed college fans and scouts with his impressive shooting skills while at Davidson, but was still a questionable draft pick coming out in 2009.

“Listen, I was making a little coffee run (Christmas) morning, got some gas and made a decision to just go on Instagram and peruse”, Bryant told reporters. “But if we can (defend like that), that’s what helped us in the play-offs previous year…”

“It’s good to have one of those every so often”, guard Stephen Curry said.

After two key late hoops by Curry, the Warriors outlasted the Cavaliers 89-83 in a Christmas Day rematch of the championship series. It’s exciting. What can I say?

“I have to talk to him”, Curry informed Yahoo Sports after Friday’s win.

“The thing I would say about Steph, what makes him who he is, is that nobody has to challenge him to get to the next level because he does it on his own”, said coach Steve Kerr, who continues to recuperate from back surgery and is aiming to return to the bench by early January.