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{{pp-pc1|expiry=16:27, 24 June 2018|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{NBA Finals summary
| image = The NBA Finals logo.svg
| league = NBA
| year = 2016
| champion = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| champion_coach =[[Tyronn Lue]]
| champion_games = 4
| runnerup = [[Golden State Warriors]]
| runnerup_coach = [[Steve Kerr]]
| runnerup_games = 3
| date = June 2–19
| MVP = [[LeBron James]] <br />(Cleveland Cavaliers)
| television = '''United States:'''<br />English: [[NBA on ABC|ABC]] and [[ESPN3]]<br />Spanish: [[ESPN Deportes]]<br />'''Canada:''' (all ABC simulcasts) <br />[[The Sports Network|TSN]] (Games 1, 2, 5, 7)<br />[[Sportsnet]] (Games 3, 4, 6)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/schedules/national_tv_schedule/canada/?ls=iref:nba:gnav |title=CANADIAN TV SCHEDULE – 2015–16 |website=NBA.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603220558/http://www.nba.com/schedules/national_tv_schedule/canada/?ls=iref%3Anba%3Agnav |archive-date=June 3, 2016 |accessdate=June 20, 2016 |deadurl=yes }}</ref>
| announcers = ABC:{{unbulleted list|[[Mike Breen]] (play-by-play)|[[Mark Jackson (basketball)|Mark Jackson]] and [[Jeff Van Gundy]] (analysts)|[[Doris Burke]] (sideline reporter)|[[Craig Sager]] (sideline reporter in Game 6)}}ESPN Deportes:{{unbulleted list|[[Álvaro Martín (sports announcer)|Álvaro Martín]] (play-by-play), and |Carlos Morales (analyst)}}
| HOFers =
| radio_network = [[NBA on ESPN Radio|ESPN Radio]] (National)<br />[[Cleveland Cavaliers Radio Network]] ([[Cleveland Cavaliers|Cleveland]])<br /> Golden State Warriors Radio Network (Golden State Warriors|Golden State)
| radio_announcers = [[Kevin Calabro]] and [[Hubie Brown]] ([[NBA on ESPN Radio|ESPN Radio]])<br />[[John Michael (broadcaster)|John Michael]] and [[Jim Chones]] ([[Cleveland Cavaliers|Cleveland]])<br />[[Tim Roye]], [[Jim Barnett (basketball)|Jim Barnett]] and [[Tom Tolbert]] ([[Golden State Warriors|Golden State]])
| referees_1 = [[Ken Mauer]], Ed Malloy, Marc Davis
| referees_2 = Scott Foster, [[Tony Brothers]], James Capers
| referees_3 = [[Monty McCutchen]], Derrick Stafford, [[Zach Zarba]]
| referees_4 = [[Danny Crawford]], Mike Callahan, Jason Phillips
| referees_5 = [[Monty McCutchen]], Marc Davis, Derrick Stafford
| referees_6 = Scott Foster, [[Ken Mauer]], Jason Phillips
| referees_7 = [[Danny Crawford]], Mike Callahan, [[Monty McCutchen]]
| ECF result = [[2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cavaliers]] defeated [[2015–16 Toronto Raptors season|Raptors]], 4–2
| WCF result = [[2015–16 Golden State Warriors season|Warriors]] defeated [[2015–16 Oklahoma City Thunder season|Thunder]], 4–3
}}
The '''2016 NBA Finals''' was the [[NBA Finals|championship series]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) [[2015–16 NBA season|2015–16 season]] and conclusion of the [[2016 NBA Playoffs|2016 playoffs]]. The [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] champion [[2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland Cavaliers]] defeated the [[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]] champion [[2015–16 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State Warriors]] 4–3 in a rematch of the [[2015 NBA Finals]]. It was the 14th rematch of the previous NBA Finals in history, and the first Finals since [[2008 NBA Finals|2008]] in which the number one [[Seed (sports)|seed]] in each conference met. It was the second straight rematch in back-to-back years, as the [[Miami Heat]] and [[San Antonio Spurs]] played each other in [[2013 NBA Finals|2013]] and [[2014 NBA Finals|2014]].

Golden State, which earned [[home-court advantage]] with setting the NBA regular season wins record (73–9), jumped to a 2–0 lead in the series while recording the largest combined margin of victory (48) through two games in NBA Finals history. Cleveland returned home and responded with a 120–90 win in Game 3, but the Warriors won Game 4 to take a 3–1 series lead. The Cavaliers won the next three games to become the first team in Finals history to successfully overcome a 3–1 deficit. It also marked the first time since [[1978 NBA Finals|1978]] that Game 7 was won by the road team.

For the first time since {{nbafy|2004}}, a new scheduling format was instituted for the Finals. In previous years, the Finals were played in a Thursday–Sunday–Tuesday scheme. However, the league changed its scheduling to ensure an extra day off for both teams, which have to travel from one city to another during the series. This, along with the designated travel day, took place after Games 2, 4, 5, and 6.

The win by the Cavaliers was the first major professional sports championship won by a team based in [[Cleveland]] since [[Cleveland sports curse|1964]], and the first-ever championship won by the Cavaliers franchise. [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals MVP]] winner [[LeBron James]] propelled the Cavaliers to the historic comeback.<ref>{{cite news|last=McCauley|first=Janie|title=James and Cavaliers win thrilling NBA Finals Game 7, 93–89|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20160619/CLEGSW/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nbahpt11a|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=June 19, 2016|accessdate=June 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ziegler |first=P.J |date=June 19, 2016 |title=Curse broken: Cleveland Cavaliers win NBA Championship |url=http://fox8.com/2016/06/19/547003/ |publisher=[[WJW (TV)|FOX 8 Cleveland]] |accessdate=June 19, 2016}}</ref> James had a historically great Finals performance, becoming the first player in NBA history to lead all players in a playoff series in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.<ref>https://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-finals-game-7-061916</ref> LeBron James' otherworldly heroics coupled with the suspense of Cleveland's riveting comeback have led many sports critics to deem the 2016 NBA Finals as one of the greatest series in history.

==Background==

===Cleveland Cavaliers===
{{main article|2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers season}}
This was Cleveland's second consecutive trip to the NBA Finals, and third overall, seeking to win their first ever NBA championship. This would also be the sixth consecutive NBA Finals appearance for [[LeBron James]], the most for any player not part of the 1960s [[Boston Celtics]], and the fifth for [[James Jones (basketball player)|James Jones]] (who technically qualified for the [[2011 NBA Finals]] along with James, but did not play).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cato|first1=Tim|title=Cavaliers vs. Raptors 2016 results: LeBron James advances to 6th straight NBA Finals with Game 6 win|url=https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/5/27/11804174/raptors-cavaliers-2016-results-nba-playoffs-scores-lebron-james-finals|website=sbnation.com|accessdate=May 28, 2016}}</ref>

Despite holding the best record in the Eastern Conference at 30–11 midway through the season on January 22, 2016, the Cavaliers fired head coach [[David Blatt]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fedor|first1=Chris|title=David Blatt fired by Cleveland Cavaliers; Tyronn Lue elevated to head coach|url=http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2016/01/david_blatt_fired_by_cleveland.html|accessdate=January 22, 2016|agency=Cleveland.com|publisher=The Plain Dealer|date=January 22, 2016}}</ref> Associate head coach [[Tyronn Lue]] was then promoted to replace Blatt. General Manager [[David Griffin (NBA executive)|David Griffin]] cited "a lack of fit with our personnel and our vision" as the reason for Blatt's firing.<ref>{{cite web|title=David Blatt fired as Cavaliers coach; Tyronn Lue to take over team|url=http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14627529/david-blatt-fired-cleveland-cavaliers-coach|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=January 22, 2016}}</ref>

Cleveland finished the regular season with a 57–25 record, capturing the Central Division title and the top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. They then advanced to the Finals after sweeping both the [[2015–16 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit Pistons]] in the first round and the [[2015–16 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta Hawks]] in the second round, and defeating the [[2015–16 Toronto Raptors season|Toronto Raptors]] in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games. The Cavaliers were the first team in history to go to two consecutive
NBA Finals with rookie head coaches.

===Golden State Warriors===
{{main article|2015–16 Golden State Warriors season}}

This was the defending NBA Champions Golden State Warriors' second consecutive trip to the NBA Finals and eighth overall. The Warriors broke the record set by the 1995–96 [[Chicago Bulls]] by finishing the regular season with a 73–9 record.<ref>{{cite news|last=Strauss|first=Ethan|title=Epic history: Stephen Curry, Warriors surpass Bulls' win record|url=http://espn.go.com/blog/golden-state-warriors/post/_/id/1667/epic-history-stephen-curry-warriors-surpass-the-bulls-win-record|website=ESPN.com|date=April 14, 2016|accessdate=June 6, 2016}}</ref> In addition, the Warriors broke numerous other NBA records, including most road wins (34), best start to a season (24–0) and longest regular-season home win streak (54 dating back to the [[2014–15 NBA season|2014–15 season]]). They also became the first team to make over 1,000 three-pointers in the regular-season with 1,077, eclipsing the previous record of 933 set by the [[2014–15 Houston Rockets season|2014–15 Houston Rockets]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/06/sports/basketball/cleveland-cavaliers-3-pointers-record.html|title=Move Over, Warriors. Cavs Can Shoot 3s, Too.|accessdate=June 20, 2016|date=May 5, 2016|first=Victor|last=Mather|publisher=''NY Times''}}</ref>

The Warriors were led by [[Stephen Curry]], who was named the [[NBA Most Valuable Player]] (MVP) for the second straight season. The [[Splash Brothers]] twosome of Curry and [[Klay Thompson]] were the highest scoring duo in the league, combining to average 52.2 points per game.<ref>{{cite news|last=McCauley |first=Janie |title=Durant, Westbrook power Thunder past Warriors 108–102 |url=http://www.nba.com/games/20160516/OKCGSW/gameinfo.html |website=NBA.com |agency=Associated Press |date=May 17, 2016 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6iC2Rr8uF?url=http://www.nba.com/games/20160516/OKCGSW/gameinfo.html |archivedate=June 11, 2016 |deadurl=no |df=mdy }}</ref> Head coach [[Steve Kerr]] missed the first 43 regular season games because of a back injury. Assistant coach [[Luke Walton]] served as interim head coach during Kerr's absence and he led the Warriors to a 39–4 start.<ref>{{cite news|last=Shelburne |first=Ramona |title=Kerr battles lingering spinal-fluid issues, but coaches through pain |url=http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14757415/steve-kerr-battles-headaches-lingering-spinal-fluid-issues-coaches-pain |website=ESPN.com |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6fD1wsxUo?url=http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14757415/steve-kerr-battles-headaches-lingering-spinal-fluid-issues-coaches-pain |archivedate=February 11, 2016 |date=February 10, 2016 |accessdate=May 31, 2016 |deadurl=no |df=mdy }}</ref>

In the playoffs, the Warriors defeated the [[Houston Rockets]] in the first round and the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] in the conference semifinals in five games each. In Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, the Warriors defeated the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]], 96–88, becoming only the 10th team in NBA history to overcome a 3–1 series deficit, and advancing to a second straight NBA Finals for the first time since [[1947 BAA Finals|1947]] and [[1948 BAA Finals|1948]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/warriors/gameday/20160530/recap/|title=Warriors Silence the Thunder in Game 7, Series|publisher=NBA|accessdate=June 20, 2016|date=May 30, 2016}}</ref>

===Road to the Finals===
{{Main article|2016 NBA Playoffs}}
{| style="width:100%; font-size:90%" class="wikitable"
|- valign=top
! colspan="2" style="width:45%;"|[[2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland Cavaliers]] ([[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] Champion)!! colspan="2" style="width:45%;"|[[2015–16 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State Warriors]] ([[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]] Champion)
|-
|align=right|
{{2015–16 NBA East standings|team=CLE}} 1st seed in the East, 3rd best league record
!colspan=2|[[2015–16 NBA season|Regular season]]
|{{2015–16 NBA West standings|team=GSW}} 1st seed in the West, best league record
|-
|align=right|Defeated the 8th seeded [[2015–16 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit Pistons]], [[2016 NBA Playoffs|4–0]]
!colspan=2|First round
|align=left|Defeated the 8th seeded [[2015–16 Houston Rockets season|Houston Rockets]], [[2016 NBA Playoffs|4–1]]
|-
|align=right|Defeated the 4th seeded [[2015–16 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta Hawks]], [[2016 NBA Playoffs|4–0]]
!colspan=2|Conference Semifinals
|align=left|Defeated the 5th seeded [[2015–16 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland Trail Blazers]], [[2016 NBA Playoffs|4–1]]
|-
|align=right|Defeated the 2nd seeded [[2015–16 Toronto Raptors season|Toronto Raptors]], [[2016 NBA Playoffs|4–2]]
!colspan=2|Conference Finals
|align=left|Defeated the 3rd seeded [[2015–16 Oklahoma City Thunder season|Oklahoma City Thunder]], [[2016 NBA Playoffs|4–3]]
|}

===Regular season series===
The Warriors won the regular season series 2–0.

{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = December 25, 2015
| report = {{NBA Recap|2015|1225|id=CLEGSW}}
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] | score1 = 83
| team2 = '''[[Golden State Warriors]]''' | score2 = '''89'''
| place = [[Oracle Arena]], [[Oakland, California]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = January 18, 2016
| report = {{NBA Recap|2016|0118|id=GSWCLE}}
| team1 = '''[[Golden State Warriors]]''' |score1 = '''132'''
| team2 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] |score2 = 98
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland|Cleveland, Ohio]]
}}

==Series summary==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Game !! Date !! Home Team !! Result !! Road Team
|-
| Game 1 || Thursday, June 2 || '''Golden State Warriors''' || 104–89 (1–0) || Cleveland Cavaliers
|-
| Game 2 || Sunday, June 5 || '''Golden State Warriors''' || 110–77 (2–0) || Cleveland Cavaliers
|-
| Game 3 || Wednesday, June 8 || '''Cleveland Cavaliers''' || 120–90 (1–2) || Golden State Warriors
|-
| Game 4 || Friday, June 10 || Cleveland Cavaliers || 97–108 (1–3) || '''Golden State Warriors'''
|-
| Game 5 || Monday, June 13 || Golden State Warriors || 97–112 (3–2) || '''Cleveland Cavaliers'''
|-
| Game 6 || Thursday, June 16 || '''Cleveland Cavaliers''' || 115–101 (3–3) || Golden State Warriors
|-
| Game 7 || Sunday, June 19 || Golden State Warriors || 89–93 (3–4) || '''Cleveland Cavaliers'''
|-
|}

==Game summaries==
:''All times are in [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Daylight Time]] ([[UTC−04:00|UTC−4]]) (in [[Cleveland]])

===Game 1===
The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 104–89 in Game 1 to take a 1–0 series lead. The Cavaliers led 68–67 before the Warriors broke the game open with a 29–9 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to take a 96–76 lead. Cleveland got the deficit within eleven points at 98–87 after an 11–2 run, but [[Stephen Curry]] and [[Klay Thompson]] nailed back-to-back three-pointers to essentially seal the victory for Golden State. While Curry and Thompson had a rough night combining for 20 points, the Warriors got a lift from its bench, outscoring the Cavaliers' bench 45–10.<ref>{{cite web|title=Warriors up 1–0 as Draymond Green, supporting cast key win|url=http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400878154|website=ESPN.com|date=June 3, 2016|accessdate=6 June 2016}}</ref> [[Shaun Livingston]] scored his playoff-career high 20 points to lead Golden State, while [[Kyrie Irving]] led all scorers with 26 points. [[LeBron James]] fell one assist shy of a [[triple-double]] (23 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2016/jun/02/nba-finals-cleveland-cavaliers-golden-state-warriors-live|title=NBA finals, Game 1: Golden State Warriors beat Cleveland Cavaliers – as it happened|date=3 June 2016|work=Guardian|accessdate=7 June 2016}}</ref>
{{Basketballbox collapsible|bg=#eee |date=June 2 |time=9:00 PM |place=[[Oracle Arena]], [[Oakland, California]] |TV=[[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
|teamA=[[Cleveland Cavaliers]] |scoreA=89
|teamB='''[[Golden State Warriors]]''' |scoreB='''104'''
| series = 0–1
|report=[http://www.nba.com/games/20160602/CLEGSW/gameinfo.html Boxscore]
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|points1=[[Kyrie Irving]] 26 |points2=[[Shaun Livingston]] 20
|rebounds1=[[Kevin Love]] 13 |rebounds2=[[Draymond Green]] 11
|assist1=[[LeBron James]] 9 |assist2=[[Draymond Green]] 7
|attendance=19,596
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|class=expanded
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{{Bs game player | pos = SF | no =23 | nat = | name = LeBron James | p = 23 | r = 12 | a = 9 }}
{{Bs game player | pos = PF | no = 0 | nat = | name = Kevin Love |dab=basketball| p = 17 | r = 13 | a = 2 }}
{{Bs game player | pos = C | no = 13 | nat = | name =Tristan Thompson | p = 10 | r = 12 | a = 0 }}
{{Bs game mid | p = yes | r = yes | a = yes }}
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{{Bs game player | pos = C | no = 20| nat = | name = Timofey Mozgov | p = 0 | r = 2 | a = 0 }}
{{Bs game player | pos =G | no = 8 | nat = | name = Matthew Dellavedova | p = 2 | r = 0 | a = 1 }}
{{Bs game player | pos =G | no = 52 | nat = | name = Mo Williams | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 0 }}
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{{Bs game player | pos = G/F | no = 1 | nat = | name = James Jones | link = James Jones (basketball player) | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 0 }}
{{Bs game coach | nat = | name = Tyronn Lue }}
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{{Bs game player | pos = SF | no = 40 | nat = | name =Harrison Barnes | p = 13 | r = 1 | a = 2 }}
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{{Bs game coach | nat = | name = Steve Kerr }}
|}

===Game 2===
The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 110–77 in Game 2 to take a 2–0 series lead. Cleveland took a 28–22 lead about two minutes into the second quarter, but Golden State answered with a 20–2 run while outscoring the Cavs 30–16 the rest of the period. During the run, the Cavaliers' [[Kevin Love]] suffered a head injury while attempting to grab a defensive rebound. Love stayed throughout the remainder of the period but did not play the second half.<ref>{{cite web|title=Warriors whip Cavaliers 110–77 to take 2–0 NBA Finals lead|url=http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400878155|work=ESPN|date=5 June 2016|accessdate=7 June 2016}}</ref> The Warriors continued to dominate Cleveland from there, outscoring the Cavaliers 58–33 in the final two quarters. [[Draymond Green]] led all scorers with 28 points, including 5 of 8 from three-point range. Curry and Klay Thompson added 18 and 17 points, respectively, while drilling four threes each.<ref>{{cite news|title=Warriors, Resilient at Home, Cruise Against the Cavaliers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/06/sports/basketball/golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-game-2-nba-finals.html|work=New York Times|date=5 June 2016|accessdate=7 June 2016}}</ref>

With their victory, the Warriors posted the highest winning margin in the first two Finals games with a 48-point differential.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lynch|first=Andrew|title=The Warriors are setting NBA Finals records by crushing the Cavs|date=June 6, 2016|website=FoxSports.com|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-blowout-lopsided-48-point-margin-060616|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808150349/http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-blowout-lopsided-48-point-margin-060616|archivedate=August 8, 2016|deadurl=no}}</ref> James led the Cavs with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists, but he committed 7 turnovers. James added 4 steals while surpassing John Stockton for fourth on the all-time playoff steals list.<ref>{{cite web|title=Golden State Warriors humiliate Cleveland Cavaliers in NBA finals Game 2|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jun/05/nba-finals-game-2-golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers|work=Guardian|date=6 June 2016|accessdate=7 June 2016}}</ref>
{{Basketballbox collapsible|bg=#eee |date=June 5 |time=8:00 PM |place=[[Oracle Arena]], [[Oakland, California]] |TV=[[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
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|teamB='''[[Golden State Warriors]]''' |scoreB='''110'''
|report=[http://www.nba.com/games/20160605/CLEGSW/gameinfo.html Boxscore]
|Q1='''21'''–19 |Q2=23–'''33''' |Q3=18–'''30''' |Q4=15–'''28'''
|points1=[[LeBron James]] 19 |points2=[[Draymond Green]] 28
|rebounds1=[[LeBron James]] 8 |rebounds2=[[Stephen Curry]] 9
|assist1=[[LeBron James]] 9 |assist2=[[Draymond Green|Green]], [[Shaun Livingston|Livingston]], [[Klay Thompson|Thompson]] 5 each
|attendance=19,596
|referee=Scott Foster, [[Tony Brothers]], James Capers
|class=expanded
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}}
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{{Bs game coach | nat = | name = Tyronn Lue }}
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===Game 3===
[[NBA Commissioner]] [[Adam Silver]] in attendance. The Cavaliers avenged their lopsided defeat to Golden State by routing the Warriors 120–90 in Game 3 to trail the series 2–1. The Cavaliers scored the game's first nine points en route to outscoring the Warriors 33–16 after one quarter. Golden State rallied to trim Cleveland's lead as low as seven points on a couple of occasions before the Cavs settled for a 51–43 halftime lead.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2016/jun/08/nba-finals-game-3-live-score-golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers|title= Golden State Warriors 90–120 Cleveland Cavaliers – as it happened|date=9 June 2016|work=Guardian|accessdate=14 June 2016}}</ref> In the second half, Cleveland continued to extend their lead and outscored Golden State 69–47.<ref>{{cite web|title=LeBron James scores 32 as Cavs wallop Warriors, pull to 2–1|url=http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400878156|website=ESPN.com|date=June 9, 2016|accessdate=June 12, 2016}}</ref> Love did not play due to a concussion.<ref>{{cite web|last=Withers|first=Tom|title=Love not medically cleared, will not play in Game 3|url=http://www.nba.com/2016/news/06/08/cavs-love-participates-in-game-3-shootaround.ap/index.html|website=NBA.com|date=June 9, 2016|accessdate=June 12, 2016}}</ref> James led all scorers with 32 points. Irving added 30 points for the Cavs. Curry led the Warriors with 19 points, while drilling four threes. Harrison Barnes also contributed 18 points in 33 minutes of play.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cavaliers roar back to crush Warriors as Steph Curry's struggles continue|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jun/08/cavaliers-wallop-warriors-steph-curry-nba-finals-game-3|work=Guardian|date=June 9, 2016|accessdate=June 12, 2016}}</ref>
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===Game 4===
The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 108–97 in Game 4 to take a 3–1 series lead. After averaging just 16 points in the first three games of the series, Curry scored 38 and was 7 of 13 on three-pointers.<ref name=cacciola_06102016>{{cite news|last=Cacciola |first=Scott |title=Warriors Win and Move a Game Away From the N.B.A. Title |date=June 10, 2016 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/11/sports/basketball/golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-finals-game-4.html |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6iC0Mb76E?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/11/sports/basketball/golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-finals-game-4.html?ref%3Dsports%26_r%3D1 |archivedate=June 11, 2016 |deadurl=no }}</ref> The Warriors made 17 three-pointers, then an NBA record for a single Finals game.<ref name="finalsgame4">{{cite web|title=Splish, splash: Curry, Thompson lead Warriors to Game 4 win|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20160610/GSWCLE/gameinfo.html|publisher=NBA.com|accessdate=June 10, 2016}}</ref> They made only 16 two-point field goals, the first time in Finals history a team made more shots from three-point range.<ref>{{cite news|title=Three charts on a record-setting night for Curry and the Warriors |url=http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16114550/statmuse-charts-stephen-curry-golden-state-warriors-game-4-nba-finals |website=ESPN.com |date=June 10, 2016 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6iC1VOBba?url=http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16114550/statmuse-charts-stephen-curry-golden-state-warriors-game-4-nba-finals |archivedate=June 11, 2016 |deadurl=no |df=mdy }}</ref> Klay Thompson added 25 points and four three-pointers for Golden State.<ref name="finalsgame4"/> It was the Warriors' 88th win of the season, which broke the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls record of 87 for most wins in an NBA season (regular-season and postseason combined).<ref name="dubs stats">{{cite web|title=Warriors|url=http://www.nba.com/gamenotes/warriors.pdf|work=nba.com|accessdate=March 18, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/11/sports/basketball/golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-finals-game-4.html?_r=0|title= Warriors Win and Move a Game Away From the N.B.A. Title|date=10 June 2016|work=New York Times|accessdate=14 June 2016}}</ref>

Green and James had to be separated in the closing minutes of the game, when Green fell to the ground and James stepped over him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2016/jun/10/golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-finals-game-4-live|title= Golden State Warriors defeat Cleveland Cavaliers: NBA finals Game 4 – as it happened|date=10 June 2016|work=Guardian|accessdate=14 June 2016}}</ref>
Feeling disrespected, Green swung his arm and appeared to make contact with James' groin.<ref>{{cite news|last=Windhorst |first=Brian |title=Sources: Ruling on Green-LeBron incident could come Sunday |date=June 11, 2016 |website=ESPN.com |url=http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2016/story/_/id/16116188/after-lebron-james-draymond-green-altercation-james-upset-green-suspended |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6iCnnhKgg?url=http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2016/story/_/id/16116188/after-lebron-james-draymond-green-altercation-james-upset-green-suspended |archivedate=June 12, 2016 |deadurl=no |df=mdy }}</ref>
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===Game 5===
The Cavaliers defeated the Warriors 112–97 in Game 5 to trail the series 3–2. James and Irving each scored 41 points to become the first teammates in Finals history to score 40 or more in the same game. James also added 16 rebounds.<ref name=branch_06132016/> After Game 4, Green was assessed a [[Flagrant Foul 1]] for his contact with James that was ruled "unnecessary" and "retaliatory", and James was given a technical foul for taunting.<ref name=branch_06132016>{{cite news|last=Branch|first=John|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/14/sports/basketball/cleveland-cavs-golden-state-warriors-nba-finals.html|title=Cavaliers Stave Off Elimination in N.B.A. Finals|date=June 13, 2016|work=New York Times|accessdate=June 18, 2016}}</ref><ref name=leung_06122016/> Having accumulated his fourth flagrant foul point in the playoffs, Green was suspended for Game 5,<ref name=leung_06122016>{{cite news|last=Leung |first=Diamond |title=NBA Finals: Warriors' Draymond Green suspended for Game 5 by NBA |date=June 12, 2016 |newspaper=The Mercury News |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/warriors/ci_30006822/nba-finals-warriors-draymond-green-suspended-game-5 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6iDfNGmbE?url=http://www.mercurynews.com/warriors/ci_30006822/nba-finals-warriors-draymond-green-suspended-game-5 |archivedate=June 12, 2016 |deadurl=no |df=mdy }}</ref> becoming the first player to be suspended from playing in a Finals game since [[Jerry Stackhouse]] in [[2006 NBA Finals|2006]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors: NBA finals Game 5 – as it happened|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2016/jun/13/nba-finals-game-5-live-score-golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers|date=14 June 2016|work=Guardian|accessdate=14 June 2016}}</ref> Green watched the game from a luxury box in the nearby [[Oakland Alameda Coliseum]], where the [[Oakland Athletics]] were also playing a game at the same time, hosting the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Draymond Green to Watch Game 5 from Oakland Athletics stadium|url=http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2016/06/13/Draymond-Green-to-watch-Game-5-from-Oakland-Athletics-stadium/3871465843287/|date=13 June 2016|work=The Sports Xchange|accessdate=17 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Suspended Draymond Green to Watch Game 5 from Oakland A's Coliseum, Declines 1st Pitch Offer|url=http://www.eurweb.com/2016/06/suspended-draymond-green-watch-game-5-oakland-coliseum-declines-1st-pitch-offer/|date=13 June 2016|work=Lee Bailey's EURWeb|accessdate=17 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Suspended Draymond Green to Watch at A's Game|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2016/06/13/draymond-green-suspended-watch-warriors-game-5-oakland-athletics-game|date=13 June 2016|work=SI Wire|accessdate=17 August 2016}}</ref>

Warriors center [[Andrew Bogut]] suffered a season-ending injury to his left knee in the second half when he jumped to block a layup attempt by Cavs guard [[J. R. Smith]] and came down awkwardly on Smith.<ref>{{cite news|last=Amick |first=Sam |title=Andrew Bogut will miss remainder of NBA Finals with left knee injury |date=June 15, 2016 |newspaper=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2016/06/15/andrew-bogut-injury-warriors-nba-finals/85924936/ |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6iMn8IiyA?url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2016/06/15/andrew-bogut-injury-warriors-nba-finals/85924936/ |archivedate=June 18, 2016 |deadurl=no |df=mdy }}</ref>
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{{Bs game player | pos =C | no =18 | nat = | name = Anderson Varejão | p=3|r=1|a=1 }}
{{Bs game player | pos = PF | no =23 | nat = | name =Draymond Green | dnp=yes }}
{{Bs game coach | nat = | name = Steve Kerr }}
|}

===Game 6===
[[File:LeBron James vs. Steph Curry (27676810241).jpg|thumb|LeBron James charging at Stephen Curry during game six.]]
The Cavaliers defeated the Warriors 115–101 in Game 6 to even the series 3–3. The Cavaliers scored the game's first eight points en route to outscoring the Warriors 31–11 after one quarter. Golden State rallied to trim Cleveland's lead as low as eight points on a couple of occasions before the Cavs settled for a 59–43 halftime lead. In the second half, Cleveland continued to extend their lead and tied the series.<ref name="FinalsGame6">{{cite web|title=LeBron goes for 41 as Cavs drop Warriors, force Game 7 of Finals|url=http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400878159|website=ESPN.com|date=June 16, 2016|accessdate=June 17, 2016}}</ref> LeBron James led all scorers with 41 points with 11 assists. Kyrie Irving added 23 points for the Cavs, while [[Tristan Thompson]] had 16 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 30 points, while drilling six threes. Klay Thompson added 25 points for the Warriors. Back from suspension, Green was held to eight points on 3–7 shooting.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cavaliers thrash Warriors to force winner-take-all Game 7 in NBA finals|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jun/16/nba-finals-game-6-cleveland-cavaliers-golden-state-warriors|work=Guardian|date=16 June 2016|accessdate=17 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the Golden State Warriors: NBA finals, Game 6 – as it happened!|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2016/jun/16/golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-finals-game-6-live|work=Guardian|date=16 June 2016|accessdate=17 June 2016}}</ref>

James scored 18 straight points for Cleveland from the end of the third quarter to the 7:00 mark of the fourth. Late in the game with the Cavaliers up by 13, he blocked a Curry shot from behind, and afterward had some words for him.<ref>{{cite news|last=Araton |first=Harvey |title=With Swat of Stephen Curry, LeBron James Jolted a Debate |date=June 18, 2016 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/19/sports/basketball/lebron-james-stephen-curry-block-nba-finals.html?ref=sports |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6iMm345sR?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/19/sports/basketball/lebron-james-stephen-curry-block-nba-finals.html?ref%3Dsports%26_r%3D0 |archivedate=June 18, 2016 |deadurl=no }}</ref> With 4:22 left, Curry received his sixth foul and fouled out of the game. He then threw his mouthpiece into the stands in frustration, resulting in a technical foul and his ejection from the game.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reynolds|first=Tim|title=Curry gets ejected late in Warriors' Game 6 loss|url=http://www.nba.com/2016/news/06/17/nba-finals-warriors-curry-ejected.ap/index.html|website=NBA.com|accessdate=17 June 2016}}</ref> Curry was the first MVP to foul out of an NBA Finals game since [[Shaquille O'Neal]] in [[2000 NBA Finals|2000]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Poole|first=Monte|title=Curry flips out in Game 6 of finals, takes first NBA ejection|url=http://www.csnbayarea.com/warriors/curry-flips-out-game-6-finals-takes-first-nba-ejection|website=csnbayarea.com|accessdate=17 June 2016}}</ref> The Cavaliers became the third team to fall behind 3–1 and force Game 7 (and the first in 50 years). James was the first player to have consecutive 40-point games in the finals since, coincidentally, Shaquille O'Neal in the 2000 Finals.<ref name="FinalsGame6"/> Following the game, Curry and Warriors head coach Steve Kerr were fined $25,000 each for their actions and public officiating criticism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2646833-stephen-curry-steve-kerr-fined-for-game-6-incidents-in-nba-finals|title=Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr Fined for Game 6 Incidents in NBA Finals|first=Mike |last=Chiari|website=bleacherreport.com}}</ref>
{{Basketballbox collapsible|bg=#eee |date=June 16 |time=9:00 PM |place=[[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland|Cleveland, Ohio]] |TV=[[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
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|teamB='''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' |scoreB='''115'''
|report=[http://www.nba.com/games/20160616/CLEGSW/gameinfo.html Boxscore]
|Q1=11–'''31''' |Q2='''32'''–28 |Q3='''28'''–21 |Q4=30–'''35'''
|points1=[[Stephen Curry]] 30 |points2=[[LeBron James]] 41
|rebounds1=[[Draymond Green]] 10 |rebounds2=[[Tristan Thompson]] 16
|assist1=[[Draymond Green]] 6 |assist2=[[LeBron James]] 11
|attendance=20,562
|referee=Scott Foster, [[Ken Mauer]] and Jason Phillips
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{{Bs game player | pos = PF| no = 0 | nat = | name = Kevin Love|dab=basketball | p = 7 | r =3 | a = 2 }}
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{{Bs game player | pos =G | no = 52 | nat = | name = Mo Williams | p=4|r=1|a=1 }}
{{Bs game player | pos =F/C | no =9 | nat = | name =Channing Frye | dnp =yes }}
{{Bs game coach | nat = | name = Tyronn Lue }}
|}

===Game 7===
This season's Finals marked the first time in NBA history in which both teams entered game 7 after accumulating exactly the same total points scored after game 6 (610 points each). The Cavaliers defeated the Warriors 93–89 in Game 7 to win the series 4–3. Game 7 was a close game, with 20 lead changes and 11 ties. This was the only game in the entire series to have a final margin of fewer than 10 points. At halftime, the Warriors were ahead 49–42. In the second half, the Cavaliers outscored the Warriors 51–40 as the Warriors failed to score a basket during the last 4:39 of the game. In the closing minutes of the 4th quarter LeBron James delivered what became known as "[[The Block (basketball)|The Block]]" on a layup attempt by Andre Iguodala with the score tied at 89 and 1:50 remaining in the game. Kyrie Irving made a go-ahead 3-point field goal over the NBA's first unanimous regular season MVP Stephen Curry to give Cleveland a 92–89 lead with 0:53 remaining in the game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15499690/stephen-curry-golden-state-warriors-first-unanimous-most-valuable-player|title=Warriors' Curry voted NBA's first unanimous MVP|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref> Before Kyrie Irving’s 3-point field goal both teams were tied at 699 points scored apiece in this series. Immediately after Irving's three, Golden State brought the ball up-court, opting not to call a timeout, and although Golden State got a preferred switch and matchup of Curry on [[Kevin Love]], Love made arguably "the biggest defensive stop of the entire NBA season", and forced Curry into a contested 3-pointer, which he missed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/06/kevin-love-defensive-stop-stephen-curry-nba-finals|title=Kevin Love came up with the biggest defensive stop of the entire NBA season|access-date=2017-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2016/10/20/kevin-love-cleveland-cavaliers-stephen-curry-nba-season-preview|title=The Biggest Stop Of Kevin Love's Life? It Wasn't This One|access-date=2017-03-01}}</ref> After LeBron hurt his right wrist being fouled on a dunk attempt, he nearly clinched the title for the Cavaliers by making one of two free throws, bringing the clock down to 10.6 seconds left. After the Cavaliers fouled Draymond Green with 6.5 seconds remaining, Stephen Curry received the inbounds pass, pump faked and shot a three pointer over Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert. The attempt missed, and was rebounded by Marreese Speights of the Warriors who attempted a three pointer as time expired and missed. Love immediately hugged the Finals MVP LeBron James.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400878160 |title=Cavaliers vs. Warriors - Game Recap - June 19, 2016 - ESPN |website=ESPN.com |access-date=2016-07-30 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627180622/http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400878160 |archivedate=June 27, 2016 |df=mdy }}</ref> Draymond Green led all scorers with 32 points, including 6 of 8 from three-point range to go along with 15 rebounds and 9 assists. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson added 17 and 14 points, respectively. LeBron James led all Cavaliers with 27 points and became only the 3rd player ever in NBA history to record a triple double in an NBA Finals Game 7 by adding 11 assists and 11 rebounds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thepostgame.com/greatest-game-7-performances-nba-finals-history|title=13 Greatest Game 7 Performances In NBA Finals History|date=2016-06-17|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref> Kyrie Irving added 26 points for Cleveland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jun/20/cleveland-cavaliers-win-nba-title-golden-state-warriors-game-7-nba-finals|title=LeBron James leads Cleveland Cavaliers to NBA title and ends 52-year drought|last=Schilling|first=Dave|date=2016-06-20|website=the Guardian|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2016/jun/19/golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-finals-game-7-live-score|title=Cleveland Cavaliers beat Golden State Warriors: NBA finals Game 7 – as it happened|last=Gallo|first=D. J.|date=2016-06-20|website=the Guardian|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref>

The Cavaliers became the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3–1 series deficit to win the NBA Finals.<ref name="FinalsGame7">{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400878160 |title=Cavaliers become first team to rally from 3–1 series deficit in NBA Finals |website=ESPN.com |accessdate=June 19, 2016 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627180622/http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400878160 |archivedate=June 27, 2016 |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Withers|first=Tom|title=The End: Cleveland rocks as title drought ends in Finals|url=http://www.nba.com/2016/news/06/19/cleveland-ends-drought.ap/index.html|agency=Associated Press|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=June 19, 2016|accessdate=June 20, 2016}}</ref> They became the first NBA Champion to clinch all their playoff series on the road since the [[1999 NBA Finals|1999 San Antonio Spurs]], as well as the first road team to win a Finals Game 7 since the [[1978 NBA Finals|1978 Washington Bullets]]. The Cavaliers won their first championship in franchise history, ending a nearly 52-year pro sports championship drought for the city of Cleveland. LeBron James was named the unanimous Finals MVP, becoming only the fifth player in NBA history to earn the award at least thrice.<ref>{{cite news|title=LeBron James wins NBA Finals MVP for 3rd time|url=http://www.nba.com/2016/news/06/19/lebron-james-finals-mvp.ap/index.html|agency=Associated Press|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=June 19, 2016|accessdate=June 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=LeBron James named unanimous Finals MVP after Cavs' Game 7 win|url=http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2016/story/_/id/16351029/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-named-unanimous-nba-finals-mvp|website=ESPN.com|accessdate=June 19, 2016}}</ref> He also was the overall leader in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks during the series, a feat that had never before been accomplished in any NBA playoff series.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-finals-game-7-061916 |title=This unbelievable stat illustrates just how great LeBron James was in the Finals |first=Nunzio |last=Ingrassia |publisher=Fox Sports |date=June 19, 2016 |accessdate=June 27, 2016}}</ref> Tyronn Lue became the 14th coach to win an NBA championship as a head coach and player.<ref>{{cite web|last=Vogel|first=Brandon|title=Hot Reads: Tryonn|url=http://hailvarsity.com/news/hot-reads-tyronn-lue-championship-material/2016/06/|publisher=Hail Varsity|date=June 20, 2016|accessdate=June 30, 2016|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160621131340/http://hailvarsity.com/news/hot-reads-tyronn-lue-championship-material/2016/06/|archivedate=June 21, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> After 13 years, James had finally brought a championship to the city of Cleveland.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cleveland Cavaliers 93-89 Golden State Warriors: LeBron James helps end 52-year drought to win first NBA championship in their history after completing remarkable comeback from 3-1 down|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-3649794/Cleveland-Cavaliers-93-89-Golden-State-LeBron-James-helps-Cavs-make-history-win-NBA-championship-history-completing-remarkable-comeback.html|newspaper=[[Daily Mail]]|date=June 20, 2016|accessdate=July 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Cacciola|first=Scott|title=Cavaliers Defeat Warriors to Win Their First N.B.A. Title|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/20/sports/basketball/golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-championship.html?_r=0|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 19, 2016|accessdate=June 22, 2016}}</ref>

On July 13, 2016, Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals received the [[2016 ESPY Awards|2016 ESPY award]] for Best Game. This loss led the Warriors to pursue [[Kevin Durant]] when he became a free agent that summer signing him on July 4.
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|Q1='''23'''–22 |Q2=19–'''27''' |Q3='''33'''–27 |Q4='''18'''–13
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|rebounds1=[[Kevin Love]] 14 |rebounds2=[[Draymond Green]] 15
|assist1=[[LeBron James]] 11 |assist2=[[Draymond Green]] 9
|attendance=19,596
|referee=[[Danny Crawford]], Mike Callahan, [[Monty McCutchen]]
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{{Bs game player | pos = G | no =4 | nat = | name = Iman Shumpert | p = 6 | r = 1 | a = 0 }}
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{{Bs game player | pos = G/F | no = 1 | nat = | name = James Jones |link = James Jones (basketball player) | dnp=yes }}
{{Bs game player | pos =F/C | no =9 | nat = | name =Channing Frye | dnp= yes }}
{{Bs game player | pos = C | no = 20| nat = | name = Timofey Mozgov | dnp=yes }}
{{Bs game player | pos =G | no = 8 | nat = | name = Matthew Dellavedova | dnp=yes}}
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| style="vertical-align:top; align:center; width:33%;"|
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{{Bs game player | pos = PG | no =30 | nat = | name =Stephen Curry | p = 17 | r =5 | a = 2 }}
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{{Bs game player | pos = SF | no = 40 | nat = | name =Harrison Barnes | p = 10 | r = 2 | a = 1 }}
{{Bs game player | pos = PF | no = 23 | nat = | name =Draymond Green | p = 32 | r = 15 | a = 9 }}
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{{Bs game player | pos = G/F | no = 9 | nat = | name =Andre Iguodala | p = 4 | r =9 | a = 4 }}
{{Bs game player | pos = G | no = 34 | nat = | name =Shaun Livingston | p = 8 | r = 1 | a = 2 }}
{{Bs game player | pos =G | no =19 | nat = | name = Leandro Barbosa | p = 3 | r = 0 | a = 0 }}
{{Bs game player | pos =F/C | no =5 | nat = | name = Marreese Speights | p = 0 | r = 4 | a =0 }}
{{Bs game player | pos =C | no =18 | nat = | name = Anderson Varejão | p=1 |r=0 |a=1 }}
{{Bs game player | pos =F | no =20 | nat = | name = James Michael McAdoo | dnp=yes}}
{{Bs game player | pos =G/F | no =4 | nat = | name = Brandon Rush | dnp =yes }}
{{Bs game player | pos =G | no =21 | nat = | name = Ian Clark | link = Ian Clark (basketball) | dnp =yes }}
{{Bs game coach | nat = | name = Steve Kerr }}
|}

==Rosters==

===Cleveland Cavaliers===
{{NBA roster header|team=Cleveland Cavaliers|season=2015–16}}
<!-- begin player list -->
{{player2 | num = 8 | first = Matthew | last = Dellavedova | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 198 | college = Saint Mary's | DOB = 1990–09–08 }}
{{player2 | num = 9 | first = Channing | last = Frye | pos = F/C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 255 | college = Arizona | DOB = 1983–05–17 }}
{{player2 | num = 2 | first = Kyrie | last = Irving | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 193 | college = Duke | DOB = 1992–03–23 |note = C }}
{{player2 | num = 23 | first = LeBron | last = James | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 250 | school = [[St. Vincent–St. Mary High School|St. Vincent–St. Mary HS (OH)]] | DOB = 1984–12–30 |note = C }}
{{player2 | num = 24 | first = Richard | last = Jefferson | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 233 | college = Arizona | DOB = 1980–06–21 }}
{{player2 | num = 30 | first = Dahntay | last = Jones | pos = G/F | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 225 | college = Duke | DOB = 1980–12–27 }}
{{player2 | num = 1 | first = James | last = Jones | dab = basketball player | pos = G/F | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 218 | college = Miami (Florida) | DOB = 1980–10–04 }}
{{player2 | num = 14 | first = Sasha | last = Kaun | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 260 | college = Kansas | DOB = 1985–05–08 }}
{{player2 | num = 0 | first = Kevin | last = Love | pos = F/C | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 251 | college = UCLA | DOB = 1988–09–07|note = C }}
{{player2 | num = 12 | first = Jordan | last = McRae | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 179 | college = Tennessee | DOB = 1991–03–28 }}
{{player2 | num = 20 | first = Timofey | last = Mozgov |pos = C | ft = 7 | in = 1 | lbs = 275 | from = Russia | DOB = 1986–07–16 }}
{{player2 | num = 4 | first = Iman | last = Shumpert | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 220 | college = Georgia Tech | DOB = 1990–06–26 }}
{{player2 | num = 5 | first = J. R. | last = Smith | pos = G/F | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 225 | school = [[Saint Benedict's Preparatory School|St. Benedict's Prep (NJ)]] | DOB = 1985–09–09 }}
{{player2 | num = 13 | first = Tristan | last = Thompson | pos = C/F | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 238 | college = Texas | DOB = 1991–03–13 }}
{{player2 | num = 52 | first = Mo | last = Williams | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 198 | college = Alabama | DOB = 1982–12–19 }}
<!-- end list of players -->
{{NBA roster footer
| head_coach =
* [[Tyronn Lue]]
| asst_coach =
* [[Jim Boylan]]
* Bret Brielmaier
* [[Larry Drew]]
* [[Damon Jones]]
* Mike Longabardi
* [[James Posey]]
* Phil Handy (player development)
* [[Vitaly Potapenko]] (player development)
| otherlegend = '''(DL)''' On [[assignment (NBA D-League)|assignment]] to D-League affiliate
| roster_url = http://www.nba.com/cavs/roster/
| transaction_url = http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/teams/Cleveland-Cavaliers/5/Transaction_History
| accessdate = 2016–04–13
}}

===Golden State Warriors===
{{NBA roster header|team=Golden State Warriors|season=2015–16}}
<!-- begin player list -->
{{player2 | num = 19 | first = Leandro | last = Barbosa | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 194 | from = Brazil | DOB = 1982–11–28 }}
{{player2 | num = 40 | first = Harrison | last = Barnes | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 225 | college = North Carolina | DOB = 1992–05–30 }}
{{player2 | num = 12 | first = Andrew | last = Bogut | pos = C | ft = 7 | in = 0 | lbs = 260 | college = Utah | DOB = 1984–11–28 | inj = yes }}
{{player2 | num = 21 | first = Ian | last = Clark | dab = basketball | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 175 | college = [[Belmont University|Belmont]] | DOB = 1991–03–07 }}
{{player2 | num = 30 | first = Stephen | last = Curry | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 190 | college = Davidson | DOB = 1988–03–14 | note = C }}
{{player2 | num = 31 | first = Festus | last = Ezeli | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 265 | college = Vanderbilt | DOB = 1989–10–21 }}
{{player2 | num = 23 | first = Draymond | last = Green | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 230 | college = Michigan State | DOB = 1990–03–04 | note = C }}
{{player2 | num = 9 | first = Andre | last = Iguodala | pos = G/F | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 215 | college = Arizona | DOB = 1984–01–28 }}
{{player2 | num = 34 | first = Shaun | last = Livingston | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 192 | school = [[Peoria High School (Peoria, Illinois)|Peoria Central HS (IL)]] | DOB = 1985–09–11 }}
{{player2 | num = 36 | first = Kevon | last = Looney | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 220 | college = UCLA | DOB = 1996–02–06 | inj = yes }}
{{player2 | num = 20 | first = James Michael | last = McAdoo | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 240 | college = North Carolina | DOB = 1993–01–04 }}
{{player2 | num = 4 | first = Brandon | last = Rush | pos = G/F | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 220 | college = Kansas | DOB = 1985–07–07 }}
{{player2 | num = 5 | first = Marreese | last = Speights | pos = F/C | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 255 | college = Florida | DOB = 1987–08–04 }}
{{player2 | num = 11 | first = Klay | last = Thompson | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 215 | college = Washington State | DOB = 1990–02–08 }}
{{player2 | num = 18 | first = Anderson | last = Varejão | pos = F/C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 273 | from = Brazil | DOB = 1982–09–28 }}
<!-- end player list -->
{{NBA roster footer
| head_coach =
* [[Steve Kerr]]
| asst_coach =
* [[Ron Adams]]
* [[Jarron Collins]]
* [[Luke Walton]]
* [[Bruce Fraser (basketball)|Bruce Fraser]] (player development)
| otherlegend = '''(DL)''' On [[assignment (NBA D-League)|assignment]] to D-League affiliate
| roster_url = http://www.nba.com/warriors/roster/
| transaction_url = http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/teams/Golden-State-Warriors/9/Transaction_History
| accessdate = 2016–06–14
}}

==Player statistics==
{{NBA roster statistics legend}}

;Cleveland Cavaliers
{{NBA roster statistics start|team=Cleveland Cavaliers}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Matthew|Dellavedova}} || 6 || 0 || 7.6 || .263 || .167 || .833 || 0.5 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 2.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Channing|Frye}} || 4 || 0 || 8.3 || .000 || .000 || '''1.000''' || 0.8 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.5 || 0.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Kyrie|Irving}} || 7 || 7 || 39.0 || .468 || '''.405''' || .939 || 3.9 || 3.9 || 2.1 || 0.7 || 27.1
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|LeBron|James}} || 7 || 7 || '''41.7''' || .494 || .371 || .721 || '''11.3''' || '''8.9''' || '''2.6''' || '''2.3''' || '''29.7'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Richard|Jefferson}} || 7 || 2 || 24.0 || .516 || .167 || .636 || 5.3 || 0.4 || 1.3 || 0.1 || 5.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Dahntay|Jones}} || 6 || 0 || 3.0 || .500 || .000 || .800 || 0.3 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.2 || 1.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|James|Jones|dab=basketball player}} || 5 || 0 || 4.0 || .000 || .000 || .250 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Kevin|Love}} || 6 || 5 || 26.3 || .362 || .263 || .706 || 6.8 || 1.3 || 0.7 || 0.3 || 8.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Jordan|McRae}} || 1 || 0 || 3.0 || '''1.000''' || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 4.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Timofey|Mozgov}} || 5 || 0 || 5.0 || .333 || .000 || .750 || 1.6 || 0.0 || 0.6 || 0.2 || 1.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Iman|Shumpert}} || 7 || 0 || 18.3 || .304 || .267 || '''1.000''' || 1.6 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 0.3 || 3.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|J. R.|Smith}} || 7 || 7 || 37.3 || .400 || .356 || .667 || 2.7 || 1.6 || 1.4 || 0.3 || 10.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Tristan|Thompson}} || 7 || 7 || 32.3 || .636 || .000 || .533 || 10.1 || 0.7 || 0.3 || 0.9 || 10.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Mo|Williams}} || 6 || 0 || 4.8 || .333 || .200 || .000 || 0.5 || 0.2 || 0.5 || 0.0 || 1.5
{{s-end}}

;Golden State Warriors
{{NBA roster statistics start|team=Golden State Warriors}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Leandro|Barbosa}} || 6 || 0 || 13.1 || .643 || .500 || .727 || 1.0 || 0.8 || 0.5 || 0.2 || 8.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Harrison|Barnes}} || 7 || 7 || 31.7 || .352 || .310 || .600 || 4.4 || 1.4 || 0.7 || 0.4 || 9.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Andrew|Bogut}} || 5 || 5 || 12.0 || .471 || .000 || .000 || 3.0 || 0.6 || 0.4 || '''2.0''' || 3.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Ian|Clark|dab=basketball}} || 4 || 0 || 4.8 || .625 || '''.600''' || .000 || 0.8 || 0.5 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 3.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Stephen|Curry}} || 7 || 7 || 35.1 || .403 || .400 || .929 || 4.9 || 3.7 || 0.9 || 0.7 || '''22.6'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Festus|Ezeli}} || 7 || 1 || 8.6 || .300 || .000 || .500 || 1.9 || 0.4 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 2.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Draymond|Green}} || 6 || 6 || '''40.0''' || .486 || .406 || .783 || '''10.3''' || '''6.3''' || '''1.7''' || 1.0 || 16.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Andre|Iguodala}} || 7 || 2 || 34.1 || .466 || .304 || .333 || 6.3 || 4.1 || 0.9 || 0.7 || 9.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Shaun|Livingston}} || 7 || 0 || 21.1 || .511 || .000 || .857 || 3.4 || 2.9 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 8.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|James Michael|McAdoo}} || 3 || 0 || 6.1 || '''1.000''' || .000 || .000 || 1.3 || 0.3 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Brandon|Rush}} || 1 || 0 || 5.5 || .000 || .000 || .500 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.4 || 0.2 || 0.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Marreese|Speights}} || 7 || 0 || 4.7 || .222 || .400 || '''1.000''' || 1.3 || 0.3 || 0.1 || 0.3 || 2.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Klay|Thompson}} || 7 || 7 || 35.3 || .427 || .350 || .786 || 3.0 || 1.9 || 1.0 || 0.6 || 19.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{sortname|Anderson|Varejão}} || 6 || 0 || 6.9 || .000 || .000 || .500 || 1.3 || 1.0 || 0.2 || 0.0 || 1.2
{{s-end}}

==Broadcast==
In the United States, the NBA Finals aired on ABC with [[Mike Breen]] as play-by-play commentator, and [[Mark Jackson (basketball)|Mark Jackson]] and [[Jeff Van Gundy]] serving as [[color commentator]]s. ESPN Radio aired it as well and had [[Kevin Calabro]] and [[Hubie Brown]] as commentators. [[ESPN Deportes]] provided exclusive Spanish-language coverage of The Finals, with a commentary team of [[Álvaro Martín (sports announcer)|Álvaro Martín]] and Carlos Morales.<ref>{{cite web|last=Carafdo|first=Ben|title=2016 NBA Finals Tip Off June 2 Exclusively on ABC: Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers|url=http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2016/05/2016-nba-finals-tip-off-june-2-exclusively-abc-golden-state-warriors-vs-cleveland-cavaliers/|accessdate=June 1, 2016}}</ref>

===Television ratings===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Game !! [[Nielsen ratings|Ratings]]<br />(households) !! American audience<br />(in millions)
|-
! 1
| 11.1<ref>{{cite web|author=Teri Couch|url=http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2016/06/nba-finals-watched-highest-rated-game-1-ever-abc/|title=NBA Finals Was Most-Watched & Highest-Rated Game 1 Ever on ABC|website=ESPN MediaZone|date=June 3, 2016|access-date=June 3, 2016}}</ref> || 19.20<ref>{{cite web|author=Rick Porter|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/06/03/thursday-final-ratings-june-2-2016/|title=Thursday final ratings: NBA Finals tops 2015's Game 1, 'Big Bang' adjusts up, 'American Grit' down|website=[[TV by the Numbers]]|date=June 3, 2016|accessdate=June 3, 2016}}</ref>
|-
! 2
| 9.8<ref>{{cite web|author=Paulsen|url=http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2016/06/nba-finals-ratings-warriors-blowout-cavs-game-two-viewership/|title=Game 2 of NBA Finals Holds Up Well Despite Blowout|website=Sports Media Watch|date=June 8, 2016|access-date=June 8, 2016}}</ref> || 17.49<ref>{{cite web|author=Rick Porter|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/06/07/sunday-final-ratings-june-5-2016/|title=Sunday final ratings: Miss USA adjusts up, plus final NBA numbers|website=[[TV by the Numbers]]|date=June 8, 2016|accessdate=June 8, 2016}}</ref>
|-
! 3
| 9.7<ref>{{cite web|author=Paulsen|url=http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2016/06/nba-finals-ratings-down-cavaliers-warriors-blowout-abc-viewership/|title=Stinkers Sinking NBA Finals, But Numbers Still Big|website=Sports Media Watch|date=June 9, 2016|access-date=June 9, 2016}}</ref> || 16.47<ref>{{cite web|author=Rick Porter|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/06/09/wednesday-final-ratings-june-8-2016/|title=Wednesday final ratings: NBA Finals adjust up but lowest of series so far|website=[[TV by the Numbers]]|date=June 9, 2016|accessdate=June 9, 2016}}</ref>
|-
! 4
| 9.8<ref>{{cite web|author=Paulsen|url=http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2016/06/nba-finals-ratings-down-abc-warriors-cavaliers-game-four-viewership/|title=Closer Game, But No Cigar For NBA Finals|website=Sports Media Watch|date=June 14, 2016|access-date=June 14, 2016}}</ref> || 16.57<ref>{{cite web|author=Rick Porter|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/06/13/friday-final-ratings-june-10-2016/|title=Friday final ratings: Final NBA and Copa America numbers, 'Masters of Illusion' adjusts down|website=[[TV by the Numbers]]|date=June 13, 2016|accessdate=June 13, 2016}}</ref>
|-
! 5
| 11.8<ref>{{cite web|author=Paulsen|url=http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2016/06/nba-finals-ratings-abc-cavaliers-warriors-viewership-game-five/|title=NBA Finals Has Another Viewership Dip, But Nears Post-Jordan High|website=Sports Media Watch|date=June 14, 2016|access-date=June 14, 2016}}</ref> || 20.53<ref>{{cite web|author=Rick Porter|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/06/14/monday-final-ratings-june-13-2016/|title=Monday final ratings: 'So You Think You Can Dance' adjusts up, 'Reign' and 'Whose Line' ajdust down, final NBA numbers|website=[[TV by the Numbers]]|date=June 14, 2016|accessdate=June 14, 2016}}</ref>
|-
! 6
| 11.8<ref>{{cite web|author=Paulsen|url=http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2016/06/nba-finals-ratings-down-cavaliers-warriors-abc-game-six-viewership/|title=Despite Fifth Straight Decline, NBA Finals Strong Entering Game 7|website=Sports Media Watch|date=June 17, 2016|access-date=June 17, 2016}}</ref> || 20.70<ref>{{cite web|author=Rick Porter|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/06/17/thursday-final-ratings-june-16-2016/|title=Thursday final ratings: NBA Finals hits a high for 2016|website=[[TV by the Numbers]]|date=June 17, 2016|accessdate=June 17, 2016}}</ref>
|-
! 7
| 15.8<ref>{{cite web|author=Paulsen|url=http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2016/06/nba-finals-ratings-game-seven-most-watched-1998-cavaliers-warriors/|title=LeBron, Cleveland's Game 7 Triumph Tops 30 Million Viewers|website=Sports Media Watch|date=June 20, 2016|access-date=June 21, 2016}}</ref> || 31.02<ref>{{cite web|author=Rick Porter|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/06/21/sunday-final-ratings-june-19-2016/|title=Sunday final ratings: NBA Finals Game 7 adjusts up a little more|website=[[TV by the Numbers]]|date=June 21, 2016|accessdate=June 21, 2016}}</ref>
|-
! Avg
| style="padding-right: 1.8em" |'''11.4'''|| style="padding-right: 1.8em" |'''20.28'''
|}

== See also ==
* [[Big Three (Cleveland Cavaliers)]]
* [[Death lineup]]
* [[Cavaliers–Warriors rivalry]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{portal|National Basketball Association}}
*[http://www.nba.com/playoffs/2016/finals/index.html Official website]
*[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2016-nba-finals-cavaliers-vs-warriors.html 2016 NBA Finals] at Basketball-Reference.com

{{NBA Finals}}
{{Cleveland Cavaliers 2015–16 NBA champions}}
{{Cleveland Cavaliers}}
{{Golden State Warriors}}
{{2015–16 NBA season by team}}
{{NBA on ABC}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2016 NBA Finals}}
[[Category:2015–16 NBA season|Finals]]
[[Category:National Basketball Association Finals]]
[[Category:Golden State Warriors games|NBA]]
[[Category:Cleveland Cavaliers games|NBA]]
[[Category:2016 in sports in California]]
[[Category:2016 in sports in Ohio]]
[[Category:2010s in Oakland, California]]
[[Category:2010s in Cleveland]]
[[Category:June 2016 sports events in the United States]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Oakland, California]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Cleveland]]

Revision as of 16:35, 18 April 2018

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