Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors: What You Need to Know

CLEVELAND, OH - The Cleveland Cavaliers are set to do battle with their heated opponent the Golden State Warriors tonight. The last time the two teams met was Christmas Day when the Cavs won on a last second buzzer beater from point guard Kyrie Irving.

The battle between these two teams is quickly becoming the defining storyline of the contemporary NBA. While LeBron James insists the Warriors aren't his rivals, these two teams have a chance to do something the NBA has never seen before: Meet three straight times in the NBA Finals.

Every time the two teams play there are All-Stars and MVPs hustling all over the court. Steph Curry and Kevin Durant have both won the league's highest honor (though Durant's came as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder), and James has won the award more than a couple times. The stakes always feel higher during these battles. Maybe it's the collective star power or the nostalgic feeling of watching a knock-off Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers rivalry.

Here's what you need to know to not miss a minute of action:

When: 8 p.m. EST

Where: Oracle Arena in Oakland

Where to Watch: TNT

Head Coaches: Tyronn Lue (Cavaliers) vs Steve Kerr (Warriors)

Players to Watch: Kyrie Irving - He has proven to be the Luke Skywalker to the Warrior's collective Death Star. Every time Cleveland needs a clutch shot, Irving is there, putting on the blinders and letting the force whirl him around the court (or Klay Thompson). He may not hit a third straight game winner against the team from Oakland, but he'll be worth watching tonight.

It'll also be worth watching to see if the Warrior's figure out their 4th quarter offense. Earlier this season, the Warriors' mercurial forward Draymond Green complained that the team didn't seem to know what it was doing with the game on the line. In a pressurized environment against their biggest rivals, will Golden State figure out how to win a game?

Let's hope not.

The last player to watch won't necessarily be the most influential on the game's outcome. However, new acquisition Kyle Korver started to come on in Sacramento, going 7-for-10 from the field and logging 18 points. The question for the 35-year-old will be can he stay on the floor against Golden State's vaunted "Death" lineup. We'll see if his defense can hold up.

Watch Irving's previous game winners below:

Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch