Game 5 of the NBA Finals takes place Sunday, June 14, as the Cleveland Cavaliers hosts the visiting Golden State Warriors at the Oracle Arena for the pivotal game. Check out the LIVE video stream below from Oakland, California. The game is crucial for both teams as the winner in Game 5 will have the psychological advantage going into the last stretch of the Finals.
The series is currently tied 2-2 as the Warriors trounced the Cavaliers, 103-82, in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. And with Game 5 usually providing the outcome in NBA Finals history, the Cavaliers and the Warriors are expected to give their everything on Sunday's game.
LeBron James must work and deliver more than usual as his team is depending on him to carry them through the Finals. "Well, I'm in a spot where I have to be very productive, and that's just the spot I've always been in," James said in an interview Saturday.
He continued, "I think when you get to a championship-level type game with it being 2-2, I don't think anyone has the momentum. Obviously, everyone would say them because they're coming back home, and then after the game they had the other night, but the momentum starts once the game starts."
The Warriors was able to dominate Game 4 by effectively containing James. The Warriors defense limited James to just 20 points in Game 4 after averaging 41 through the first three games.
On Game 5 of the NBA Finals, the Warriors must continue to play a fast game and run screen-and-rolls with Stephen Curry and David Lee to get those points up, said the Bleacher Report. The Cavaliers have not found an adjustment to this type of game play from the Warriors.
The Warriors can also depend on its shooting guard Andre Iguodola as his energy proved to be effective in wearing down James on both ends of the floor. The Bleacher Report predicts a Warriors victory in Game 6 to capture an NBA Finals championship.
NBA Game 4 is Highest Rated on ABC
The 2015 NBA Finals is the highest-rated ever on ABC through four games, according to Nielsen. Thursday's Game 4 delivered a 13.9 overnight rating, which is the highest-rated Game 4 on ABC in over a decade and up 31 percent from a 10.6 for last year's Game 4 (Miami-San Antonio). The broadcast peaked with a 16.0 from 11:15-11:30 p.m. ET.
Locally, the NBA Finals on ABC continues to deliver big numbers. In the Cleveland market, Game 4 generated a 45.7 rating, which is the second-highest rated NBA game ever on ABC (Game 3 was the highest). In the San Francisco market, the broadcast delivered a 30.5 rating, which is the third-highest rated NBA game ever on ABC (Games 2 and 3 rank as the highest).
Through four games, the record-setting 2015 NBA Finals is averaging a 13.1 overnight rating, which is up 26 percent from a 10.4 last year.
Additionally, the NBA Finals is expected to win the night across all of television (broadcast and cable) for the 46th consecutive time.
NBA Countdown, ABC's NBA Finals pre-game show, posted a 4.8 overnight rating, which was up 23 percent from a 3.9 for last year's Game 4 pre-game show.
The NBA Finals continue to deliver record audiences on WatchESPN. Thursday's Game 4 drew 744,500 unique viewers and an average minute audience of 203,000.
The 2015 NBA Finals will continue with Game 5 on Sunday, June 13, at 8 p.m. on ABC. Mike Breen, in his record-setting 10th season as the voice of The Finals, will continue to provide commentary with analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson and reporter Doris Burke. NBA Countdown will precede the broadcast at 7:30 p.m. with host Sage Steele and analysts Jalen Rose and Doug Collins.
ABC has been the exclusive home of the NBA Finals since the 2002-03 season.
Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Cavaliers and Warriors will air Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on ABC. Because it will be aired via T.V. broadcast, online viewers can freely stream the game live on WatchESPN.com or through the WatchESPN app.
