Here are 7 things to know about Game 7:
Reverse the curse: Cleveland Curse. Mistake by the Lake. Factory of Sadness.
Take your pick. They all sum up Cleveland’s lack of a major sports championship (NFL, MLB, NBA) since the Browns beat the Baltimore Colts 27-0 on Dec. 27, 1964.
Since then the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians have combined to go 147 seasons without a championship. And often in gut-wrenching endings.
Red Right 88, The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot and The Shot II all hold spots in Cleveland’s list of sports lowlights.
The Indians’ last World Series title came in 1948. They got close in 1995, leading the Florida Marlins 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th in Game 7. There’s no catchy name, but you know how it ends.
You know the sports fans are starved for a championship after giving Euclid’s Stipe Miocic a hero’s welcome after winning the UFC heavyweight title on May 14. The Lake Erie Monsters won the AHL’s Calder Cup last week.
>> Where to get a drink and cheer on the Cavs
Third time a charm?: In the NBA Finals, 32 teams have trailed 3-1. Three have rallied to force a Game 7. Zero have capped the comeback with a championship.
When the Cavaliers beat the Warriors 115-101 in Game 6 on Thursday, they joined the 1966 Los Angeles Lakers and 1951 New York Knicks as teams to even the series at 3-3.
Both the Lakers and Knicks lost Game 7. But the Cavs can take confidence that both games were close. The Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics 95-93. The Knicks lost to the Rochester Royals 79-75.
Game 7 is either going to end the curse in the most un-Cleveland way imaginable or continue the town’s misery in the most Cleveland-way possible.
Fab five: After consecutive 41-point efforts, Cleveland's LeBron James became the fifth player in NBA history to score 40 or more points in back-to-back NBA Finals games and first since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000. Rick West, Rick Barry and Michael Jordan also accomplished the feat.
James has been a one-man wrecking crew for the Cavs this postseason. He leads Cleveland in points (26.3), rebounds (9.5), assists (7.5), steals (2.4) and blocks (1.2).
Don’t expect a letdown from James in Game 7. In five Game 7 playoff appearances, he averages 34.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
His teams are 3-2 in Game 7 appearances, including 1-0 in the finals.
Will the Cleveland Cavaliers bring home their first-ever NBA Championship Sunday? Find out what you need to know about Game 7 over at myDaytonDailyNews.com.
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