The Cleveland Cavaliers will finally get their rematch with the Golden State Warriors, but it would not be for the Larry O’Brien trophy. The much-anticipated match-up of the Warriors and the Cavs will finally happen on Christmas Day at the Oracle Arena as a holiday present for basketball fans around the world.

The Warriors’ historical streak has ended, but their back-to-back title hopes are still very much alive, with the Dubs leading the entire league with a record of 27 wins and a single loss. Despite the absence of head coach Steve Kerr, the Warriors are still a force to reckon with the team’s efficient small ball lineup that helped them clinched the 2015 NBA championship.

Reigning MVP Stephen Curry, who leads the league in scoring with 31.8 points per game, is expected to lead the charge for the Warriors, along with Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and the team’s elite second unit. Harrison Barnes, who has not played in the last Warriors’ last 11 games due to an ankle injury, may play against the Cavs, according to Marc J Spears of Yahoo Sports as reported by CBS Sports.

Barnes was an integral part of the Warriors’ championship run and was a key player in containing Lebron James during the Finals in June. Barnes averaged 13.4 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field prior to his injury.

Meanwhile, the Cavs are looking to strengthen their place in a stacked Eastern Conference after winning all of their last six games. Cleveland also has the momentum heading into their Christmas Day showdown against the Warriors, with the return of All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving.

Irving returned to the Cavs’ lineup in the team’s 108-86 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, where the returning point guard scored 12 points on 17 minutes of play. Irving only played Game 1 of the Finals against Golden State after suffering a fractured knee cap, which force him into rehab for more than five months.

"The memories will come back as soon as we walk into the building," James said after the Cavs' 91-84 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday, reports ESPN. "But also understand that it's one of 82, and I'm not going to put everything into this game.”

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