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James, Cavaliers set for Finals rematch with Spurs

Jan 17, 2008 - 2:01 PM Cleveland (20-18) at San Antonio (25-11) 8:00 pm EST

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Last June, the San Antonio Spurs made quick work of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers en route to their fourth NBA championship in the last nine years.

The Cavaliers are hoping to exact a small measure of revenge when they visit the Spurs on Thursday.

Cleveland managed more than 82 points just once while getting swept in the Finals by San Antonio last season, and James shot just 36 percent (32-of-90) in the series.

But the Cavaliers should enter Thursday's contest feeling good about themselves after posting a 132-124 overtime victory against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. James scored 51 points, pulled down eight rebounds and dished out nine assists in the win, Cleveland's seventh in its last eight games.

James has led the Cavs in scoring in each of the last 14 games, and is tops in the NBA at over 29 points per game. The 23-year-old superstar is second in the Eastern Conference in fan voting for the All-Star game, trailing only Boston's Kevin Garnett.

Tim Duncan and the Spurs just keep rolling. The model of consistency, San Antonio is one-half game shy of the best record in the Western Conference and Duncan is averaging a double-double at 18.6 points and 10.6 rebounds.

The Spurs are the third-best defensive team in the NBA, allowing just 92.0 points per game. The backcourt duo of Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are handling the bulk of the scoring thus far, averaging 19.1 and 20.1 points, respectively.