Kyrie Irving told the media that his health has been steady since the end of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Irving sat out Games 2 and 3 of that series with knee tendonitis.
Irving expects to start out defending Stephen Curry, but added that it will be a team effort to limit his effectiveness.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors have a combined 24-5 record in the playoffs this season, which is the best record of the two teams in The Finals since the 1991 edition featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls (22-4).
The Cavaliers swept the Boston Celtics in the first round, defeated the Chicago Bulls in six games in the second round and swept the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Warriors swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round, defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in six games in the second round and defeated the Houston Rockets in five games in the Western Conference Finals.
The Golden State Warriors are 5-12 favorites to win The Finals, according to Vegas sportsbooks. The Cleveland Cavaliers are underdogs at 2-1.
"We made the Warriors a six-point favorite in Game 1, then we took the next six games and played it out," said Jeff Sherman, head NBA oddsmaker for the SuperBook. "We take who would be the favorite in each game, by how many points and what the money line would be. We then put individual prices in and it calculates what the series price should be."
The Cavaliers were longshots at 60-1 to win The Finals this season prior to LeBron James signing with the club, but the books don't have a troublesome amount of liability on those bets.
"We had them at 60-1, but as soon as the rumors started, we dropped it down to 20-1, and then when LeBron announced he was coming back, it was down to 5-2," Sherman said.
Jay Rood, the head of the race and sportsbook for MGM Resorts, said his book across 12 properties took about 20 bets at 50-1 on the Cavs before James signed, which is a blip when considering how many total bets were made.
The Warriors opened at 25-1 and that number came down as the season progressed, but the books made money off future bets on the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs and even the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Cleveland Cavaliers ranked just 18th in defensive rating during the regular season, but they became a vastly improved side on that end of the floor following the acquisition of Timofey Mozgov.
During the playoffs, the Cavaliers have become even better on defense, allowing 101.9 points per 100 possessions during 14 games against the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks.
The Golden State Warriors were the best team in the regular season on the defensive end, allowing 101.4 points per 100 possessions. In the playoffs, they're also allowing 101.4 points per 100 possessions.
On the offensive end, the Cavaliers scored 111.1 points per 100 possessions, which ranked third in the regular behind the Warriors at 111.6.
The playoffs is heavily skewed by the quality of the competition.
Regular Season (Off / Def / EDiff)
Warriors: 111.6 / 101.4 / 10.3
Cavaliers: 111.1 / 106.3 / 4.8
Warriors: 109.9 / 101.4 / 8.5
Cavaliers: 111.5 / 101.9 / 9.7
Klay Thompson developed concussion-like symptoms following the Golden State Warriors' Game 5 win over the Houston Rockets.
If it is ruled that he had a concussion, he would be required to follow the NBA's concussion protocol.
Thompson had been hit in the head by Trevor Ariza at the 9:31 mark of the fourth quarter (Vine), when the Rockets forward bit on a pump-fake and jumped so high that his knee hit Thompson's ear.
Thompson went to the locker room at that time, and was put through a concussion evaluation by the Warriors' medical staff. According to a team release, he did not show any concussion-like symptoms then, but later began "to not feel well and developed concussion-like symptoms."
ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported on Thursday morning that Thompson threw up a few times on Thursday night, but felt better afterwards.
Dwight Howard received his seventh technical of the playoffs during the second quarter of Game 5 following an tepid altercation with Andrew Bogut (Vine).
Howard would have been suspended for Game 6.
The NBA also could have rescinded the technical, which is now a moot point.
Playoff technicals don't carry over to the beginning of the next regular season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will play Kyrie Irving in Game 4 with a 25-minute time limit.
Irving has missed the past two games with knee tendonitis.
Irving visited Dr. James Andrew before Game 2.
Irving will also start in the game.
The NBA has decided to not upgrade the flagrant foul one committed by Dwight Howard in Game 4.
Howard elbowed Andrew Bogut and some said it could be upgraded to a flagrant foul two, which would have resulted in a suspension for Howard.
"Howard was trying to extricate himself from Bogut and recklessly hit him the face with an open hand. The contact was unnecessary but not deemed excessive by the officials working the game with the aid of the replace center. And we don't see a reason to modify that," said Rod Thorn.
Kyrie Irving has missed Games 2 and 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but there is a growing optimism that he'll play in Game 4.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are ahead 3-0 in the series against Atlanta Hawks.
Irving is dealing with knee tendonitis.
LeBron James received IV treatments following Game 3 when he cramped up during the overtime period.
James briefly motioned towards the Cleveland Cavaliers' bench for a sub before he changed his mind and remained in the game. James also cramped up in Game 1 of the 2014 NBA Finals in San Antonio.
James admitted to receiving the IV, but declined to elaborate on his ailments.
James said he’s getting so much treatment, he’s getting tired of seeing athletic trainer Mike Mancias.
“(Mancias has) almost moved in with me,” James said. “We have a very tight bond at this point.”
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