The 2015 NBA playoffs continue Wednesday with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Atlanta Hawks. Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. ET. Watch the live stream or listen to the radio broadcast via the links below.
Atlanta hasn't looked like the East's No. 1 seed en route to the conference finals. The Hawks lost twice to the Brooklyn Nets in the opening round and twice to the Washington Wizards in the second round. Their second-round series against Washington, though, was unsettling close. The three straight wins by Atlanta that closed out the series were decided by a total of nine points, including by one point in Game 5 and three points - Paul Pierce's game-tying 3-pointer arguably came 0.1 seconds too late - in Game 6.
Cleveland, meanwhile, had five much-needed days off to rest and to heal. Cavaliers star LeBron James sprained his ankle during the team's six-game series against the Chicago Bulls, and star Kyrie Irving has been battling with foot and a knee injury in separate legs. Neither player will sit out for Game 1 Wednesday night, and Irving, whose injuries are more of a hindrance, has been adamant throughout the playoffs about not missing any games in his first ever postseason.
And on the subject of his first postseason, Irving suggested James's experience and leadership has been huge for the team's younger players.
"He has been a great leader for us," Irving told the Associated Press. "In terms of learning the nuances of the game and also how to win on the court and also how to carry ourselves off the court, I feel like he's been a great influence in that role."
Watch the live stream HERE, or listen to the radio broadcast HERE (CLE) and HERE (ATL).
