The Cleveland Cavaliers tip off their season against the New York Knicks at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland (7:30 p.m. ET). Here are a few interesting nuggets heading into the matchup:
Each of the last four defending champions won their season opener; the last defending champion to lose on opening night was the Dallas Mavericks in 2011-12, against LeBron James and the Heat.
The Cavs have won six straight games vs. Knicks; their only loss to Knicks since James returned to Cleveland was their season opener in 2014-15.
LeBron James is 2-7 in season openers with Cleveland. He has lost five straight season openers with Cavs (last win: 2006-07 vs. Wizards)
What's at stake for King James in 2016-17:
LeBron is seeking seventh straight NBA Finals appearance. James could become first player in NBA history to reach Finals four times with two different teams
James enters season needing 114 points to pass Hakeem Olajuwon and move into top 10 on NBA's all-time scoring list; he can realistically reach No. 7 this season (would pass Olajuwon, Elvin Hayes, Moses Malone and Shaquille O'Neal).
He's seeking his 10th consecutive 1st-team All-NBA selection, 12th consecutive top-5 finish in MVP voting (would tie K. Abdul-Jabbar for longest streak ever) and if he's name MVP, he would become fourth player with five MVP awards (Abdul-Jabbar, Jordan and Russell)
Cleveland rocks:
This will be the 17th occurrence of an NBA and MLB team reaching the championship round from one city in the same year.
*7 times the MLB team won and the NBA team did not
*4 times the NBA team won and the MLB team did not
*3 times neither team won* 2 times both teams won
*2 times both teams won
Cities to reached NBA Finals and World Series in same year:
*New York -- 6 times (Last 2003)
*Los Angeles -- 5 (Last 2002)
*Philadelphia -- 2 (Last 1983)
*Cleveland -- 1 (Last 2016)
*Dallas -- 1 (Last 2011)
*Boston -- 1 (Last 1986)
*Baltimore -- 1 (Last 1971)
When the Cavs won the title on June 19th, it had been 18,802 days since Cleveland's last title. Tuesday, when the Indians begin their quest for a World Series, it will have been 128 days since Cleveland's last title.