Cleveland, Golden State to ignore pain in quest for NBA glory (AFP)

Sore, tired and hurting players have enjoyed the longest-ever break before the NBA Finals, but it's time to play through the pain again because there's a championship at stake. The Cleveland Cavaliers, trying to end a 51-year title drought for their supremacy-starved city, face the Golden State Warriors, who have not won a crown in 40 years, in the best-of-seven series starting Thursday. Cleveland guard Kyrie Irving will play despite left knee tendinitis and a barely healed right foot injury while Golden State's Klay Thompson has been declared fit after suffering a concussion last week, taking a knee to the head in the Warriors' finals-clinching win.