
No. 2 scorer Stojakovic returns to loaded Illinois
Andrej Stojakovic is back at Illinois for his senior year, boosting their title hopes!
LeBron James and Kevin Durant will face off in their fourth playoff series starting Saturday at 5:30 p.m. PT. This matchup marks the first time they meet in the postseason before the NBA Finals.
On Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Pacific time, the Los Angeles Lakers will host the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. That means LeBron James will go up against Kevin Durant for up to seven games in a row.
James and Durant are, along with Stephen Curry, the greatest players the NBA has seen over the last 10 to 15 years. Both have won MVPs, scoring titles, championships and numerous other individual honors, and the story of basketball cannot be told without telling the stories of both men.
While their rivalry isn't quite as riveting as the one between James and Curry, let alone the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird rivalry of the 1980s, it is still one that is at least something close to must-see television. The two superstar forwards will be meeting for the fourth time in the playoffs, and it will be the first time they have met in the postseason before the NBA Finals.
Here is a look at those three previous championship clashes between James and Durant.
The playoff game is scheduled for Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Pacific time.
LeBron James and Kevin Durant have faced each other three times in the playoffs prior to this series.
LeBron James plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, while Kevin Durant plays for the Houston Rockets.
This matchup is significant as it is the first time James and Durant are meeting in the postseason before the NBA Finals.

Andrej Stojakovic is back at Illinois for his senior year, boosting their title hopes!

LaMelo Ball relieved Bam Adebayo's injury isn't serious after tripping him in game.

Get ready for $150 train fares from NYC to MetLife Stadium for World Cup matches!

Texans and Will Anderson Jr. agree to historic $150M extension!
Are the Red Sox putting too much pressure on Roman Anthony?
Exploring Trey Kaufman-Renn's Unique Journey at Purdue Basketball
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 12: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat posts up Kevin Durant #35 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first quarter in Game One of the 2012 NBA Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 12, 2012 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
At the time, James was 27 years of age and still ringless. He had joined Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat the previous season amidst tremendous hype, but their maiden voyage together ended in disaster with a six-game loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the finals.
In 2012, James was calmer, more collected and a little more mature. With Miami facing a 3-2 deficit against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals, he responded with 45 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a Game 6 blowout win, then he put up 31 points in Game 7 to send the Heat back to the NBA Finals.
There, they met Durant's Oklahoma City Thunder, who also had a young Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Durant had just won his third straight scoring title at the tender age of 23, but the Thunder were no match for the Heat, who prevailed in five games.
James' stats: 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists a game
Durant's stats: 30.6 points, six rebounds, 2.2 assists a game
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 04: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is defended by Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors during the second half of Game 2 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 4, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
After winning back-to-back titles with the Heat, James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 and faced Curry's Golden State Warriors in the next two championship series. The Cavs lost in 2015 after co-star Kyrie Irving got injured in Game 1, but they overcame a 3-1 series deficit to knock off the Warriors the following year after the Warriors had won a record 73 regular-season games.
Golden State responded by signing Durant away from the Thunder. This time around, Durant was searching for his first ring, and his new squad was thought by some to be invincible. But there was also a feeling among some that Cleveland could prevail if it outhustled, outfought and outsmarted the Warriors.
None of that happened. The Warriors jumped out to a 3-0 series lead after Durant hit a clutch jumper over James late in Game 3. After Cleveland managed a Game 4 victory, Golden State closed it out at home in Game 5. Durant was now a made man, not to mention the finals MVP.
James' stats: 33.6 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists a game
Durant's stats: 35.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists a game
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 31: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors defended by LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on May 31, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
This time, Irving had departed for the Boston Celtics, and James had a decent but not great supporting cast. The Cavaliers won a modest 50 games during the regular season, and while James played sensational basketball in the first three rounds of the playoffs, they were huge underdogs versus Durant and the Warriors.
James had 51 points in Game 1, but Cleveland lost 124-114 in overtime after J.R. Smith mistakenly dribbled out the clock at the end of regulation, thinking the team was ahead. After that, it was no contest. The Warriors swept their way to another world championship, and Durant was the series MVP again.
James' stats: 34 points, 8.5 rebounds, 10 assists a game
Durant's stats: 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 7.5 assists a game
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: A look at past playoff battles between LeBron James and Kevin Durant