Curry hopes locker room at The Q 'still smells like champagne'

Monday marks the first meeting between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers since the defending champs' 89-83 victory over the Cavs on Christmas Day.

It will also be the first time the Warriors have stepped foot on the Cavs' home turf since knocking off LeBron James and Co. in the 2015 NBA Finals.

As the much-anticipated grudge match at Quicken Loans Arena approaches, Stephen Curry's recollections of last summer are informed by his olfactory system.

"Obviously, walking in the locker room, it'll be good memories," he told the Bay Area News Group's Diamond Leung on Sunday. "Hopefully, it still smells a little bit like champagne."

Despite the Warriors' virtual dominance over the rest of the league this season, the Cavs' dynamic duo of James and Kyrie Irving feel they have come a long way in recent weeks.

"I believe we're just more aware of what's going on," Irving told Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon. "Despite what's going on outside our locker room, doesn't really matter. That rage is still burning inside us. We all share it and we definitely have a chip on our shoulder and we need that."

The Cavs will require said "chip" as the equally motivated Warriors (37-4) aim to surpass the 72-10 regular-season record set by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.

For his part, James remains as confident as ever.

"I know we can compete with any team in the league and it doesn't have to be a regular-season game. ... You give us four games and it's time to lock down in a playoff series, we can play and we can beat any team in this league, so that's my feeling and that's what I know," he said.

While the infinitely energetic Draymond Green expects Monday's match to be a high-octane affair, he knows his team must remain focused, saying: "We've definitely got some great memories in that building, but that means nothing for tomorrow. We've got to come out with an edge."