Splash Brothers quiet but Warriors’ bench roars in Game 1 win

2:51 AM ET

OAKLAND, Calif. — Basketball is bigger than Stephen Curry and LeBron James, even if it doesn’t feel that way at times. This NBA Finals is billed as a battle of superstars, perhaps a test to see who reigns as “face of the league.” The Golden State Warriors’ 104-89 Game 1 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers served as a reminder that stars aren’t the cosmos, and that the teams beyond the stars matter immensely.

When Curry was asked Wednesday if he had surpassed James as the NBA’s favored visage, he rejected the premise. “It’s really annoying for me,” Curry said. “That’s not what I’m playing for, to be the face of the NBA or to be this or that or to take LeBron’s throne or whatever. You know, I’m trying to chase rings, and that’s all I’m about. So, that’s where the conversation stops for me.”

That has been a Curry talking point of late, the idea that his responsibility is to do his job, that he’s merely working in service of a great team. It’s a sentiment he validated by playing poorly Thursday (4-of-15, 11 points), as his team still managed to control the Cavs. It’s a sentiment that’s perhaps especially true in Oakland, where coach Steve Kerr’s bench tends to perform far better.

Who were the stars Thursday? Shaun Livingston burned brightest, having suddenly reanimated from the deep carbonite freeze of the Oklahoma City series. Freed of the harrowing Thunder length, Livingston was brilliant, scoring 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting.

“Well, I think, first of all, [Livingston] just played a great game, but I …

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