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Obama refuses to take sides in NBA championship but openly roots for NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks

WASHINGTON – The avid sports fan who occupies the Oval Office is refusing to take sides as the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors battle for the NBA championship.

President Barack Obama told the entertainment news show “Extra” on Thursday that both teams are playing incredible basketball.

Obama said LeBron James is playing “unbelievably” for Cleveland and that he thinks Golden State’s Steph Curry will “pick it back up” after a “couple of bad games.”

Obama was interviewed at the White House on Thursday before the Warriors won Game 4, tying the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

The former senator from Illinois is taking a stand on the NHL’s Stanley Cup, however. He wants the Chicago Blackhawks to win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. That series is tied 2-2.

Later Thursday, Obama took in part of a charity baseball game between congressional Republicans and Democrats. The game was played at Nationals Park the night before a major House vote on trade policy.

“Extra” was airing the interview Thursday and Friday.

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