EditorsNote: Adds write-thru with quotes.
Advertisement
The Cavaliers advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight season and will await the victor of the Toronto Raptors-Miami Heat series.
He was helped by Russell Westbrook’s 14 points and 15 rebounds, while Dion Waiters (17 points), Steven Adams (16) and Enes Kanter (11) also reached double figures.
When James returned to Cleveland after four years in South Beach, winning the franchise’s first championship was the only goal that mattered.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) ” Kevin Durant matched his career playoff high with 41 points as Oklahoma beat San Antonio to tie the Western Conference semifinal series 2-2.
After draining 25 and 21 three-pointers, respectively, in the prior two contests, the Cavs’ long-range prowess continued from the beginning in Game 4, and they wound up with 16 makes on 37 attempts from downtown.
“We had to focus on getting a stop”, Lue said.
The second half started the same way the first ended, with the Cavs making threes.
Schroder paced a balanced Atlanta offense with 21 points. He opened up the third quarter on fire, drilling three early 3-pointers and gave the Cavs their first lead since early in the first quarter at 68-66 with just over three minutes gone in the second half. James converted an in-close basket when Millsap was called for goaltending with 1:16 left.
As Schroder drove into the lane, James switched off his man. Schroder slipped and was tied up for a jump ball with 2.8 seconds remaining.
The Cavs now advance to face the victor of the Raptors-Heat series in the Eastern Conference Finals.
We all remember what the consensus feeling was once the Cavs traded for Kevin Love two summers ago. “He did exactly what we dared him to do”.
Paul Millsap finished with 19 points, and nine rebounds for Atlanta in the defeat. He was fouled on one long-range shot, knocking down a free throw for a four-point play, and his only basket that wasn’t a 3 was a jumper with his toe on the line. Cleveland led 79-75 and looked poised to put away the Hawks in the fourth. Millsap got ahold of the ball, but didn’t have time for much of anything.
Maybe eight games is enough, at least this time around, to shine a light on the path ahead.
“They out-toughed us”, said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who pointed to the Thunder’s 40-34 advantage in rebounding as well as a solid contribution from the Thunder’s role players in backing up Durant.
In the end, he wasn’t able to get the shot off before the buzzer. “They have always taken me in from the very first day, even though I was a Gator”. “It could mean a lot for us down the stretch”.
They have done it with the Washington Wizards in the 2007 First Round, twice with the Atlanta Hawks in the 2009 Second Round and 2015 Conference Finals, with the Boston Celtics in the 2015 First Round and twice with Detroit Pistons in 2007 and 2009 First Round. If the series wraps up in six games or less, Game 1 will take place on Sunday afternoon at The Q; if it goes seven, the Wine and Gold will have to wait until next Tuesday night. They may lose Al Horford, Teague, and Kent Bazemore this offseason, and if they do many more departures will probably come in the coming years. Teague said when asked if he saw himself back with the Hawks next season.
Advertisement
“I’ve been here for a long time, feel good being here”, he said. “I love coach (Mike Budenholzer)”. Sunday’s win allowed the Cavaliers to match the National Basketball Association record of 12 consecutive playoff wins over a single opponent….
