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Cavs complete sweep over Hawks

The Cleveland Cavaliers will get plenty of rest before the start of the Eastern Conference Finals.

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Just as they did in Game 3 when they fell behind by 11 points in the third quarter but won because they didn’t panic, the Cavaliers didn’t wilt when they fell behind, 36-25, at the end of the first quarter on May 8.

“I believe it. I believe it in my heart”, center Al Horford said. “It’s what I genuinely enjoy about basketball, playing with great guys”.

The Cavaliers’ core – Love, James, and Kyrie Irving – combined for 69 points.

Now, fully healthy and finally comfortable together after some rocky moments, LeBron & Co. cruised into the conference final to meet either Toronto or Miami.

Cleveland will await the victor of Toronto and Miami, with the Raptors leading the series 2-1.

“We know exactly where we want to be on the floor”, said LeBron James, who is determined to advance to his sixth consecutive National Basketball Association finals.

Said Kevin Love about the Atlanta Hawks: “We knew they were gonna give us their best shot”.

Love carried Cleveland much of the game, hitting one 3-pointer after another as the Hawks continually left him open in the corner.

He had Stephen Curry like shooting today, as he went 8-15 from threes and scored 27. In Game 4, James made sure the Cavs would complete the sweep and led by example, almost getting a triple-double with 21 points, nine assists and 10 rebounds.

With a chance to take the lead, Schroder drove but had his shot rejected by Tristan Thompson. A fade-away jumper by LeBron James was the winning basket, but it might not have been if James hadn’t tied up Hawks guard Dennis Schroder with 2.8 seconds left as Schroder was driving to the hoop.

“I just tried to be aggressive and tried to get something out of it”, Schröder commented on the last play. I thought we made the right play. With a 7-inch height advantage, James flicked the ball toward the sideline. Paul Millsap wound up with it, flinging up a desperation shot, but it was after the buzzer and didn’t go in anyway.

Cleveland launched into a raucous celebration on Atlanta’s home court.

It’s the second straight season Atlanta has been swept out of the playoffs by James and the Cavaliers. With Cleveland seeded No. 1 this time, the result was the same. He scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, one more than the Spurs, and did so on 6-for-6 shooting. But Schroder scored twice during a quick 6-0 run to give Atlanta a 97-96 lead with 1:31 remaining. Off the inbounds pass, Matthew Dellavadova found James streaking into the lane and Millsap was called for goaltending as he went for the block. “I’ll think it [the block] was all summer”.

The Hawks had one last chance after James missed a 3-pointer with the clock winding down.

The Cavaliers buckled down at the defensive end and wrapped up the series.

Russell Westbrook added 14 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds for the Thunder.

“The trainers would have to tell me he’s good to go”, Kerr said. Total Fouls-Cleveland 14, Atlanta 16.

Percentages: FG.432, FT.615.

Golden State leads the Trail Blazers 2-1 after Portland’s 120-108 win Saturday night.

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The two teams each traded buckets and turnovers for the next two minutes before Love again came through from behind the arc.

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers hangs on the rim after scoring a dunk while Paul Millsap and Kyle Korver of the Atlanta Hawks look on during the Cavaliers’ 100-99 victory that earned them a slot in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals