JAMES’ CAVS PUTS PACERS ON BRINK
Los Angeles, April 21: LeBron James led a second half assault as the Cleveland Cavaliers set a playoff record by storming back from a 25-point halftime deficit to defeat the Indiana Pacers 119-114 on Thursday.
James tallied 41 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists for the Cavaliers, who seized a 3-0 lead in the best of seven Eastern Conference firstround series.
The Cavaliers were down by 25 points at halftime and as much as 26 at one point in the contest. They are the first playoff team in history to erase a 25-point halftime deficit and win.
James passed Kobe Bryant for number three on the league’s career playoff scoring list and tied another NBA record by winning his 20th consecutive first-round game.
James delivered 28 second-half points as he took over the contest in the fourth quarter in front of a crowd of 18,100 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse arena.
The Cavaliers scored 70 points to just 40 for the Pacers in the second half. Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Kyrie Irving and Channing Frye each scored 13 points for Cleveland while Kyle Korver added 12.
Pacers forward Paul George scored 36 points, including 21 alone in the second quarter. But George couldn’t keep pace with James and Cavaliers over the last two quarters.
Grizzlies down Spurs In Memphis, guard Mike Conley scored 24 points and added eight assists as the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the San Antonio Spurs 10594 to get back into their series.
The Spurs lead 2-1. Their loss snapped a streak of 10 consecutive playoff wins over the Grizzlies.
Conley got most of his help from forward Zach Randolph (21 points, eight rebounds) and center Marc Gasol (21 points, six rebounds and three assists).
Leading by four at halftime, the Grizzlies outscored the Spurs 31-17 in the third quarter and were up 81-63 entering the fourth.
Elsewhere, Khris Middleton scored 20 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo added 19, and Milwaukee’s defense did the rest as the Bucks eased past the Toronto Raptors 104-77.
The Bucks grabbed a 2-1 lead in the first-round Eastern Conference series.
DeRozan missed all eight of his shots from the floor and finished with eight points, while the Raptors shot just 33 percent from the floor and went six-for-22 from three-point range.
Kyle Lowry and Delon Wright led Toronto with 13 points apiece.