LeBron continues to climb playoff scoring chart
Cavalliers rout Raptors again in Game 2 - Spurs grab crucial win over Rockets, but Parker injured
The Cleveland Cavaliers delivered the birthday gift coach Tyronn Lue asked for on Wednesday night – a victory – and in the process LeBron James continued to climb the NBA playoff scoring list.
James scored 39 points, passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for second in all-time postseason scoring and guided the Cavs to a 125-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Cavs hold a 2-0 lead over the Raptors as the series moves to Toronto on Friday.
A sellout crowd of 20,562 witnessed James put together another memorable performance. He made 10 of 14 field goals (including 4-of-6 three-pointers) and 15-of-21 free throws in 36 minutes. He also had six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
James now has 5,777 points in the playoffs and trails only Michael Jordan (5,987) in career playoff points. Abdul-Jabbar is third (5,762).
Lue celebrated his 40th birthday on Wednesday, and left the Q with four players in double figures: James (39 points), Kyrie Irving (22 points, career playoff-high 11 assists), Channing Frye (18 points) and Iman Shumpert (14 points).
Jonas Valanciunas paced the Raptors with 23 points and five rebounds. Cory Joseph scored 22 points, Kyle Lowry scored 20 points and Serge Ibaka added in 16 points.
Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson combined for 18 points and 16 rebounds for the Cavs.
James is the only player in NBA playoff history to rank in the top 10 in points (second, 5,777), rebounds (seventh, 1,813) and assists (third, 1,392).
Additionally on the playoff chart, James is tied for ninth in games (205), is second in made free throws (1,399), third in steals (370), fourth in made field goals (2,038) and fourth in made 3-pointers (302).
The Cavs put together a 12-0 run to take a 19-9 lead with 5:54 to go in the first quarter. J.R. Smith capped the surge with a three-pointer on a possession that featured nifty passing by James, Irving and Smith. Love scored five points during the spurt and Irving accounted for four points.
The lead reached 31-18 on a three by Frye and stood at 34-22 at the end of the first quarter when Shumpert made a jumper. Cleveland hit 5-of-5 shots from three-point range in the opening 12 minutes, and shot 70.6 percent (12-of-17) from the field.
Valanciunas and Lowry briefly kept the Raptors within striking distance in the second quarter with nine points and eight points in the quarter, respectively, but the Cavs led 62-48 at halftime.
The Cavs maintained a comfortable advantage in the third quarter, with the lead reaching 72-54 at 8:58 and 75-57 at 8:41 after James made two three-pointers, the second of which propelled him past Abdul-Jabbar on the playoff scoring list.
James closed out the third with seven free throws and a powerful right-handed slam dunk off of a behind-the-back pass from Irving. James scored 17 points in the third quarter and the Cavs led 99-73 heading into the fourth quarter.
James exited with 6:10 to go and the Cavs up 113-85.
Alas, when it comes to the task of stopping James and the Cavs, many in the Eastern Conference share the Raptors’ despair.
(Akron Beacon Journal/TNS)
Spurs 121 Rockets 96
Kawhi Leonard recorded 34 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as San Antonio rolled to a victory over Houston Rockets in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal.
San Antonio’s victory celebration was tempered, however, by an injury to guard Tony Parker. He was carried off the floor by teammates with 8:43 remaining after scoring 18 points, clutching his left knee as he lay on the floor.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 15 points for the Spurs while James Harden recorded 13 points and 10 assists, and shot 3-for-17 from the field for the Rockets.
Gregg Popovich, known more for his scowl and scathing responses to media, summarized the status of Parker in three words on Wednesday night.
“It’s not good,” Popovich said of Parker, who was ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs with a ruptured quadriceps tendon, the team announced on Thursday.
Teammates and Houston players walked over to console him on the court. He was carried off by teammates Dewayne Dedmon and Dejounte Murray, and did not look up as the crowd chanted his name. Manu Ginobili said Wednesday night that Parker was in significant pain and unable to bear weight on his left leg.
“It’s hard to see him limping and hurting now, and you kind of know we’re not going to see him any time soon,” Ginobili said. “That’s a tough blow. We shall see. We don’t know.”
Parker missed 16 games in the regular season and San Antonio went 12-4. Patty Mills was the primary point guard without Parker and Ginobili served as the lead backup. Murray, a rookie, also figures into the mix.
Parker is in his 15th season and has helped the Spurs win five NBA titles.