James scores 45 to lift Cavs to Game 7 victory

LeBron James scored 45 points and got some needed help in Game 7 to stay unbeaten in the opening round of the NBA playoffs, leading the host Cavaliers to a 105-101 win over the Pacers on Sunday.

James improved to 13-0 in the first round and kept the Cavs’ strange season alive — for the time being. It took everything James and the Cavs had to hold off the Pacers, who came in confident after a 34-point win in Game 6.

The Cavs will open their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the topseeded Raptors on Tuesday in Toronto.

The 33-year-old James played 43 minutes Sunday, leaving late in the third quarter and heading straight to the locker room to be treated for cramps.

Tristan Thompson made a rare start for the Cavs and added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Kevin Love made four 3-pointers, and George Hill returned after missing three games with back spasms to score 11 in 19 second-half minutes.

Victor Oladipo scored 30 for the Pacers.

“Amazing,” Oladipo said of James. “He did what he always does. It’s not shocking. He’s the best in the world, and that’s what the best does.” James Harden scored 41 points and the Rockets raced out to a huge lead and cruised to an easy victory in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal.

The Rockets were up by 25 at halftime.

The Jazz got 21 points each from Jae Crowder and rookie Donovan Mitchell while playing without starting point guard Ricky Rubio, who sat with a strained left hamstring.

Coach Brad Stevens said swingman Jaylen Brown likely won’t play in Game 1 of the Celtics’ Eastern Conference semifinal series against the 76ers on Monday.

Brown still has some soreness from a hamstring injury he suffered Saturday against the Bucks.

Stevens said he expects Brown, who averaged 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds during the regular season, to be available at some point during the series.