LeBron James’ 39 points propel the Cavaliers to 2-0 lead over the Raptors.
CLEVELAND — LeBron James scored 39 points, hopped Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the career playoff scoring list and pushed Cleveland to a 125103 blowout over Toronto in Game 2 of its Eastern Conference semifinal series on Wednesday night.
Toronto was blown out for the fifth straight time in Cleveland in the playoffs, losing each by an average of 24.2 points.
“We take our butt whupping and head home,” said Raptors coach Dwane Casey.
Game 3 is Friday at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, where Toronto will have the crowd on its side in a bid to cut into a 2-0 deficit.
However, they won’t have James, who has won a road game in 27 consecutive series and appears determined to toss Toronto aside.
“He’s playing unbelievable. He’s playing like LeBron James,” said Toronto’s Kyle Lowry. “We got to figure out a way to not let him beat us, which is easier said than done.”
James came in needing 25 points to pass AbdulJabbar, and he overtook the Hall of Fame center with a 3-pointer in the third, when he scored 17 points and helped Cleveland open a 26-point lead.
“You hear a name like Kareem, a guy who’s done so many great things, not only as an individual but as a teammate,” James said. “He’s somebody you read about. I didn’t get an opportunity to actually watch him play growing up, but I just read about his accomplishments and things he was able to do, so, it’s pretty cool.”
Ex-Blazer Roy shot at party
Former NBA player Brandon Roy was injured in a shooting while attending a party in Southern California over the week- end, authorities said.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Joseph Williams said Roy was one of four people shot in Compton on Saturday.
He said Roy and the three other victims were attending a party when two men walked up and opened fire without saying a word. Williams said all four victims were shot in the upper body but suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the shooting. No arrests have been made.