Cavaliers continue on after ousting Raptors
Cleveland sweeps Toronto, awaits Celtics or Wizards
TORONTO — LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are headed back to a familiar place after sweeping aside another overmatched opponent.
James scored 35 points and Kyrie Irving added 27 as visiting Cleveland swept Toronto, beating the Raptors, 109-102, Sunday to give James his seventh consecutive trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
“It’s rewarding when you can advance,” James said. “It’s not just given to you, you have to go out and earn it.
“Once again I’m part of a team that’s been able to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
“It’s going to be my ninth time in 14 years. I’ll take those numbers.”
Kyle Korver scored 18 points to help the Cavaliers become the first team to win eight consecutive playoff games the year following a title, and the first team to win eight in a row in consecutive postseasons.
“The fact that we play our best basketball in the postseason lets us know that we’re up for the challenge,” said James, who had nine rebounds and six assists.
Channing Frye scored 10 points, and Irving had nine assists for Cleveland. The Cavaliers were 16 for 41 from 3-point range.
“When LeBron is shooting the 3 ball the way he is, at the rate he’s shooting it, they’re difficult,” Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. “It’s gong to take a Herculean effort to beat them.”
The Cavaliers finished off the Raptors about an hour before Game 4 between the Celtics and Wizards tipped off in Washington.
That series could run until Monday night, meaning the Cavaliers will have plenty of time to rest before the Eastern Conference Finals.
Asked to choose between the Celtics and Wizards, James claimed not to have a preferred opponent.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” he said. “I’m excited about us getting an opportunity to represent our franchise in the Eastern Conference Finals to go play for the big one.”