For LeBron another Cavaliers’ sweep is within reach

LeBron James doesn’t prolong the inevitable.

The last seven times that James’ teams have had a 3-0 lead in a playoff series, the matchup has ended in the most humane fashion — a sweep. He gets a chance at another today, when Cleveland can oust Toronto and advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

That’s one of three Game 4s today’s NBA playoff slate: Boston and Washington continue their bruising series with the Celtics leading that East semifinal matchup 2-1, and San Antonio — which proved on Friday that it won’t buckle easily after losing Tony Parker for the season — will look to go up 3-1 in its West semifinal series against Houston. Those Celtics-Wizards and Spurs-Rockets matchups look like they might last a while.

The Cavaliers-Raptors one, not so much.

History says it’s over: No NBA team has wasted a 3-0 series lead, James has never coughed up as much as a 2-0 series lead, and even if the Raptors get injured point guard Kyle Lowry (ankle) back for today he surely won’t be anywhere near his best. Going back to last season’s rally in the NBA Finals the Cavs have won 10 consecutive playoff games, three shy of the NBA’s record set by the Los Angeles Lakers over the 1988 and 1989 postseasons.

And James is making it look easy — 34.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game so far in these playoffs, on 57 percent shooting. Such a stat line has never been done by anyone over the course of an entire postseason.

Here’s some of what to know going into today:

Cavaliers at Raptors, Cleveland leads 3-0. Game 4, 3:30 p.m., ABC.

James’ teams are 79-20 vs. the East over the last seven postseasons, and he’s now just 176 points shy of passing Michael Jordan for the NBA’s all-time playoff scoring record. Cleveland has won every game in the series by double digits, and even though DeMar DeRozan was great in Game 3 (37 points), the Raptors just didn’t have enough to keep close.

Celtics at Wizards, Boston leads 2-1. Game 4, 6:30 p.m., TNT.

The NBA suspended the Wizards’ Kelly Oubre Jr. for Sunday “for charging and making forceful and unwarranted contact” with the Celtics’ Kelly Olynyk in Game 3. Celtics G Isaiah Thomas has been all over the scoring map in the first three games, with 33, 53 and 13 points, respectively.

The Celtics averaged 126 points in the first two games, then managed only 89 in Game 3.

John Wall has been super for Washington, averaging 28 points and 12.3 assists.

Spurs at Rockets, San Antonio leads 2-1. Game 4, 9 p.m., TNT.

The Spurs haven’t lost in Houston since Christmas 2015, going 4-0 since that day. James Harden had 43 points in Game 3, but the Spurs clamped down on Houston’s other shooters — Lou Williams, Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson and Patrick Beverley shot a combined 6 for 31.