The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
LeBron paces Cavs’ victory
35 points in Game 1 help Cleveland go to 5-0 in playoffs.
LeBron James scored 35 points, Kyrie Irving added 24 and the Cleveland Cavaliers throttled the Toronto Raptors 116-105 Monday night in the opener of their Eastern Conference semifinal.
The Cavs hadn’t played since April 23, when they completed a four-game sweep of Indiana. But the defending champions looked strong against the Raptors, who lost to Cleveland in last year’s conference finals.
“As a team I think we had great energy, and even some of the mistakes we were able to cover up for because our energy level was high,” James said. “But we’ll be a lot better on Wednesday.”
Kyle Lowry scored 20 and DeMar DeRozan 19 for the Raptors, who were within seven in the third quarter before James dropped a 3-pointer, converted a threepoint play, drained another 3 and later grabbed a bottle of beer from a server.
After drawing a foul on a missed layup, James playfully hopped toward the sideline, where a server walked. James grabbed a bottle from her tray and brought it toward his lips before putting it back.
The Cavaliers built an early 18-point lead, but the Raptors went on a 19-3 run to pull within 41-39. Cleveland regrouped and, playing a turnover-free second quarter, led 62-48 at halftime.
James nearly averaged a triple-double against the Pacers and showed the Raptors he’ll be tough to slow.
“He’s the hub of everything,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “He understands where everybody is. He’s a quarterback. He’s a point guard. He’s a power forward. He’s a small forward. He’s a shooting guard. He’s everything.”
Warriors-Jazz: Forward Draymond Green said the Warriors are preparing as if coach Steve Kerr won’t return during the playoffs. Assistant Mike Brown will coach again tonight in Game 1 as Kerr misses his third consecutive game because of migraines and nausea related to complications from back surgery almost two years ago. The team said it would give no more updates on Kerr’s status.
Celtics-Wizards: Boston guard Isaiah Thomas sat out practice so he could visit the dentist and have the tooth he lost in Game 1 repaired, but he intends to play Game 2 tonight. So does Washington forward Markieff Morris, who left Game 1 early with a sprained ankle and is listed as day-to-day.
Bird’s exit: Larry Bird made official his resignation as president of the Indiana Pacers, but he said he decided last summer. He informed owner Herb Simon at the time, then called into his office general manager Kevin Pritchard and Peter Dinwiddie, vice president of basketball operations, and repeated the message. Bird, 60, ceded the job to Pritchard but will stay for another year as a consultant.