The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NBA PLAYOFFS GAME 5 ROMP PUTS CAVALIERS IN FINALS
James scores 35, becomes all-time playoff points leader.
LeBron James scored 35 points and passed Michael Jordan to become the NBA’s all-time playoff scoring leader as the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Boston Celtics 135-102 on Thursday night to claim their third straight Eastern Conference title and a return trip to the NBA Finals.
Kyrie Irving added 24 points and Kevin Love finished with 15 for the Cavs, who never trailed and led by as many as 39 points in one of their most dominating wins of the series. The Cavs set an NBA record by winning their 13th consecutive series closeout opportunity.
Cleveland’s 4-1 series’ win gives it a 12-1 record this postseason and sets up a third consecutive matchup with Western Conference champion Golden State, the team it beat in the Finals last season to claim the franchise’s first championship.
It’s the seventh straight trip to the Finals for James.
Avery Bradley led Boston with 23 points.
The Cavaliers basically conceded the East’s top seed to the Celtics at the end of the regular season by opting to rest their starters in advance of the playoffs. But they displayed their superiority over the final two games to wrap up the series.
After allowing the Celtics to seize early momentum in Game 4, the Cavs barely gave them the chance in Game 5.
Led by its Big Three, Cleveland quickly built a 21-point lead in the first quarter, while getting lots of contributions from their teammates.
Love continued to make shots from the outside, Irving sliced his way into the lane to the rim and James got free for several of his onehanded, tomahawk dunks.
It was a very welcome sight in Irving’s case, after he rolled his left ankle in the third quarter of Cleveland’s Game 4 win. He showed no signs of lingering issues, though, beating several defenders off the dribble and handing out seven assists.
Meanwhile, J.R. Smith and Kyle Korver all helped spread out Boston’s defenders by converting several wide-open scoring opportunities.
Deron Williams, who had been quiet for most of the series, had a series-best 14 points for Cleveland.
The Celtics did their best to keep up, but the consistent outside shooting, bench scoring and defense they relied on to stun Cleveland in Game 3 wasn’t there.
Kerr not ready
Steve Kerr is involved in just about everything but the actual game-day coaching for the Golden State Warriors — film session, coaches’ meetings, game-planning and practice.
He’s just not yet ready to be back on the bench with the start of the NBA Finals less than a week away.
Warriors general manager Bob Myers made the announcement Thursday, though he didn’t rule out Kerr returning at some point if he somehow is healthy enough to do so — though that doesn’t appear promising at this stage.