Cavs back home after demolishing Celtics
LeBron James wrapped up his postgame news conference, popped a toothpick in his mouth and pushed back from the podium as if he had just completed a satisfying meal.
He and the Cavaliers feasted on the Celtics.
Breaking records and Boston hearts, the defending NBA champions continued an unblemished romp through these playoffs — and on course to clash again with Golden State in the Finals — on Friday night with a 130-86 win that was so thoroughly dominating that James sat out the final quarter.
With Cleveland leading by 38 in the third quarter, Cavs forward J.R. Smith mocked some Boston fans by pretending to sweep a broom across their famous parquet floor.
A mop would have been more appropriate for this carnage.
“It’s hard,” Celtics forward Al Horford said. “It’s hard to take.”
It’s probably going to happen again.
Boston’s chances at a comeback took a major blow Saturday as star point guard Isaiah Thomas was ruled out for the remainder of the postseason with a hip injury. Thomas had been dealing with the injury for more than a week and he was forced to sit out the second half on Friday.
It’s a disappointing ending for Thomas, who had played so well following the tragic death of his sister earlier in the playoffs.
Locked and loaded from the start, the Cavaliers were precise on both ends in the Game 2 bludgeoning on Friday. With ease and relentlessness, James and his teammates imposed their will on the top-seeded and overmatched Celtics, who just days earlier had been filled with optimism after beating Washington in seven games and then winning the NBA draft lottery.
Boston basketball boss Danny Ainge might want to offer that No. 1 pick to Cleveland for James. Because until further notice or he moves, the Eastern Conference is the domain of this king.
Shortly before Friday’s tip-off, the NBA announced that Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard are finalists for league MVP, leaving James out of the Top 3 in voting for the regular season award for the first time since 2008.
And while the youthful 32-year-old said he was unaware of the shocking omission when he took the court, he proceeded to score 30 points with four 3-pointers, seven assists, four rebounds, four steals and three blocks, including another one of those chase-downs that have become his calling card. Vicious. Victorious. There may be much more of that ahead in Games 3 and 4 as the Cavs will look to push aside the Celtics quickly and get as many as eight days off before the Finals start on June 1.
That’s a bit presumptuous, of course, but there are no signs Boston can contain the indomitable James, who in his 14th season may be playing better than at any time in his life.
He’s scored at least 30 points in eight consecutive playoff games, this first to do that since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1970 and the three-time champ seems as driven as ever, pushing himself and the Cavs to greater heights as they seek another title. Cleveland has won 10 straight in these playoffs and a record-tying 13 in a row dating to Game 5 of last year’s Finals.
Only the 1998-99 Los Angeles Lakers have won as many straight in the postseason as the Cavs, who can take sole possession of the mark on Sunday.
During his postgame media session, James insisted the MVP snub didn’t bother him. His teammates were plenty irritated.
“Just another chip on his shoulder, which helps us,” Smith said. “He got a vote for second team?”
“Somebody’s trippin’,” forward Tristan Thompson offered from an adjacent locker.
“Yeah, somebody’s trippin’,” Smith continued. “Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion. But I don’t see how you could not put him in at least the top three. If he’s not going to win it and you don’t even put him in the top three? It’s crazy, but it’s all good. I like it like that. He’s driven by a completely different monster. He’s not playing for Russ or James.
“He’s chasing a ghost. Right now, that’s the only thing to compare to him.”
The ghost is Michael Jordan, and pursuing his legacy is something James has used as motivation since he was a hoops prodigy on the courts in Akron.
Nearing a seventh straight trip to the Finals — a feat last accomplished by those Bill Russell-led Celtics teams in the 60s — James needs 73 points to surpass Jordan as the top scorer in playoff history. He has already gone past Jordan on many other lists, and another championship would bring him within two of Jordan’s six.
But James’ only focus now is the present, Game 3, a chance to make more history and even send a message to the Warriors.
“I’m a guy who lives in the moment,” James said. “Our team is in a great groove, and I’m happy to be a part of that groove. At the end of the day, we want to try to put ourselves in position to win every game. That’s the goal.” Boston Celtics guard
will miss the rest of the playoffs because of a hip injury, further damaging — if not outright dooming — the team’s chances in the Eastern Conference finals against Cleveland.
The Celtics made the announcement Saturday, a day after Thomas left Game 2 at halftime. The Cavaliers already led by an NBA-record 41 points at that point, and they went on to a 130-86 victory that gave them a 2-0 lead over the top-seeded Celtics in the best-of-seven series.
The Celtics said Thomas injured the hip in March and aggravated it in Game 6 of the East semifinals against Washington. The swelling increased during the first two games against Cleveland, team doctor
said, and Thomas was limping on the court just before halftime on Friday night.
“Isaiah has worked tirelessly to manage this injury since it first occurred,” McKeon said. “In order to avoid more significant longterm damage to his hip, we could no longer allow him to continue.”
Thomas did not travel with the team to Cleveland for Game 3 on Sunday. The Cavaliers could finish off the sweep with victories in Cleveland.
“He was pretty despondent not to be able to play,” Boston coach said Friday night. “He’s a tough guy, and for him to have to sit is really hard.”
A 5-foot-8 guard who was the last selection in the 2011 NBA draft, Thomas emerged as a star this season, averaging nearly 29 points and leading the league in fourth-quarter scoring.
Last week, he earned AllNBA second team honors, the first Celtics player to be selected to the All-NBA first or second team since Paul Pierce in 2009.
He was scoring 23.3 points per game in the playoffs — including a 53-point game vs. Washington that was one shy of John Havlicek’s franchise postseason record.
This despite the death of his sister on the eve of the first-round series against Chicago, an emotional blow that also took a physical toll through the cross-country travel to Washington state so he could be with his family and attend the funeral.
And having his front tooth knocked out in Game 1 of the conference semifinals against Washington, forcing him to spend several more off-days in oral surgery.
“Can’t say enough about #thelittleguy @Isaiah_ Thomas,” assistant general manager said on Twitter. “Last month one of the guttiest performances (thru all sorts o’ stuff) I’ve ever seen.”
Ankle keeps Leonard out
Spurs forward missed Game 3 against Golden State because of a sprained left ankle on Saturday. San Antonio coach
said Leonard was not happy sitting out.
“Kawhi is out. I spoke to Kawhi, we spoke to everybody, we all speak about it,” Popovich said. “In the end, I guess it’s my decision. He’s not thrilled he’s not playing, but he’s not ready.”
Leonard initially injured the ankle against Houston in Game 5 of their second-round series on May 9 after inadvertently stepping on foot while in transition.
Leonard aggravated the injury twice in the third quarter of Game 1 against the Warriors on May 14, including a controversial close-out by that Popovich called “dangerous” and “unsportsmanlike.”
Leonard returned to Game 1 after stepping on the foot of teammate who was sitting on the bench. But shortly after returning, Leonard landed on Pachulia’s foot while attempting a 3-pointer and had to be helped off the court.
Leonard, who was selected to the All-NBA first team on Friday, has not played since and has not participated in practice other than light shooting.
FROM WIRE REPORTS