Quick Hitters

Point grad: Cavs’ Hill receives diploma during NBA playoffs

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — George Hill has gone from point guard to point grad in the NBA playoffs.

Cleveland’s starting guard missed practice Saturday and had a good excuse for his absence — he graduated from college.

Hill received his diploma from IUPUI and took part in commencement ceremonies in Indianapolis while his teammates got in one last workout before heading to Boston for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The 32-year-old Hill, who played for the Jaguars from 200408, a received his degree from the School of Liberal Arts. He was one of two student speakers to address the new graduates.

On his Twitter account, Hill showed off a “Jaguars” tattoo on his left arm.

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said Hill would rejoin the team in time for the series opener Sunday against the Celtics.

Hill joined the Cavs in February, coming over in a trade from Sacramento. He was slowed by back spasms and missed three games in the first round of the playoffs against Indiana, but returned and played a key role in the Cavs’ Game 7 win as well as Cleveland’s four-game sweep of Toronto.

Hill, who also played in the postseason for San Antonio and Indiana, has helped settle a troubling position for the Cavs. Cleveland traded All-Star guard Kyrie Irving last summer to Boston and have used numerous point guards this season.

The Cavs struggled without him against the Pacers, but Hill returned for the series finale. Although he was on a minutes’ restriction, he scored 11 points — all in the second half — and helped Cleveland advance.

YIKES, SPIKES!

Ben Zobrist of the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball are at odds over his spikes. Zobrist says he’s worn black cleats in day games at Wrigley Field for the past two years to honor the sport’s past. But the traditional look drew a letter from MLB, saying his cleats must be at least 51 percent blue — the Cubs’ color — and warned he could be fined and disciplined if he doesn’t comply.