More milestones for LeBron as Cavaliers sweep Pacers

Cleveland will face winner of Raptors-Bucks series in playoffs’ second round

INDIANAPOLIS— LeBron James stuck to the old script Sunday.

Again, he bailed out the Cleveland Cavaliers. And again, he sent the Indiana Pacers home for vacation.

On yet another milestone day for basketball’s king, James’ crowning achievement was making the goahead 3-pointer with 1:08 to play and helping the defending champions hold on for a series-clinching 106102 victory at Indiana.

“You have to mentally challenge yourself every year and go out and try to do what’s right — putting your body on the line, putting your team on the line and trying to be successful,” James said. “It’s very hard.”

But the four-time MVP makes it look easy.

James finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks.

By winning his 21st consecutive first-round game, James broke a tie with Michael Cooper, Magic Johnson and James Worthy for the longest streak under the NBA’s current playoff format.

By sweeping a series for the 10th time, James broke a tie with Tim Duncan for the most in a career, according to Elias Sports Bureau. By going 13 of 25 from the field, he pulled into a tie with Kobe Bryant for the fourth highest post-season field goal total with 2,014.

Now Cleveland takes a seven-game winning streak into the conference semifinals against either Milwaukee or Toronto.

Rockets 113, Thunder 109: Nene scored 28 points on perfect shooting from the field, and the Houston Rockets beat the Thunder 113-109 in Oklahoma City to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round series.

Nene made all 12 of his shots and had 10 rebounds. He helped the Rockets overcome an off night by James Harden, who finished with 16 points on 5-for-16 shooting.

Oklahoma City star Russell Westbrook had a triple-double by halftime and finished with 35 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists.

Rondo fined $25K: The NBA fined Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo $25,000 for attempting to trip Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder from the bench in Game 3 of their first-round series.

Rondo said afterward he was simply stretching his leg.