RISING IN THE EAST
CLEVELAND – LeBron James produced another commanding display as the Cleveland Cavaliers demolished the Toronto Raptors, 128-93, to seal a series sweep and advance to the NBA Eastern Conference finals on Monday.
James, the buzzer-beating hero of Cleveland’s epic victory in game three on Saturday, finished with 29 points as Toronto’s bid to avoid the ignominy of a 4-0 series loss ended in abject failure.
Toronto had entered the playoffs as the number one seed from the Eastern Conference, desperate to finally break the spell that James and the Cavaliers have held over them in repeated playoff series meetings.
But their fragility was underscored by a rampant Cleveland on Monday, with James leading a blowout win that ensures they will be well rested for the Eastern Conference finals, where they will play either Boston or Philadelphia.
It is the third straight year that the Raptors’ have bowed out of the playoffs against the Cavaliers.
James was once more the tormentor in chief for Toronto, contributing eight rebounds and 11 assists in addition to his 29 points.
Four other Cavaliers starters cracked double digits, with Kevin Love scoring 23 points and Kyle Korver 16 points.
J.R. Smith added 15 points while George Hill added 12.
Toronto’s miserable night saw DeMar DeRozan get ejected in the fourth quarter while Kyle Lowry was restricted to just five points.
Jonas Valanciunas was a notable beacon of resistance, providing 18 points off the bench. But it was too little, too late for Toronto, who were comprehensively outplayed in every department.
In Philadelphia, Dario Saric scored 25 points as the 76ers kept alive their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series with the Boston Celtics on Monday, powering to a 10392 win to avoid a clean sweep.
The Sixers – left staring down the barrel of an early exit after losing the opening three games in the best-of-seven series – subdued the Celtics in the second half to ensure a game five.
Croatian power forward Saric led the scoring for the Sixers, using every inch of his 6ft 10in frame to cause problems for the Celtics defense to the delight of the raucous home support at the Wells Fargo Center.