Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Monday 24 april 2017

James helps Cavs hold off Pacers, earn sweep into 2nd round

MICHAEL MAROT finished with 33 points, 10 on a day the Cavs blew a
AP Sports Writer rebounds, four assists, four 13-point lead and allowed
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — LeB- steals and two blocks. the Pacers to come all the
ron James stuck to the old By winning his 21st con- way back and take a 102-
script Sunday.Again, he secutive first-round game, 100 lead with 1:31 to go.
bailed out the Cleveland James broke a tie with “They were giving it all they
Cavaliers. And again, he Michael Cooper, Magic had,” James said. “Obvi-
sent the Indiana Pacers Johnson and James Wor- ously, a loss would have
home for vacation.On yet thy for the longest streak ended their season. We
another milestone day for under the NBA’s current just had to weather the
basketball’s king, James’ playoff format. By sweep- storm once again.”
crowning achievement ing a series for the 10th Of course that’s when
was making the go-ahead time, James broke a tie James took the cue and
3-pointer with 1:08 to play with Tim Duncan for the came to the rescue.
and helping the defend- most in a career, accord- He made the long 3 to
ing champions hold on for ing to Elias Sports Bureau. give Cleveland the lead,
a series-clinching 106-102 By going 13 of 25 from the poked the ball away from
victory at Indiana. field, he pulled into a tie Young on the next posses-
“You have to mentally with Kobe Bryant for the sion, grabbed the rebound
challenge yourself every fourth highest postseason when Paul George missed
year and go out and try to field goal total with 2,014. a 3 with 1.9 seconds to go
do what’s right — putting And by holding on for the that could have forced
your body on the line, put- win, James improved to overtime and, of course,
ting your team on the line 52-0 in the playoffs when made 1 of 2 free throws to
and trying to be success- his team takes a double- seal the win.
ful,” James said. “It’s very digit lead into the fourth Now Cleveland takes
hard.”But the four-time quarter.James considered a seven-game winning
MVP makes it look easy. He the milestones a footnote streak into the conference
semifinals against either
Milwaukee or Toronto. Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James (23) shoots against Indiana
For Indiana, it will go down Pacers’ Paul George (13) and Myles Turner during the first half in
Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday,
as yet another tormenting April 23, 2017, in Indianapolis.
chapter in their rivalry with Associated Press
James.James’ teams have
eliminated the Pacers four make it easy, though. ing the smallest margin
times in six years and com- They charged back from in a four-game sweep in
pleted the first-four game a 96-83 deficit with a 7-0 league history. ... Teague
sweep in Indiana’s NBA spurt early in the in the scored 15 points and was
history. Cleveland finished fourth quarter. Then they the catalyst in the final
the season 7-1 against the methodically continued spurt, including blocking
Pacers, winning the last chipping away until Young one of James’ shots. ...Myl-
four with a defensive stand, tied the score at 100 and es Turner had 20 points
a rare 25-point game from then gave them the lead. and nine rebounds, while
three players, the largest But James answered with Young had 13 points and
second-half comeback the go-ahead 3. 10 rebounds.
in playoff history and now TIP-INSCavaliers: Improved GETTING PHYSICAL
James’ knockout punch. to 8-0 when taking a 3-0 Things got physical and
Lance Stephenson led series lead. ... Kyrie Irving painful Sunday.
the Pacers with 22 points. added 28 points, Deron Wil- James stayed down on
George had a series-low liams added 14 and Kevin one knee after taking a
15. Love had 16 rebounds. ... shot to the head in the first
“It’s real frustrating to con- Tristan Thompson grabbed half. George was writing in
tinue on losing to the same 11 rebounds, giving at least pain after taking a knee
team or same person,” 10 in all four games. to the groin. Teague also
George said. “Ultimately, Pacers: Have lost five remained on the ground
he (James) is who I’m al- straight postseason games briefly when he got hit in
ways going to have to see and six of their last eight. ... the head, too.
and face.” Indiana lost the four games All three finished the
The Pacers sure didn’t by a total of 16 points, ty- game.q