Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Friday 19 May 2017
LeBron, Love help Cavs rout Celtics 117-104 in Game 1

KYLE HIGHTOWER tory over Washington on called for a double foul
AP Sports Writer Monday night, Boston on the play, but got tan-
BOSTON (AP) — So much missed 11 of its first 14 shots. gled again a few minutes
for the Cavaliers being “They were the better later. This time, Smart fell
rusty. team tonight. The hit us first. to the floor during that ex-
LeBron James embar- They were more physical,” change, drawing a foul on
rassed every defender Thomas said. “We can’t let Thompson.
Boston threw at him and that happen again.” The Celtics found some
Cleveland picked up Love averaged a quiet energy after the incident,
where it left off following a 13.8 points in the first two closing the third quarter on
long layoff, rolling to a 117- rounds, then broke out an 11-3 run to pull to 92-75.
104 victory Wednesday against a Boston team It didn’t last long, though,
night in Game 1 of the NBA that knocked him out of as the Cavs quickly got the
Eastern Conference finals. the 2015 playoffs when he lead back up to 20.
James had 38 points, nine became tangled with Kelly James picked apart every
rebounds and seven as- Olynyk and dislocated his defender that the Celtics
sists. shoulder. threw at him in the first half.
Kevin Love added a play- Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk, left, and Cleveland Cava- The shoulder was working He backed down defend-
off career-high 32 points liers forward Kevin Love vie for a rebound during the first quar- just fine Wednesday, and ers to set up 15-foot fade
and had 12 rebounds to ter of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals, he scored in the paint and away jumpers. Other times,
help the Cavaliers improve Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in Boston. from the outside. he simply took defenders
to 9-0 in the first three Associated Press “We wanted to come in off the dribble or sliced
rounds of the playoffs. They Cavaliers coach Tyronn were never threatened. and set the tone and dic- through double-teams on
opened 10-0 last season en Lue said James’ efficiency “You can’t dig yourself in tate the game. We felt like the way to layups.
route to their first NBA title. continued to make things a big hole like that against we did a good job doing Boston also seemed con-
“It was our two bigs that set easier for everyone on them,” Boston coach Brad that,” Love said. “It wasn’t tent to make every switch
the tone — Kev and Dou- both ends. Stevens said. just me. Everybody was created by Cleveland
ble-T (Tristan Thompson), “He’s playing at a high James scored at will in moving the ball, passing screens, leading to some
they were phenomenal,” level. And that’s the rea- the first half and the Cavs the ball well.” awkward matchups for
James said. “I saw it in Kev son why we’re riding him built a 26-point lead. Love Things got a little testy in James in the first half.
this morning. I knew what so much,” Lue said. “When opened up the floor for the third quarter when Bos- The Celtics couldn’t get
type of game he was go- LeBron’s playing at that James, burying outside ton’s Marcus Smart and anything working when
ing to have. level other guys just have jumpers and forcing Boston Cleveland’s Thompson they had the ball, held to
So he came through for to be solid and we have a to leave defenders one- got nose-to-nose and had just 35 percent from the
us.” good chance to win.” on-one with James. to be separated by refer- field in the first half and 2
But there’s no denying it Game 2 is Friday night in Avery Bradley and Jae ees. Some jawing contin- for 16 from beyond the arc.
has started with James, Boston. Crowder led the Celtics ued briefly before James Since Game 5 of NBA fi-
who has scored at least Coming off a 10-day with 21 points each. Isa- stepped in to pull Thomp- nals, Cleveland has won a
35 points in five straight break, James and Cava- iah Thomas had 17 points. son away. franchise-record 12 straight
games. liers raced to an early lead Coming off a Game 7 vic- Smart and Thompson were playoff games.q
Harden, James top All-NBA team; George, Hayward shut out

NEW YORK (AP) — For Anthony Davis. Westbrook, Rudy Gobert for the first-
Cleveland’s LeBron James, Leonard and Davis all are team center spot, finishing
there was history. first-teamers for the second with 343 points to Gobert’s
For Houston’s James Hard- time. 339.
en, there was affirmation. James and Westbrook Davis appeared on 95 of
And for Indiana’s Paul were on 99 first-team bal- the 100 ballots; Gobert ap-
George and Utah’s Gor- lots, and second-team on peared on 91.
don Hayward, a chance at the lone other. Leonard Other second-team picks
signing contracts exceed- was a first-teamer on 96 along with Gobert were
ing $200 million this summer ballots, second-team on Golden State’s Stephen
is gone. three and third-team on Curry and Boston’s Isa-
James and Harden head- one. iah Thomas at guard, and
lined the All-NBA first team Perhaps as significant a sto- Golden State’s Kevin Du-
that was unveiled Thursday. ry as who made the team rant and Milwaukee’s Gi-
James made the first team was who did not. annis Antetokounmpo at
for a record-tying 11th George and Hayward fell forward.
time, matching the mark well short of making any In this May 9, 2017, file photo, Houston Rockets guard James Third-team selections
set by Kobe Bryant and Karl of the three All-NBA teams, Harden (13) gestures during the second half of Game 5 in a sec- were Washington’s John
ond-round NBA basketball playoff series against the San Anto-
Malone. And Harden was which means they will not nio Spurs, in San Antonio. Wall and Toronto’s DeMar
the only player to be unan- be eligible to get the “su- Associated Press DeRozan at guard, Golden
imously selected as a first- permax” extensions from State’s Draymond Green
teamer this year, returning Indiana and Utah this sum- free agent this summer. All three teams have two and Chicago’s Jimmy But-
to that group for the third mer and now will face “These opportunities don’t guards, two forwards and ler at forward, and DeAn-
time in the last four seasons. more questions about their come around very much,” one center. dre Jordan of the Los An-
Joining James and Harden futures in their respective Hayward said earlier this Harden and Westbrook geles Clippers at center.
on the first team were Okla- cities. George is under con- month. were runaway choices at Jordan edged Minnesota’s
homa City’s Russell West- tract to the Pacers for next “That’s why you hire an guard, James and Leonard Karl-Anthony Towns for the
brook, San Antonio’s Kawhi season, while Hayward is agent, to deal with this were easy picks at forward. final center spot by four
Leonard and New Orleans’ likely to elect to become a type of stuff.” Davis barely held off Utah’s points in the balloting.q