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Tuesday 25 april 2017
Cavaliers looking forward to respite before conference semis

MICHAEL MAROT Plus, the Cavs are relatively
AP Sports Writer healthy.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The That’s good news.
Cleveland Cavaliers finally The problem: Cleveland
caught a break. also struggled to close out
After struggling through the all four games against the
final weeks of the regular seventh-seeded Pacers.
season and losing the No. 1 The cumulative victory
seed in the Eastern Confer- margin, 16 points, was tied
ence, the NBA defending for the lowest in a four-
champions assured them- game sweep in playoff
selves of getting a little history. Three times, the
more rest. They can use it. game came down to the
“We have some good final minute, when James
miles on this team, some thrived.
guys who have played in a Couple that with the sea-
lot of postseason action,” son-long defensive con-
All-Star Kevin Love said af- cerns and the offensive
ter grabbing 16 rebounds woes Lue identified from
and completing a first- Game 4, and it could lead
round sweep at Indiana. to even greater challeng-
“Getting a good week will es against better teams
allow us to get some rest deeper into the postsea-
and when we do find out son.
who we play, we’ll be able But Cleveland passed its
to be sharp and ready to first real test without los-
go.” ing a game, and now the
Right now, that’s all Cleve- Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James reacts after hitting a free throw in the closing seconds in Cavaliers have time to fix
land can do. Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, April the flaws.
With the Milwaukee-Toron- 23, 2017, in Indianapolis. “We’re capable, but we
to series tied at 2, the next Associated Press already knew that and
two games scheduled for son when it comes to his records, climb the ca- out and be ready and be when we lock in, we’re a
Monday and Thursday and three biggest stars — Love, reer lists and even stretch the consummate profes- very tough team to beat.
a possible Game 7 set for LeBron James and Kyrie Ir- bounds of credulity with ri- sional, to come out with a Once again, we knew that
Saturday, the Cavs might ving. diculously good play. win like that and for LeBron as well,” Love said. “So
not even know their oppo- James also understands James almost single-hand- to put on a performance we just learned that we’re
nent until next weekend. the danger. Just eight wins edly led Cleveland back like that is nothing short of going to get everybody’s
If the series goes a full sev- short of a third straight trip from a 25-point halftime special.” best shot and we’ve got to
en games, the Cavs might to The Finals, Cleveland deficit, the largest second- Cleveland’s supporting go out there and fight for
have more than a full week cannot afford to get stale. half comeback in playoff cast is doing its job, too. everything we get.”
between Sunday’s 106- Fortunately, James already history and then made ev- James, Love and Irving all It’s enough to put every-
102 victory and their next is in championship form. ery big play over the final topped the 25-point mark one’s mind at ease as they
game. He finished with 74 points, 90 seconds Sunday. in Game 2 and the bench wait to find out their next
While the extended rest 23 rebounds and 16 assists “Game 3, that probably chipped in with a ter- opponent.
could help a veteran, play- in the final two games of will go down for all of us as rific fourth-quarter perfor- “Now we get into our post-
off-tested team stay fresh, the Indiana series, virtually a historic moment,” Irving mance in Game 3. On Sun- series activity and wait to
that’s a tack coach Tyronn willing the Cavs to two wins. said. “The ability for our day, Deron Williams scored see who we play next,”
Lue has employed all sea- And he continues to break guys to come in and come 14 points off the bench. Love said.q

Westbrook goes on rant

defending Thunder teammates

CLIFF BRUNT lapse turned a 75-68 lead
AP Sports Writer into an 81-79 deficit.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Thunder center Steven Ad-
— Thunder guard Russell ams was asked about the
Westbrook went on a rant issue, and Westbrook inter-
defending his teammates rupted.
after Sunday’s 113-109 loss “Hold on Steven,” West-
to the Houston Rockets. brook said. “I don’t want
A recurring theme through- nobody to try and split us
out the series has been up. We’re all one team.
Oklahoma City’s tendency If I go to the bench and
to lose leads when West- Steven’s on the floor and
brook sits out during the I’m off the floor, we’re in
second half. It happened this together. Don’t split us
again Sunday __ the Thun- up. Don’t try and split us
der were outscored 13-4 in up. Don’t try to make us
a stretch that lasted from go against each other or Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shouts following a dunk by teammate Enes
Kanter (11) in the first half of Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Oklahoma
late in the third quarter make it ‘Russell and the rest City, Sunday, April 23, 2017.
to early in the fourth. The of the guys. q Associated Press