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 Cavaliers 101, Celtics 93
Cleveland Cavaliers completed their four-game first-round sweep of
Boston but suffered the potential loss of forward Kevin Love with a
dislocated left shoulder.
The win in a very physical game that saw Cleveland guard J.R. Smith
ejected sent the second-seeded Cavs into the Eastern Conference
semi-finals against the winner of the Chicago Bulls-Milwaukee Bucks
series. The Bulls lead that best-of-seven 3-1.
Forward LeBron James scored 27 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and
dished out eight assists as the Cavs built a 21-point halftime lead
and held off a Boston charge that brought the Celtics as close as
eight early in the fourth quarter.
Love was injured while chasing a long rebound with Boston forward
Kelly Olynyk, whose right arm locked around Love's left. A foul was
called on Olynyk and Love grabbed his shoulder and ran off the court
and straight to the locker room.
Cleveland's Smith was ejected after he received a push in the back
from Jae Crowder and flailed back with his right arm, sending
Crowder to the floor with a left knee sprain.
Smith was called for a Flagrant-2 foul and ejected.
- - -
Clippers 114, Spurs 105
Guard Chris Paul scored 34 points, and forward Blake Griffin added
20 along with 19 rebounds, as Los Angeles defeated San Antonio to
even their Western Conference first-round series at 2-2.
After combining for only 21 points during a heavy loss in Game
Three, Griffin and Paul bounced back in timely fashion.
They picked up seven assists each, while guard J.J. Redick
supplemented the two stars with 17 points and the team received
scoring help from a pair of reserve guards.
Austin Rivers scored 16 points and Jamal Crawford had 15. They each
scored five points early in the fourth quarter, when the Clippers
forged ahead by 13 points.
Forward Kawhi Leonard led San Antonio with 26 points. Forward Tim
Duncan produced 22 points and 14 rebounds, and guard Tony Parker
scored 18. But Duncan and Parker missed four free throws apiece.
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Wizards 125, Raptors 94
Guard Bradley Beal scored 23 points, and center Marcin Gortat added
21 points and 11 rebounds as the Washington Wizards destroyed the
Toronto Raptors and completed the first playoff sweep in a
seven-game series in franchise history.
Guard John Wall contributed 14 points and 10 assists for the
Wizards, who led by at least 14 points after every quarter and by as
many as 37 in the second half thanks to a three-point shooting
barrage.
Seven players scored in double figures as Washington posted their
highest point total for a regulation game this season.
Washington, seeded fifth in the East, will face either Atlanta or
Brooklyn in the next round.
The Wizards finished off Toronto with a staggering display of
long-range shooting. They hit 15 of 26 three-point attempts.
- - -
Mavericks 121, Rockets 109
The Dallas Mavericks avoided being swept by Houston with a
comfortable win over the Rockets in Game Four.
The Rockets could not contain the starting Dallas backcourt of Monta
Ellis and J.J. Barea, who combined for 48 points.
Ellis compiled 31 points on 13-of-21 shooting. He scored 12 points
in the third quarter as the Mavs blew the game open by running out
to a 24-point lead.
Houston guard James Harden scored a team-high 24 points, but made
just seven of 15 shots from the floor.
The Rockets lost their way offensively after a strong start, missing
17 consecutive shots at one point.
Houston lead the series 3-1, with Game Five in Houston on Tuesday.
(Editing by Gene Cherry/Andrew Both)
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