Cavs School Celtics, Trim Deficit In Eastern Conference Finals
Muhammad Rameez Published May 20, 2018 | 11:20 AM
Los Angeles, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th May, 2018 ) :LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers thrashed the Boston Celtics 116-86 on Saturday, powering their way back into their NBA Eastern Conference finals.
The Cavaliers trimmed the deficit in the best-of-seven series to 2-1 -- avoiding the 0-3 hole from which no NBA team has returned to win a series. They'll try to even things up when they host game four on Monday.
The Cavaliers, trying to return to the NBA Finals for a fourth straight year, insisted after two double-digit defeats in Boston that things would be different on their home floor. They wasted no time in making it so, racing to a 12-4 lead midway through the first quarter, which they ended leading 32-17.
By then, James and George Hill had already scored more than 10 points apiece, and half a dozen Cavaliers players finished by scoring in double digits. James led the way with 27 points, 12 rebounds and five assists along with two steals and three blocked shots.
But James, whose 42-point triple double was in vain in game two, got plenty of support in a game in which Cleveland never trailed. Kyle Korver scored 14 points off the bench. Hill and Kevin love scored 13 apiece, JR Smith chipped in 11 and Tristan Thompson scored 10.
"We were really good," James said. "We had our focus and offensively and defensively we made plays." Hill and Smith came into the contest having been outscored by Boston's Terry Rozier and Jaylen Brown 72-12 over the first two games.
Brown, who scored 23 points in each of the first two games, finished with 10 points and five fouls. He didn't score at all until the second quarter. Rozier scored 13, but connected on just five of 12 shots from the floor.
"I thought everybody came in and contributed in some way," said Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue. "So it was good for us to have everybody touch the basketball and play well."
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From Sports
-
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
45 minutes ago -
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
54 minutes ago -
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
54 minutes ago -
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results
2 hours ago -
Inaugurate of fitness gym at Ayum Stadium on 25th April
2 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results
2 hours ago
-
Women’s One-Day tournament: Multan beat Rawalpindi, Quetta beat Peshawar, Lahore beat Karachi
2 hours ago -
Argentinian Etcheverry sees off Norrie to head into Barcelona Open semis
4 hours ago -
Pakistan all set to face New Zealand tomorrow
6 hours ago -
Duplantis to unleash 'inner' pole vault contest as Olympics beckon
6 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results
6 hours ago -
'All-or-nothing' Norris takes sprint pole in rain chaos at Chinese GP
7 hours ago