It has been a very chippy series between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, but that did not stop LeBron James from continuing his first round success. James scored 27 points to help the Cavaliers hold off the Celtics 101-93 to complete the 4-game sweep. It was a welcoming finish to a game that saw a potential serious injury to one of the "Big 3".
Kevin Love left the game in the first half after Kelly Olynyk pulled on his arm in a scramble for the ball. Love immediately hustled to the locker room, and it was announced that he suffered a dislocated shoulder. He could miss up to 2 weeks and he was not happy in the postgame interview, calling the incident with Olynyk "busch league".
The physicality continued, mainly involving Boston's Jae Crowder, who was shoved down by Kendrick Perkins, which cause a small fracas to take place in front of the scorer's table. Crowder was then smacked in the face by J.R Smith, who was giving a flagrant foul and ejected, and might face a suspension. When asked about the possible suspension Smith said "I'm scared as hell". He was suspended a game in the 2013 playoffs while with the Knicks after he elbowed Jason Terry in the face.
The Cavaliers recorded their first playoff series win since 2010, before James left for Miami. They will play the winner of the Chicago Bulls-Milwaukee Bucks series, which the Bulls lead 3-1. Kyrie Irving scored 24 points, while Iman Shumpert added 15 in the clincher.
The Cavs were not the only team in the East looking for the sweep, as the Washington Wizards were doing so on their home floor against the higher-seeded Toronto Raptors. Marcin Gortat had a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, while John Wall added 14 points and 10 assists in the Wizards 125-94 blowout of the Raptors, completing the sweep.
Six Wizards finished in double figures, including 23 points from Bradley Beal and 14 from the veteran Paul Pierce. Washington made a franchise playoff-record 15 three-pointers, including 7 from the duo of Pierce and Beal.
The Wizards dominated nearly the entire game, leading by 16 in the first, 20 in the second, and by 32 points heading into the fourth quarter. Washington clinched in front of a crowd of 20,356, advancing to the second round in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1979. They reached the finals that year, a season after winning it all.
The Wizards had no problem getting rid of the Raptors, who went 3-0 in the regular season against the team from D.C. Kyle Lowry had 21 points and DeMar DeRozan added 14 in the loss. It is their fifth consecutive playoff appearance that ended in a first-round exit.
The Wizards will play the winner of the Brooklyn Nets-Atlanta Hawks series, which the Hawks lead 2-1.
Kevin Love left the game in the first half after Kelly Olynyk pulled on his arm in a scramble for the ball. Love immediately hustled to the locker room, and it was announced that he suffered a dislocated shoulder. He could miss up to 2 weeks and he was not happy in the postgame interview, calling the incident with Olynyk "busch league".
The physicality continued, mainly involving Boston's Jae Crowder, who was shoved down by Kendrick Perkins, which cause a small fracas to take place in front of the scorer's table. Crowder was then smacked in the face by J.R Smith, who was giving a flagrant foul and ejected, and might face a suspension. When asked about the possible suspension Smith said "I'm scared as hell". He was suspended a game in the 2013 playoffs while with the Knicks after he elbowed Jason Terry in the face.
The Cavaliers recorded their first playoff series win since 2010, before James left for Miami. They will play the winner of the Chicago Bulls-Milwaukee Bucks series, which the Bulls lead 3-1. Kyrie Irving scored 24 points, while Iman Shumpert added 15 in the clincher.
The Cavs were not the only team in the East looking for the sweep, as the Washington Wizards were doing so on their home floor against the higher-seeded Toronto Raptors. Marcin Gortat had a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, while John Wall added 14 points and 10 assists in the Wizards 125-94 blowout of the Raptors, completing the sweep.
Six Wizards finished in double figures, including 23 points from Bradley Beal and 14 from the veteran Paul Pierce. Washington made a franchise playoff-record 15 three-pointers, including 7 from the duo of Pierce and Beal.
The Wizards dominated nearly the entire game, leading by 16 in the first, 20 in the second, and by 32 points heading into the fourth quarter. Washington clinched in front of a crowd of 20,356, advancing to the second round in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1979. They reached the finals that year, a season after winning it all.
The Wizards had no problem getting rid of the Raptors, who went 3-0 in the regular season against the team from D.C. Kyle Lowry had 21 points and DeMar DeRozan added 14 in the loss. It is their fifth consecutive playoff appearance that ended in a first-round exit.
The Wizards will play the winner of the Brooklyn Nets-Atlanta Hawks series, which the Hawks lead 2-1.
