NBA Playoffs: Cleveland Cavaliers Defeat Boston Celtics 109-99

Wounded and fatigued, LeBron James put in a superhuman performance that was extraordinary even for his standards to carry the Cleveland Cavaliers to victory over the Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs.

The Cavs won 109-99 on Friday to even the Eastern Conference Finals 3-all and setting up a do-or-die game seven in Boston on Sunday.

Cleveland lost All-Star forward Kevin Love to a head clash in the first quarter, but that’s when James found another gear, taking control of the game with 46 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and three steals It was his seventh 40-point game in this year’s playoffs.

“The best player in the game,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. Cavaliers’ coach Tyronn Lue has viewed James’ heroics many times, but on Friday night in Cleveland, with his team’s season over with a loss, he witnessed something special.

“Greatness,” Lue, describing James, said.

“Champion pedigree.” The series has been dictated by the venue.

Boston won its three games at home and the Cavs proved to be unbeatable in Cleveland.

James is excited about having the opportunity to upset the trend in Boston’s arena in game seven, and move on to what would be his eighth straight NBA finals appearance.

“We know it is a challenge on their home floor,” James said. “They have been very successful against us at home, but we love challenges and this is a great opportunity.” The Cavaliers appeared doomed when Love clashed heads with Boston rookie Jayson Tatum in the first six minutes and went back to the locker room and didn’t return.

To make matters worse, James appeared to suffer a serious right leg injury midway through the final quarter when team-mate Larry Nance Jr fell on him. James was writhing in pain on the floor, but eventually got up and finished the game.

James, who battled fatigue in Wednesday’s game five loss, played an incredible 46 of a possible 48 minutes in the game six win.

The Celtics made a late push, but James snuffed it out with massive back-to- back three-pointers in the final two minutes.

James did receive support from point guard George Hill’s 20 points and bench players Jeff Green and Nance Jr with 14 and 10 points respectively. Australian big man Aron Baynes was Boston’s starting centre but had his most underwhelming game of the series, going scoreless and grabbing four rebounds. The Celtics’ All-Star forward Al Horford was also unusually quiet with just six points while guard Terry Rozier had 28 and Jaylen Brown 27 points. The victor will move on to the championship series against the winner of the Western Conference finals series between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets, which the Rockets lead the Warriors 3-2.

— AP

Battered LeBron fights through the pain

Boston star Terry Rozier collided with LeBron James in a stunning moment which saw the King flat on his back late in the third quarter. It came as the Cavaliers great notched 38-points going into the final piece of Game 6, but it didn’t come easy.

The 33-year-old was in apparent agony after rising from the ground, limping his way up the court and favouring one leg over the other. Fans weren’t convinced his implied injury was as bad as he made out, with suggesting he milked the painful blow before getting iced on the sidelines.

Adding to the Cavs’ star’s pain, Marcus Smart pulled off a piece of magic and denied the king a basket with a stunning block late in the third, all while nursing a torn thumb ligament.

Every fan in Cleveland knows this may be the last season the King plays for the Cavaliers, and with a loss to the Celtics today in Game 6, this could very well be the final half of basketball LeBron James plays at home in Ohio.

But if he keeps pulling off these stunners in the final 20 minutes, the Cavaliers are sure to be meeting the Celtics in Game 7 on Monday (AEST).

James sentQuicken Loans Arena abuzz after a stunning crosscourt chase down of Boston youngster Terry Rozier before blocking his basket in the third quarter.

The terrific play came as Cleveland surged ahead with a 15-point lead to leave Boston fans reeling ahead of the final quarter.

Cavs inch ahead after Love blow

Kevin Love is out with a suspected concussion.Source:Supplied

The Cavaliers went into the first break trailing the Boston Celtics after a dominant display from the visitors saw Boston scrape closer to completing their finals series before the weekend.

A shocking head knock with Jayson Tatum sent Cavaliers mainstay Kevin Love to the deck and out of the game at the worst possible moment. The 29-year-old giant returned to the rooms with reportedly little hope of returning to the court.

Despite the early setback, the home side were able to rocket ahead by ten points by the back end of the second quarter, thanks to a particularly smooth set up to Jeff Green coupled with a 25-point haul on his own at halftime.

Is this it for LeBron James?

Have 82 games taken their toll?Source:Getty Images

Breaking: LeBron James is human after all.

That is one of a boatload of realities facing the Cavaliers, who hope to deflect Eastern Conference finals elimination at home in Game 6 against the young, energetic Celtics. If LeBron isn’t Superman again, Game 6 conceivably could be the last home date in Cleveland for James because of his likely upcoming free agency. But that’s a story for another 68 days.

Fatigue became an issue in Game 5 on Wednesday in Boston. The Celtics, now 10-0 at home in these playoffs, rode a performance of sheer brilliance by rookie Jayson Tatum, who had 24 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and four steals in a 96-83 victory. Tatum was just part of Boston’s balance that contained five double-figure scorers.

For the Caps, James scored 26. Kevin Love had 14. No other player reached 10. Three other starters, Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith and George Hill, combined to shoot 2-of-14 and score 10 points. James could not do it all, prompting coach Tyronn Lue to observe afterwards the King looked tired.

“Just saw him clutched over a few times early on in the game and throughout the course of the game,” Lue said Thursday on a conference call — neither team practised. “It happens. But one thing, I know he’ll be ready to play Game 6, so fatigue won’t be a problem and an issue. … If I had to pick one guy and choose one guy to prevail, it would be LeBron. I know he’ll be great come tomorrow.

“[Wednesday] just could have been one of those nights. But believe me, he’s not the only one that’s feeling fatigue right now,” Lue said.

After the game James, who Thursday was announced as an All-NBA first team selection a record 12th time (Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone were named 11 times), claimed overall fatigue was not an issue and that he was fine.

“I had my moments. But I think everybody at this point is tired or worn down or whatever the case may be. Still trying to make plays to help our team win,” said James, who later insisted, “I’m fine. And I didn’t mention the fatigue, either. One of you guys [media] did. I’m fine.”

James, who played all 82 games for the first time in his career, can be forgiven if he tires while running against the Boston kiddie corps anchored by veteran Al Horford.

“With regard to Al and his composure and his poise and kind of a steadying influence, he has a great effect on all of our guys in the locker room,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said on his conference call. “We’re going to have to move on from last night’s win, play better than we have to have a chance to win Game 6.”

Home court has been ridiculously prevalent in the series. In Games 3 and 4 when the Cavs ruled, Boston led for 73 seconds — all in first quarter of Game 4.

“Both teams have played well at home, but you’ve got to play well in order to win,” Lue said. “They’ve done that. They’ve played well enough to win on their home floor.

“We’ve done the same thing. We’ve got to have the same approach coming into Game 6.”

— with Fred Kerber, New York Post

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