NBA PLAYOFFS -- Cavs move one game away from Eastern Conference Finals
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 07 May 2017
CHICAGO -- The Cleveland Cavaliers were in a dogfight Friday night at the Air Canada Centre. leading only by two, 79-77, entering the fourth quarter of Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinals.
But as great teams often do, the defending champs found a way and went on a 20-3 run to put the Toronto Raptors away, 115-94, for a commanding 3-0 series lead. The Cavs gun for the sweep Sunday night at Air Canada Centre.
"We knew we were coming to a hostile environment. We knew they were going to give us everything they had, no matter who was in the lineup. We just had to weather the storm," James told the Associated Press after turning in 35 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds.
Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving finished with 16 points apiece while Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith combined for 18 points. Cleveland shot 51.3 percent from the filed and 56.3 percent from 3-point territory.
DeMar DeRozan registered 37 points on 12-of-23 shooting, but he couldn't will his team to won, not when the Raptors hot just 43.7 percent and missed 16 of 18 three-point attempts.
Jonas Valanciunas had 19 and 8 boards for Toronto and Norman Powell chipped in with 13, but no one else stepped up to the plate. Kyle Lowry sat out with an injured ankle.
Photo: There was too much LeBron James than the Raptors could handle on Friday night. James scored 35 as Cleveland raced to a 3-0 lead with a decisive Game 3 victory in Canada.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
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