Apr 23, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after making a free throw to clinch the win after making a free throw with one second to go against the Indiana Pacers in game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cleveland defeats Indiana 106-102. Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
INDIANAPOLIS — LeBron James scored 33 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:08 remaining, and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Indiana Pacers 106-102 on Sunday afternoon, completing a four-game sweep of an Eastern Conference opening-round playoff series.
Indiana, which never previously was swept in a seven-game series, took a 102-100 lead on a Thaddeus Young tip-in with 1:31 to play, but the Cavaliers scored the game’s final six points to advance to the second round.
For James, it was his 21st consecutive first-round playoff game victory, breaking Magic Johnson’s record of 20 set in the mid-1980s.
Kyrie Irving added 28 points, Deron Williams scored 14 and Kevin Love had five points and 16 rebounds.
Lance Stephenson led Indiana with 22 points, Myles Turner had 20, and Paul George finished with 15 on 5-of-21 shooting.
Rockets 113, Thunder 109
OKLAHOMA CITY — Nene tied an NBA playoff record by shooting 12-for-12 from the floor, and his 28 points off the bench led Houston over Oklahoma City as the Rockets took a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.
Houston star James Harden scored just 16 points on 5-of-16 shooting, and he missed all seven of his 3-point attempts. Eric Gordon and Lou Williams added 18 each for the Rockets, who can close out the series Tuesday at home in Game 5.
Russell Westbrook had 35 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists for the Thunder, but he was just 5 of 17 from the floor in the second half. In the final five minutes, the Rockets started fouling Andre Roberson after Roberson missed his first six free throws of the game. Roberson was just 2 of 12 from the line before Thunder coach Billy Donovan removed him.
Celtics 104, Bulls 95
CHICAGO — Isaiah Thomas scored 33 points as Boston tied the Eastern Conference first-round series 2-2. The best-of-seven series resumes on Wednesday night in Boston.
Neither team has won a home game in the series.
Gerald Green scored a playoff-career-high 18 points, and Al Horford finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who blew a 20-point lead only to rebound after the Bulls took a two-point lead in the third quarter.
Jimmy Butler had 33 points and nine assists for the Bulls, who continued to struggle offensively without injured point guard Rajon Rondo.
