Cleveland Moves Step Closer to NBA Finals Cavs Rip Raptors for 10Th Playoff Win in a Row

Mocked Martial becomes Man Utd’s FA Cup charm SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2016 MAY SATURDAY, SportsSports 46 CLEVELAND: Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving, right, shoots against Toronto Raptors’ Bismack Biyombo (8) during the first half fo Game 2 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals. — AP Cleveland moves step closer to NBA finals Cavs rip Raptors for 10th playoff win in a row WASHINGTON: With LeBron James producing rhythm I can do other things to help us win.” Lethal LeBron Cavs sparked another overpowering performance, the “This is the best I’ve felt in a while. When you The playoff victory was Cleveland’s 17th in The Cavaliers closed the second quarter Cleveland Cavaliers routed Toronto 108-89 have two guys like this to help you, it takes a a row over foes from the same conference, with a 16-2 run to seize a 62-48 half-time edge. Thursday, stretching their playoff record to 10- lot of things off you.” The Cavaliers are two the longest such NBA streak since 1970-71. “I “We made some adjustments, changed our 0 and moving closer to an NBA Finals return. wins from facing the Western Conference don’t think it feels like a streak,” James said. defense, got a little more physical that was a James scored 23 points, grabbed 11 champion, either Oklahoma City or defending “We won one game. How do we get better big spark,” Lue said of that stretch. James had rebounds and passed out 11 assists as the host NBA champion Golden State, in the NBA Finals the next game? We haven’t overlooked any 17 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in Cavaliers, who swept through the first two that begin on June 2. Cleveland lost to Golden steps. That’s why we’re in the position we are. the first half. “All great players are going to be playoff rounds, seized a 2-0 lead in the best-of- State in last year’s NBA Finals, but Love was out We’ve enjoyed the process.” playing at that level at this time of year,” said seven Eastern Conference finals with game with an injury and Irving went down with an James, seeking a sixth consecutive trip to Raptors coach Dwane Casey. “He’s not doing three Saturday at Toronto. “We’re just a well- injury in game one. the NBA Finals after four years with Miami anything we didn’t expect.” The Raptors, led by balanced, (well-)oiled machine,” James said. “We just do a great job of having each oth- and last year, is hitting 18-of-26 from the DeMar DeRozan’s 22 points, suffered their first “You have to do multiple things depending on er’s backs,” said Irving. “We missed our chance field, dominating Toronto inside. “Great back-to-back losses of the playoffs. Kyle Lowry, how the series and the games go and we’ve last year and we want to make the most of teammates are getting me open,” James said. who scored 43 against the Cavaliers in a regu- been able to do that.” this time.” The Cavaliers have led Toronto by “I’m trying to be aggressive, see what the lar-season game, had only 10 points on 4-of-14 Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 26 points 10 or more points throughout the second half defense is giving me. Everyone is feeding off shooting Thursday but vowed he would bounce and Kevin Love added 19 for Cleveland, whose in both games and Cleveland’s Tyronn Lue, one another.” back. “I’ll find ways,” Lowry said. “I know I can run is one shy of the NBA record playoff start of the first NBA coach to win his first 10 playoff James had his 15th career “triple double”- be more effective and I will be more effective 11-0 achieved by the Los Angeles Lakers in games, credits Irving and Love for helping double-figure statistics in three categories- on Saturday. Their defense is active and rotat- 1989 and 2001. “It’s always difficult to deal with ease the load on James. “When Kevin and and passed Shaquille O’Neal to reach fourth ing but I’ve been missing shots I won’t be miss- me,” four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James Kyrie are playing at a high level it opens the on the NBA career playoff scoring list. “It’s a ing anymore.” And he remains optimistic the said. “It adds even more when you have two floor for LeBron. He can take a game over,” tribute to the player LeBron has been,” Lue Raptors can reach the finals. “I’m super confi- all-stars with you who command multiple eyes Lue said. “The better the team performs, the said. “When you are a winner like LeBron, you dent,” he said. “I’m not down on myself. I don’t every possession. They are in such a great easier it is on him.” have to expect milestones.” need much motivation on Saturday.” —AFP .

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