LeBron ends Celtics' run
Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart fouls Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James during the first quarter in Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals at TD Garden in Boston on Sunday. The Cavs won 87-79 to advance.
Lebron James booked his eighth straight NBA finals appearance, delivering another epic Game 7 performance on the road as the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied to beat the Boston Celtics 87-79 on Sunday.
The 33-year-old James played all 48 minutes and finished with 35 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists for the Cavaliers who are in the league championship for the fourth consecutive year.
“This is the last chapter for our team this season,” said James. “It’s been a whirlwind. It has been roses. There have been thorns in the roses. This is one of the most challenging seasons I have had.”
Cleveland became the first team to win on the road in the best-of-7 Eastern Conference championship series and the first to beat the Celtics at home in the postseason.
“Win, loss or draw, at end of my career you are never going to get someone to say I didn’t leave it out on the floor,” the four-time league MVP said.
The Cavaliers will take on either the reigning champions Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets in the championship series. The Warriors dominated the Rockets 115-86 on Saturday to force a decisive Game 7 which will take place in Houston today.
James believes they can outhustle, outsmart and outcoach whoever they face in the final. “We have an opportunity to win a championship. No matter whether we are picked to win or not, we have a great game plan. We are going to try to get better throughout the series.”
James led the Cavaliers in the first half with 17 points and 10 rebounds but they trailed for much of the half in front of a crowd of 18,600 at TD Garden.
It wasn’t until the second half that his supporting cast came to life and the Cavaliers were able to wrestle control back from the Celtics in the low-scoring contest.
“He’s unbelievable,” said Celtics coach Brad Stevens. “I thought it was an outstanding defensive game. And again he still had 35, 15 and 9. It’s ridiculous and he does it with the pressure and scrutiny.”
James said he knew ahead of time he was going to have to play 48 minutes.
“It was asked of me tonight to play the whole game, and I just tried to figure out how I could get through it,” said James, who played 48 minutes for the first time in a playoff game since 2006 as a 21-year-old against the Detroit Pistons.
Jeff Green finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds, JR Smith tallied 12 points and Tristan Thompson scored 10 for Cleveland, which beat Boston 109-99 on Friday to force Game 7.
Jayson Tatum paced the Celtic attack with 24 points as Boston suffered its only loss in 11 playoff home games.
Al Horford finished with 17 points and Jaylen Brown had 13 but he was just 3-of-12 from the 3-point line.
The possibility existed that a loss on Sunday would have been James’ last game with the Cavaliers. He can opt out of his US$35.6-million contract at the end of the season and become a free agent.
James has said in the past he plans to retire a Cavalier but this is his second stint in Cleveland after he left once before for Miami in 2010. Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York are believed to be ready to pounce if he becomes available.
