(The Sports Xchange) – LeBron James and the other two members of Cleveland’s ‘Big Three’ led the Cavaliers to a comfortable 113-100 points home victory over Boston in the opening game of their playoff series.
“They were phenomenal,” James told reporters of his team mates.
Guard Kyrie Irving scored 30 points in his post-season debut, sinking his first five three-pointers. Forward Kevin Love had 19 points and 12 rebounds and James added 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
“Having four days of preparation and being with my brothers in the war room going over film, going into the game, you feel prepared,” Irving said. “I’m just glad I got Game One out of the way, all the nerves.”
Isaiah Thomas came off the bench to lead the Celtics with 22 points and 10 assists, while back-up center Kelly Olynyk added 12 points.
Love drew blanks on his first four shots on his playoff debut, missing the rim on three of them, and struggled to shoot 2-of-11 in the first half before erupting in the third quarter.
The big forward had eight points and six rebounds within the first 7 1/2 minutes of the third and the Cavs outscored Boston 16-4 during a five-minute stretch to take command.
Sunday marked the Cavs’ first playoff game in five years.
The Celtics entered the series as heavy underdogs but they shot 57 percent in the first quarter and even held a 37-29 lead before Cleveland came alive in the second quarter.
Game Two is in Cleveland today.
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Hawks 99, Nets 92
Atlanta guard Kyle Korver ignited an electric atmosphere inside Philips Arena with a 21-point performance, lifting the Hawks past the visiting Brooklyn Nets in Game One of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.
The Hawks controlled the game but could not put away the scrappy Nets until the final minute.
Brooklyn forward Thaddeus Young cut the Atlanta lead to 93-89 on a floater in the lane with two minutes to play but Hawks point guard Jeff Teague scored his team’s final six points to secure the win for top-seeded Atlanta.
Teague finished with 17 points, as did forward DeMarre Carroll for Atlanta, who improved to 36-6 at home. Korver hit five three-pointers to spark the Hawks.
Brooklyn forward Joe Johnson and center Brook Lopez each scored 17 points to pace the Nets. Johnson, who spent seven seasons in Atlanta, was booed every time he touched the ball.
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Clippers 107, Spurs 92
Chris Paul scored 25 of his game-high 32 points in the second half as the Los Angeles Clippers pounded the San Antonio Spurs in the opener of their first-round Western Conference playoff series.
Blake Griffin added 26 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals for the Clippers, who won their eighth game in a row and 15th in 16. Guard Jamal Crawford came off the bench to score 17 points.
Forward Kawhi Leonard scored 18 points to lead the Spurs.
Game Two of the best-of-seven series is in Los Angeles tomorrow.
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Grizzlies 100, Trail Blazers 86
Reserve point guard Beno Udrih scored a playoff career-high 20 points, and Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol posted double-doubles as Memphis rolled over Portland to take a 1-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.
Randolph finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds and Gasol scored 15 points with 11 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored a game-high 32 points for the Trail Blazers, going 13-for-34 from the floor. Aldridge also pulled down 14 rebounds and blocked four shots.
Game Two is in Memphis tomorrow.
