(The Sports Xchange) -Cleveland Cavaliers completed their four-game first-round sweep of Boston but suffered the potential loss of forward Kevin Love with a dislocated left shoulder.
The 101-93 points win in a very physical game that saw Cleveland guard J.R. Smith ejected sent the second-seeded Cavs into the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the winner of the Chicago Bulls-Milwaukee Bucks series. The Bulls lead that best-of-seven 3-1.
Forward LeBron James scored 27 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out eight assists as the Cavs built a 21-point halftime lead and held off a Boston charge that brought the Celtics as close as eight early in the fourth quarter.
Love was injured while chasing a long rebound with Boston forward Kelly Olynyk, whose right arm locked around Love’s left. A foul was called on Olynyk and Love grabbed his shoulder and ran off the court and straight to the locker room.
Cleveland’s Smith was ejected after he received a push in the back from Jae Crowder and flailed back with his right arm, sending Crowder to the floor with a left knee sprain.
Smith was called for a Flagrant-2 foul and ejected.
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Clippers 114, Spurs 105
Guard Chris Paul scored 34 points, and forward Blake Griffin added 20 along with 19 rebounds, as Los Angeles defeated San Antonio to even their Western Conference first-round series at 2-2.
After combining for only 21 points during a heavy loss in Game Three, Griffin and Paul bounced back in timely fashion.
They picked up seven assists each, while guard J.J. Redick supplemented the two stars with 17 points and the team received scoring help from a pair of reserve guards.
Austin Rivers scored 16 points and Jamal Crawford had 15. They each scored five points early in the fourth quarter, when the Clippers forged ahead by 13 points.
Forward Kawhi Leonard led San Antonio with 26 points. Forward Tim Duncan produced 22 points and 14 rebounds, and guard Tony Parker scored 18. But Duncan and Parker missed four free throws apiece.
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Wizards 125, Raptors 94
Guard Bradley Beal scored 23 points, and center Marcin Gortat added 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Washington Wizards destroyed the Toronto Raptors and completed the first playoff sweep in a seven-game series in franchise history.
Guard John Wall contributed 14 points and 10 assists for the Wizards, who led by at least 14 points after every quarter and by as many as 37 in the second half thanks to a three-point shooting barrage.
Seven players scored in double figures as Washington posted their highest point total for a regulation game this season.
Washington, seeded fifth in the East, will face either Atlanta or Brooklyn in the next round.
The Wizards finished off Toronto with a staggering display of long-range shooting. They hit 15 of 26 three-point attempts.
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Mavericks 121, Rockets 109
The Dallas Mavericks avoided being swept by Houston with a comfortable win over the Rockets in Game Four.
The Rockets could not contain the starting Dallas backcourt of Monta Ellis and J.J. Barea, who combined for 48 points.
Ellis compiled 31 points on 13-of-21 shooting. He scored 12 points in the third quarter as the Mavs blew the game open by running out to a 24-point lead.
Houston guard James Harden scored a team-high 24 points, but made just seven of 15 shots from the floor.
The Rockets lost their way offensively after a strong start, missing 17 consecutive shots at one point.
Houston lead the series 3-1, with Game Five in Houston today.
