The star’s triple-double gives Cleveland 4-2 win over Washington
WASHINGTON: Cleveland star LeBron James notched his third career playoff triple-double on Friday as the Cavaliers ousted the Washington Wizards from the NBA playoffs.
James scored 27 points with 13 rebounds and 13 assists to lead the Cavaliers to a 105-88 victory that clinched the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series 4-2. James turned in a sparkling all-around performance to put the finishing touches to what has been a hostile series. He had plenty of help, however, from his supporting cast. Wally Szczerbiak scored 26 points and Daniel Gibson added 22 for the Cavaliers, who eliminated the Wizards for the third straight postseason.
In Friday’s clinching win, Szczerbiak and Gibson shot a combined 10-of-19 from three-point range. Antawn Jamison collected 23 points and 15 rebounds for the Wizards, who played the final two games of the series without injured star Gilbert Arenas.
Meanwhile, they would have to wait for their opponents in the next round after the eighth seed Atlanta Hawks defeated the best team in the NBA this season, the Boston Celtics to tie the best-of-seven match-up at 3-3.
Marvin Williams scored 18 points, Mike Bibby added 17 and Joe Johnson chipped in 15 for Atlanta in a 103-100 victory over the top-seeded, star-studded Celtics.
Now the Celtics must win at home to avoid becoming the second No.1 seed to lose to the eighth seed in the first round of the playoffs in a best-of-seven series. Last season, Golden State beat then top-seeded Dallas in six games in the Western Conference playoffs. Kevin Garnett had 22 points and seven rebounds and fellow All-Star Ray Allen scored 20 for the Celtics, who were outscored 24-18 in the fourth quarter.
Results
Eastern Conference: Cleveland bt Washington 105-88 (Cleveland win series 4-2); Atlanta bt Boston 103-100 (Series tied 3-3)
