The top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a tightly contested 96-94 win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, but the victory was overshadowed by an injury scare to LeBron James.
James fell just short of his second straight triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, but was forced to shoot a free throw left-handed after aggravating a right elbow injury late in the game.
“[The injury] has been going on for a few weeks. Hopefully it doesn’t continue to bother me as we move forward,” James told reporters.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The reigning league MVP said he had had x-rays during his team’s day off and they had revealed no structural damage.
“We’re trying to figure it out,” he added. “It just feels like when you hit your funny bone and sometimes you can’t feel it.”
The Cavaliers had a team-high 25 points from Antawn Jamison, who made a three-pointer in the final minutes to give his team a 93-84 lead that proved decisive despite a late Bulls charge. Derrick Rose scored a game-high 31 points and Luol Deng added 26 for the Bulls, who missed a shot inside to surrender possession with 10 seconds remaining.
LAKERS 111, THUNDER 87
In Los Angeles, the hosts bounced back from successive losses to thrash Oklahoma City and reclaim the initiative in the series, taking a 3-2 lead.
Pau Gasol had 25 points and 11 rebounds and Andrew Bynum added 21 points for the Lakers.
Kobe Bryant had 13 points and seven assists in three quarters of work as the defending NBA champions coolly shook off the Thunder’s blowout win in Game 4 by comprehensively beating the postseason newcomers.
Kevin Durant scored 17 points and Russell Westbrook had 15 on combined 9-for-27 shooting for Oklahoma City, who never recovered after missing their first 13 shots.
CELTICS 96, HEAT 86
In Boston, Ray Allen scored 24 points, making five 3-pointers in the second half, to help Boston eliminate Miami in Game 5.
With star Dwyane Wade expected to become a free agent, it was the Heat’s final game before what looms as an eventful summer in Miami.
Boston advanced to the Eastern Conference semi-finals thanks to 16 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds from Rajon Rondo. Paul Pierce scored 21 for the Celtics, who will play Cleveland.
Wade scored 31 points — far short of the franchise postseason-record 46 he scored on Sunday in Game 4 in Miami to help the Heat stave off elimination.
MAVERICKS 103, SPURS 81
In Dallas, the hosts stayed alive in the series by beating San Antonio, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Caron Butler scored a career playoff-best 35 points and had 11 rebounds, while Brendan Haywood provided a strong inside presence at both ends in his first start of this postseason.
The Spurs still have two more chances to get into the second round. Game 6 is today at San Antonio. Only eight teams have ever blown a 3-1 lead.
Butler’s performance turned Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki into a sidekick. He had 15 points and nine rebounds. Jason Terry had 12 points, while Shawn Marion and Jason Kidd each scored 10. Kidd also had seven assists and seven rebounds.
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