CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James scored 34 points in three quarters, Kyrie Irving added 35 and the Cleveland Cavaliers clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 109-94 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.
James scored 19 in the third quarter and only sat for four of the first 36 minutes as the Cavs ensured they’ll have home-court advantage until the NBA Finals.
James shot 13 of 16, made all five free throws and added six rebounds and six assists — another dazzling statistical line for the four-time MVP who switched into playoff mode weeks ago.
When James finally sat down late in the third, Irving made sure he didn’t have to come back in by scoring nine points in the first four minutes. Kevin Love added 14 rebounds for Cleveland.
ROCKETS 129,
TIMBERWOLVES 105
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — James Harden scored 34 points and Dwight Howard had 19 points and eight rebounds to keep Houston’s playoff hopes alive with a victory over Minnesota.
Harden made 12 of 21 shots in three quarters, Trevor Ariza scored 21 points and the Rockets made 15 of 30 3-pointers. Houston (40-41) entered the game in ninth place in the Western Conference and one game behind Utah for the final spot.
THUNDER 112,
LAKERS 79
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 34 points and Russell Westbrook had a triple-double by halftime to help Oklahoma beat Los Angeles in the final road game of Kobe Bryant’s 20-year career.
Kobe looked vintage in the first quarter with 13 points, but he went scoreless the rest of the way.
Plenty of Lakers fans lined up at Chesapeake Energy Arena more than two hours before the start, and the crowd chanted Bryant’s name as they waited during pregame warmups. The Thunder honored him with a video before the tip.
Westbrook stole the show in the second quarter, clinching his league-leading 18th triple-double of the season, and the 37th of his career. He finished with 13 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds.
MAVERICKS 101,
JAZZ 92
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Dirk Nowitzki scored 22 and Dallas clinched the No. 7 spot in the Western Conference playoffs with a win over Utah, leaving one remaining postseason slot.
Utah (40-41) lost control of its own destiny and needs to beat the Lakers on Wednesday and for the Rockets (40-41) to lose to the Kings. Houston holds the tiebreaker against the Jazz if they finish with the same record.
HORNETS 114,
CELTICS 100
BOSTON (AP) — Jeremy Lin scored 19 of his 25 points in Charlotte’s big second quarter, carrying the Hornets to a win over Boston.
Kemba Walker scored 18 points, and Al Jefferson and Marvin Williams each had 16 for the Hornets, who are in a tight race with Boston and Miami in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.
BULLS 121,
PELICANS 116
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 12 of his 23 points in the last six minutes and short-handed Chicago beat injury-riddled New Orleans.
Nikola Mirotic added 20 points and Cristiano Felicio matched his career high with 16 for the Bulls. Butler was the only regular in the starting lineup. Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol sat after Chicago was eliminated from the playoffs when Indiana won Sunday.
WIZARDS 120,
NETS 111
NEW YORK (AP) — Ramon Sessions had 21 points and 12 assists, and Washington recovered after blowing all of its 20-0 lead to beat Brooklyn.
Marcus Thornton scored 19 points as he and Sessions did just fine in replacing injured starting guards John Wall and Bradley Beal. J.J. Hickson had 15 points as Washington put seven players in double figures.
MAGIC 107, BUCKS 98
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Ersan Ilyasova scored 22 points and Mario Hezonja added 19 to help Orlando Magic defeat Milwaukee in its home finale.
The victory allowed the Magic to close out the regular season strong at home where they won five of their final six games, including two straight to finish the year 23-18 at the Amway Center. Orlando concludes its season at Charlotte on Wednesday.
