The Boston Celtics fought off a spirited challenge from short-handed Cleveland Monday, beating the Cavaliers 109-102 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series.

Jayson Tatum scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Jaylen Brown added 27 points for the Celtics, who will try to finish off the best-of-seven series at home on Wednesday.

The Cavaliers were dealt a heavy blow when Donovan Mitchell, who had averaged more than 35 points over the six prior games, was ruled out with a calf injury, joining starting center Jarrett Allen on the sidelines.

NBA superstar LeBron James, who led the Cavs to their only NBA title back in 2016, was sitting courtside, but with Mitchell absent the Cavs ultimately didn't have enough firepower.

The Cavs kept the pressure on, taking the lead briefly on Darius Garland's driving basket early in the third quarter -- their first lead since the first quarter.

But the Celtics quickly reasserted themselves and led by 10 going into the final period.

Cleveland, on the back of 30 points from Garland, pulled within five points three times in the final four minutes, but Brown, fed by Tatum, connected on a three-pointer with 1:09 to play that effectively sealed it.

"It's a game of runs," Tatum said after the Celtics struggled to put the depleted Cavaliers away.&nbsp;

"It's not going to be perfect every single time. They're going to make shots, but it's our job to figure it out."

The Celtics, winners of a league-best 64 regular-season games, used a 12-0 scoring run to take charge in the first quarter, Tatum scoring 16 points in the period.

Boston led by as many as 13 in the second quarter but Tatum cooled off and Cleveland, buoyed by 11 of their 15 three-pointers in the first half, battled back, twice cutting the deficit to one point before going into the break down by five.

The Celtics caught a break early in the second quarter, when Brown was called for only a common foul, rather than a flagrant, after he fell backwards into Max Strus and grabbed Strus's ankle as the Cavs player -- himself struggling to stay upright -- stepped over his head.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nfl/news-nfl-2024-full-schedule-release-date-time-live-streaming-chiefs-vs-ravens-kickoff-721110">NFL 2024: Ravens vs Chiefs to kickoff season; full schedule to be released on May 15</a>

Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff was more concerned at the fact that Boston went to the free-throw line 24 times compared to Cleveland's seven.

"I'll be honest with you, I was disappointed with the way the whistle blew tonight," he said.&nbsp;

"I thought our guys deserved much better, the way that they were competing, they were attacking the paint, they were getting after it.

"We're not asking for anything more, but we're asking for equal and I don't think we got an equal opportunity at it tonight from that standpoint."

The Dallas Mavericks were aiming to extend their 2-1 series lead as they hosted Western Conference top seeds Oklahoma City Thunder in the later game.

The Boston Celtics fought off a spirited challenge from short-handed Cleveland Monday, beating the Cavaliers 109-102 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series.

The Boston Celtics fought off a spirited challenge from short-handed Cleveland Monday, beating the Cavaliers 109-102 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series. Jayson Tatum scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Jaylen Brown added 27 points for the Celtics, who will try to finish off the best-of-seven series at home on Wednesday. The Cavaliers were dealt a heavy blow when Donovan Mitchell, who had averaged more than 35 points over the six prior games, was ruled out with a calf injury, joining starting center Jarrett Allen on the sidelines. NBA superstar LeBron James, who led the Cavs to their only NBA title back in 2016, was sitting courtside, but with Mitchell absent the Cavs ultimately didn't have enough firepower. The Cavs kept the pressure on, taking the lead briefly on Darius Garland's driving basket early in the third quarter -- their first lead since the first quarter. But the Celtics quickly reasserted themselves and led by 10 going into the final period. Cleveland, on the back of 30 points from Garland, pulled within five points three times in the final four minutes, but Brown, fed by Tatum, connected on a three-pointer with 1:09 to play that effectively sealed it. "It's a game of runs," Tatum said after the Celtics struggled to put the depleted Cavaliers away. "It's not going to be perfect every single time. They're going to make shots, but it's our job to figure it out." The Celtics, winners of a league-best 64 regular-season games, used a 12-0 scoring run to take charge in the first quarter, Tatum scoring 16 points in the period. Boston led by as many as 13 in the second quarter but Tatum cooled off and Cleveland, buoyed by 11 of their 15 three-pointers in the first half, battled back, twice cutting the deficit to one point before going into the break down by five. The Celtics caught a break early in the second quarter, when Brown was called for only a common foul, rather than a flagrant, after he fell backwards into Max Strus and grabbed Strus's ankle as the Cavs player -- himself struggling to stay upright -- stepped over his head. ALSO READ | NFL 2024: Ravens vs Chiefs to kickoff season; full schedule to be released on May 15 Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff was more concerned at the fact that Boston went to the free-throw line 24 times compared to Cleveland's seven. "I'll be honest with you, I was disappointed with the way the whistle blew tonight," he said. "I thought our guys deserved much better, the way that they were competing, they were attacking the paint, they were getting after it. "We're not asking for anything more, but we're asking for equal and I don't think we got an equal opportunity at it tonight from that standpoint." The Dallas Mavericks were aiming to extend their 2-1 series lead as they hosted Western Conference top seeds Oklahoma City Thunder in the later game.

Playoffs: Boston Celtics hold off depleted Cavaliers to take 3-1lead in NBA Eastern Conference semi-final

Two military horses that went astray in London, resulting in disorder on Wednesday (Apr 24), are in a "serious condition" and have undergone operations. The horses belonged to the Household Cavalry, a British Army division, and broke away during a training exercise at Horse Guards Parade, a ceremonial site in central London.

Two military horses that went astray in London, resulting in disorder on Wednesday (Apr 24), are in a "serious condition" and have undergone operations. The horses belonged to the Household Cavalry, a British Army division, and broke away during a training exercise at Horse Guards Parade, a ceremonial site in central London. According to reports, up to five people had been injured The Army said on X that one of the horses that had been operated on had been sent to an equestrian hospital. The remaining horses are being properly monitored. Of the seven horses which were spooked, five tried to bolt and four - Vida, Trojan, Quaker and Tennyson - broke loose. Two of the injured horses were operated on last night, with one transferred to an equine hospital. All remaining horses are being closely observed. (2/3) — British Army 🇬🇧 (@BritishArmy) April 25, 2024 × "Of the seven horses which were spooked, five tried to bolt and four - Vida, Trojan, Quaker, and Tennyson - broke loose. Two of the injured horses were operated on last night, with one transferred to an equine hospital. All remaining horses are being closely observed," the statement read. Vida, the grey horse who was seen blood soaked in videos from the incident and Quaker who was transferred to hospital might never be able to serve again. An Army spokesperson told Telegraph,"We are hoping that both these horses make a recovery. Whether they will recover enough to return to official duties, it’s too early to know for sure. Vida was the most visibly injured and the pictures of the horse running through London soaked in blood were horrifying. Vida was operated on overnight and is currently in stables at the Hyde Park Barracks under observation." “Quaker was also operated on overnight but it was decided to move the horse to an equine hospital in the early hours for more specialist treatment. The extent of the injuries is not completely clear but we don’t believe at this stage there are any broken bones. The blood seen on Vida was consistent with lacerations,” the army added. Also read | WATCH: British Army horses run loose in central London; later caught by police "Our horses receive the highest standards of care, and those that did not undergo surgery are expected to return to duty in due course. We want to thank everyone who has shown such kindness and concern towards our soldiers and horses. We will provide more updates soon," it further said. Reports suggest four personnel fell from their horses, and the horses slammed into vehicles. Some of the personnel were taken to the hospital for treatment for injuries. The Army stated, "All three soldiers involved are expected to recover fully and to return to duty." People are concerned about the horses that suffered injuries and what will it mean for their future. A user asked the British Army on X, "Thank you for the update. It's been so worrying thinking about what's happening with the injured, horses and men. The horses that underwent surgery, what will become of them?"

Military horses that ran loose in London in 'serious condition,' may never serve again, says British Army

A group of military horses went astray in London, resulting in disorder on Wednesday (Apr 24). Reports indicated that up to five people had been injured, prompting British authorities to take&nbsp;the assistance of the military and police in locating the animals.

Footage shared on social media showed a white horse, seemingly&nbsp;wounded, galloping alongside a black one.

According The Telegraph newspaper, these horses are from the Household Cavalry, a division of the British Army, and they broke free during a training session at Horse Guards Parade, a ceremonial venue in central London.

The horses were spotted running on the road around Aldwych, with one of them looking like it had blood on it.

A taxi driver, parked outside the Clermont hotel on Buckingham Palace Road, had his car windows broken when a frightened horse hit the Mercedes people carrier.

Another horse collided with a parked double-decker tour bus, breaking the its windshield.

Watch the video here:

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⚡️CURRENT Scenes in London | 🇬🇧 
 
Two (2) horses on the loose; one covered in blood. <a href="https://t.co/aUsaZIEVD4">pic.twitter.com/aUsaZIEVD4</a>
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<h2>Authorities at work</h2>

An army spokesperson cited by the Guardian said: “A number of military working horses became loose during routine exercise this morning. All of the horses have now been recovered and returned to camp. A number of personnel and horses have been injured and are receiving the appropriate medical attention.”

"We are aware of a number of horses that are currently loose in central London and are working with colleagues, including the Army, to locate them," London's Metropolitan Police said on X.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-parliament-passes-controversial-rwanda-migrant-bill-after-two-years-of-tussle-714012">Also read |&nbsp;UK Parliament passes controversial Rwanda migrant&nbsp;bill after a two-year tussle</a>

The London Ambulance Service received a call at 8:25 a.m. local time (0725 GMT) about someone being thrown from a horse on Buckingham Palace Road in central London, according to a spokesperson for the service.

Two horses were captured by officers from the City of London police. The force said on X: “At around 8.40am, we were called about horses that had became loose and were travelling through the City.

Also watch |&nbsp;Horse Festival in Bulgaria &amp; Art in Paris

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ramadan-celebrations-worldwide-horse-festival-in-bulgaria-art-in-paris-708373/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“Our officers have contained two horses on the highway near Limehouse. An army horsebox collected the horses and transported them to veterinary care.”

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

A group of military horses went astray in London, resulting in disorder on Wednesday (Apr 24). Reports indicated that up to five people had been injured, prompting British authorities to take the assistance of the military and police in locating the animals.

A group of military horses went astray in London, resulting in disorder on Wednesday (Apr 24). Reports indicated that up to five people had been injured, prompting British authorities to take the assistance of the military and police in locating the animals. Footage shared on social media showed a white horse, seemingly wounded, galloping alongside a black one. According The Telegraph newspaper, these horses are from the Household Cavalry, a division of the British Army, and they broke free during a training session at Horse Guards Parade, a ceremonial venue in central London. The horses were spotted running on the road around Aldwych, with one of them looking like it had blood on it. A taxi driver, parked outside the Clermont hotel on Buckingham Palace Road, had his car windows broken when a frightened horse hit the Mercedes people carrier. Another horse collided with a parked double-decker tour bus, breaking the its windshield. Watch the video here: ⚡️CURRENT Scenes in London | 🇬🇧 Two (2) horses on the loose; one covered in blood. pic.twitter.com/aUsaZIEVD4 — Sphithiphithi Evaluator (@_AfricanSoil) April 24, 2024 × Authorities at work An army spokesperson cited by the Guardian said: “A number of military working horses became loose during routine exercise this morning. All of the horses have now been recovered and returned to camp. A number of personnel and horses have been injured and are receiving the appropriate medical attention.” "We are aware of a number of horses that are currently loose in central London and are working with colleagues, including the Army, to locate them," London's Metropolitan Police said on X. Also read | UK Parliament passes controversial Rwanda migrant bill after a two-year tussle The London Ambulance Service received a call at 8:25 a.m. local time (0725 GMT) about someone being thrown from a horse on Buckingham Palace Road in central London, according to a spokesperson for the service. Two horses were captured by officers from the City of London police. The force said on X: “At around 8.40am, we were called about horses that had became loose and were travelling through the City. Also watch | Horse Festival in Bulgaria & Art in Paris “Our officers have contained two horses on the highway near Limehouse. An army horsebox collected the horses and transported them to veterinary care.” (With inputs from agencies)

WATCH: British Army horses run loose in central London; later caught by police

The Phoenix Suns have managed to equalise the series against the Los Angeles Clippers while the Cavaliers did the same against the New York Knicks.

The Boston Celtics, however, continued their winning run as they notched up a 2-0 lead in the seven-game Round 1 series against the Atlanta Hawks. Here below are details of each game:

<h3>Celtics vs Hawks</h3>

The Celtics started red hot as they took a 61-49 lead by the half time which the Hawks could never erase as they lost Game 2 106-119. The third and fourth quarters were somewhat of a close contest between the two teams, but the early lead taken by the Celtics proved to be decisive.

For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum scored 29 points while Derrick White managed to drop 26 points. For the Hawks, Dejounte Murray scored 29 points while Ice Trae Young managed 24 but all in a loss.

The Hawks, however, have five more chances left in the series to not only erase the 0-2 deficit but win it as well.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-warriors-draymond-green-suspended-one-game-for-stomping-on-chest-of-kings-sabonis-584047">Warriors' Draymond Green suspended one game for stomping on chest of Kings' Sabonis</a>

<h3>Cavaliers vs Knicks</h3>

The Cavs bounced back from the 0-1 deficit and equalised the series with a 107-90 against the New York Knicks. The scores were 25-22 in favor of the Cavs at the start of the second quarter but Cleveland then ran away with points in the second quarter, scoring 34 points against the Knicks' 17.

The lead taken by the Cavs was too much for the Knicks to erase even as they outscored the Cavs 30-25 in the fourth quarter. For the Knicks, Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson scored 22 and 20 points, respectively.

For the Cavaliers, Darius Garland scored 32 points while Caris LeVert scored 24 points.

<h3>Suns vs Clippers&nbsp;</h3>

Devin Booker and Kevin Durant scored 38 and 25 points, respectively as the Suns outscored the Clippers in the last two quarters of second game in NBA Playoffs Round 1. The game hanged in the balance at the mid-way with the score reading 59-59 but the Suns won it 123-109 win to bring the series at 1-1.&nbsp;

In the third and fourth quarter, however, read 33-28 and 31-22 in the Suns' favor as Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook's 31 and 28 points, respectively went in vain.

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The Phoenix Suns have managed to equalise the series against the Los Angeles Clippers while the Cavaliers did the same against the New York Knicks. The Boston Celtics, however, continued their winning run as they notched up a 2-0 lead in the seven-game Round 1 series against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Phoenix Suns have managed to equalise the series against the Los Angeles Clippers while the Cavaliers did the same against the New York Knicks. The Boston Celtics, however, continued their winning run as they notched up a 2-0 lead in the seven-game Round 1 series against the Atlanta Hawks. Here below are details of each game: Celtics vs Hawks The Celtics started red hot as they took a 61-49 lead by the half time which the Hawks could never erase as they lost Game 2 106-119. The third and fourth quarters were somewhat of a close contest between the two teams, but the early lead taken by the Celtics proved to be decisive. For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum scored 29 points while Derrick White managed to drop 26 points. For the Hawks, Dejounte Murray scored 29 points while Ice Trae Young managed 24 but all in a loss. The Hawks, however, have five more chances left in the series to not only erase the 0-2 deficit but win it as well. Also Read: Warriors' Draymond Green suspended one game for stomping on chest of Kings' Sabonis Cavaliers vs Knicks The Cavs bounced back from the 0-1 deficit and equalised the series with a 107-90 against the New York Knicks. The scores were 25-22 in favor of the Cavs at the start of the second quarter but Cleveland then ran away with points in the second quarter, scoring 34 points against the Knicks' 17. The lead taken by the Cavs was too much for the Knicks to erase even as they outscored the Cavs 30-25 in the fourth quarter. For the Knicks, Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson scored 22 and 20 points, respectively. For the Cavaliers, Darius Garland scored 32 points while Caris LeVert scored 24 points. Suns vs Clippers Devin Booker and Kevin Durant scored 38 and 25 points, respectively as the Suns outscored the Clippers in the last two quarters of second game in NBA Playoffs Round 1. The game hanged in the balance at the mid-way with the score reading 59-59 but the Suns won it 123-109 win to bring the series at 1-1. In the third and fourth quarter, however, read 33-28 and 31-22 in the Suns' favor as Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook's 31 and 28 points, respectively went in vain. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA Playoffs 2023: Suns vs Clippers, Cavaliers vs Knicks, Celtics vs Hawks scores and results

They may look cute and loved by their owners, but a Norway court has declared their cross-breeding to be an act of cruelty.

In an unprecedented landmark, Norway’s Oslo District Court recently ruled that breeding British bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a violation of the Norwegian Animal Welfare Act section 25 and will no longer be tolerated.

The judgement, which was hailed by the animal rights activist and criticised by breeders, has put an end to a longstanding debate in Norway where the breeders are accused of going to extreme levels in the quest for a cute dog at the expense of the animals’ well-being.

The ruling was prompted by a case brought in November 2021 by Animal Protection Norway group out of concern for the dog breeds’ numerous, critical health issues.

Inbreeding has caused the two breeds to develop a “disease guarantee”, a long list of hereditary illnesses that affect most individuals, the group argued.

“The man-made health problems of the bulldog have been known since the early 20th century. This verdict is many years overdue,” said Ashild Roaldset, the CEO of Animal Protection Norway in a post published by the group following the ruling.

“For several decades, sick dogs have been bred in violation of Norwegian law. Our dogs [have] been victims of systematic and organized betrayal of our four-legged friends. Today it has been confirmed that this is illegal.”

More than half of all bulldogs born in Norway over the past 10 years had to be delivered by caesarean section.

"The race's genetic inability to give birth naturally is reason alone for bulldogs not to be used for breeding," the district court judges wrote in their ruling.

The judgement stated that a conviction does not imply a ban on serious breeding of Bulldog or Cavalier, as serious and scientifically based cross-breeding could be a good alternative.

(With inputs from agencies)

They may look cute and loved by their owners, but a Norway court has declared their cross-breeding to be an act of cruelty. In an unprecedented landmark, Norway’s Oslo District Court recently ruled that breeding British bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a violation of the Norwegian Animal Welfare Act section 25 and will no longer be tolerated.

They may look cute and loved by their owners, but a Norway court has declared their cross-breeding to be an act of cruelty. In an unprecedented landmark, Norway’s Oslo District Court recently ruled that breeding British bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a violation of the Norwegian Animal Welfare Act section 25 and will no longer be tolerated. The judgement, which was hailed by the animal rights activist and criticised by breeders, has put an end to a longstanding debate in Norway where the breeders are accused of going to extreme levels in the quest for a cute dog at the expense of the animals’ well-being. The ruling was prompted by a case brought in November 2021 by Animal Protection Norway group out of concern for the dog breeds’ numerous, critical health issues. Inbreeding has caused the two breeds to develop a “disease guarantee”, a long list of hereditary illnesses that affect most individuals, the group argued. “The man-made health problems of the bulldog have been known since the early 20th century. This verdict is many years overdue,” said Ashild Roaldset, the CEO of Animal Protection Norway in a post published by the group following the ruling. “For several decades, sick dogs have been bred in violation of Norwegian law. Our dogs [have] been victims of systematic and organized betrayal of our four-legged friends. Today it has been confirmed that this is illegal.” More than half of all bulldogs born in Norway over the past 10 years had to be delivered by caesarean section. "The race's genetic inability to give birth naturally is reason alone for bulldogs not to be used for breeding," the district court judges wrote in their ruling. The judgement stated that a conviction does not imply a ban on serious breeding of Bulldog or Cavalier, as serious and scientifically based cross-breeding could be a good alternative. (With inputs from agencies)

Norway court bans breeding of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, British bulldogs

Kyrie Irving and LeBron James unleashed a historic scoring spectacle Friday to power defending champion Cleveland over Golden State 137-116 in the NBA Finals, ending the Warriors&#39; bid for a perfect playoff run.

Irving scored 40 points, hitting 15-of-27 shots from the floor and 7-of-12 3-pointers, while James added 31 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists to pull the Cavaliers within 3-1 in the best-of-seven championship series.

&quot;The magnitude of the game, it hit me in a very deep place,&quot; Irving said. &quot;You want to play extremely well and you understand that&#39;s a do-or-die game.&quot;

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Kyrie (40), LeBron (31) &amp; Love (23) combine for 94 points to help the <a href="https://twitter.com/cavs">@cavs</a> take Game 4 victory! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAFinals?src=hash">#NBAFinals</a> <a href="https://t.co/zD9DpZILbr">pic.twitter.com/zD9DpZILbr</a>
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No team has escaped a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA playoff series in 126 tries and the Warriors can claim the crown by winning game five at home on Monday in Oakland, California, but the Cavs made the greatest NBA Finals comeback last year from 3-1 down to beat the Warriors.

&quot;The job is still far from over,&quot; Irving said. &quot;We&#39;re still in a hole. But this is a good start.&quot;

Opening the game with the highest-scoring quarter and half in NBA Finals history, the Cavaliers became the first finals team trailing 3-0 to force a fifth game since the 1996 Seattle SuperSonics.

&quot;At the end of the day we&#39;ve just got some resilient guys,&quot; James said. &quot;We&#39;re battle tested, they&#39;re battle tested. And getting swept is something that you never want to have happen. You hate to get swept, lose two games on your home floor. So I think a lot of guys had that in their mind today, and they came out and played like it.&quot;

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LeBron is now 3rd all-time in most PTS scored in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAFinals?src=hash">#NBAFinals</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThisIsWhyWePlay?src=hash">#ThisIsWhyWePlay</a><a href="https://t.co/WUi1pW89Wo">https://t.co/WUi1pW89Wo</a>
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The defending champion Cavaliers snapped Golden State&#39;s NBA-record post-season win streak at 15 games. The Cavaliers shot 24-of-45 from 3-point range, setting a finals record for 3-pointers and ending one shy of matching the league&#39;s all-time record.

&quot;We were in attack mode,&quot; James said. &quot;It&#39;s going to be even tougher in game five. But we look forward to the challenge.&quot;

The ninth career NBA Finals triple-double by James broke the all-time record he shared with Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson. No one else has more than two.

Kevin Durant led Golden State with 35 points while Draymond Green added 16 points and 14 rebounds and Stephen Curry had 14 points, but the Warriors -- who never led -- could not manage the ninth sweep in finals history.

&quot;It would have (been special),&quot; Warriors guard Klay Thompson said. &quot;You can&#39;t hold on to it. It&#39;s gone. It&#39;s over with -- 16-1 sounds pretty damn good anyway. Forget about that undefeated talk. It&#39;s time to put on a show for our fans.&quot;

&#39;Cavs in Seven&#39;&nbsp;

Cleveland led 49-33 after the first quarter and 86-68 at half-time, the Cavaliers setting scoring records for any half or quarter in finals history. Irving had 28 points at half-time with 22 from James and 17 from Love.

The old mark of 81 points in a half was set by the 1982 Philadelphia 76ers.

A physical third quarter featured five of the game&#39;s seven technical fouls, two from heated talk between Durant and James after Love fouled Durant, another on Green that appeared to see him ejected before it was revealed that an earlier technical on him had instead been issued to Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

&quot;It was just an incredibly physical game,&quot; Kerr said. &quot;Ton of fouls called early, a lot of holding and grabbing and pushing and shoving. It got out of hand a little bit, and the third quarter it seemed like the game was stopping every time.&quot;

Asked about the weight of trying for playoff perfection, Kerr said, &quot;I don&#39;t think there was any concern or thoughts about history. I think it was we played a desperate team on their home floor, a great team, with great players, and they came out and handed it to us.&quot;

A James 3-pointer put Cleveland ahead 115-96 entering the fourth quarter. James rested for the first 97 seconds of the fourth quarter but two quick Warriors&#39; 3-pointers hastened his return as Golden State surged within 115-104.

But they never got closer.

Cavaliers fans were chanting, &quot;Cavs in seven&quot; in the final minutes. It&#39;s the same phrase J.R. Smith had posted on his Twitter feed, which he said was hacked.

Now he says that&#39;s not an impossible notion, a comeback to outdo the greatest comeback they made a year ago.

&quot;I wouldn&#39;t say it&#39;s out of the question,&quot; he said. &quot;If we play like we did tonight, it&#39;s very possible.&quot;

(AFP)

A LeBron James-powered Cleveland Cavaliers broke a raft of Finals records to open their account in the title-deciding playoff

Kyrie Irving and LeBron James unleashed a historic scoring spectacle Friday to power defending champion Cleveland over Golden State 137-116 in the NBA Finals, ending the Warriors' bid for a perfect playoff run. Irving scored 40 points, hitting 15-of-27 shots from the floor and 7-of-12 3-pointers, while James added 31 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists to pull the Cavaliers within 3-1 in the best-of-seven championship series. "The magnitude of the game, it hit me in a very deep place," Irving said. "You want to play extremely well and you understand that's a do-or-die game." Kyrie (40), LeBron (31) & Love (23) combine for 94 points to help the @cavs take Game 4 victory! #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/zD9DpZILbr — NBA (@NBA) June 10, 2017 × No team has escaped a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA playoff series in 126 tries and the Warriors can claim the crown by winning game five at home on Monday in Oakland, California, but the Cavs made the greatest NBA Finals comeback last year from 3-1 down to beat the Warriors. "The job is still far from over," Irving said. "We're still in a hole. But this is a good start." Opening the game with the highest-scoring quarter and half in NBA Finals history, the Cavaliers became the first finals team trailing 3-0 to force a fifth game since the 1996 Seattle SuperSonics. "At the end of the day we've just got some resilient guys," James said. "We're battle tested, they're battle tested. And getting swept is something that you never want to have happen. You hate to get swept, lose two games on your home floor. So I think a lot of guys had that in their mind today, and they came out and played like it." LeBron is now 3rd all-time in most PTS scored in the #NBAFinals! #ThisIsWhyWePlayhttps://t.co/WUi1pW89Wo — NBA (@NBA) June 10, 2017 × The defending champion Cavaliers snapped Golden State's NBA-record post-season win streak at 15 games. The Cavaliers shot 24-of-45 from 3-point range, setting a finals record for 3-pointers and ending one shy of matching the league's all-time record. "We were in attack mode," James said. "It's going to be even tougher in game five. But we look forward to the challenge." The ninth career NBA Finals triple-double by James broke the all-time record he shared with Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson. No one else has more than two. Kevin Durant led Golden State with 35 points while Draymond Green added 16 points and 14 rebounds and Stephen Curry had 14 points, but the Warriors -- who never led -- could not manage the ninth sweep in finals history. "It would have (been special)," Warriors guard Klay Thompson said. "You can't hold on to it. It's gone. It's over with -- 16-1 sounds pretty damn good anyway. Forget about that undefeated talk. It's time to put on a show for our fans." 'Cavs in Seven' Cleveland led 49-33 after the first quarter and 86-68 at half-time, the Cavaliers setting scoring records for any half or quarter in finals history. Irving had 28 points at half-time with 22 from James and 17 from Love. The old mark of 81 points in a half was set by the 1982 Philadelphia 76ers. A physical third quarter featured five of the game's seven technical fouls, two from heated talk between Durant and James after Love fouled Durant, another on Green that appeared to see him ejected before it was revealed that an earlier technical on him had instead been issued to Warriors coach Steve Kerr. "It was just an incredibly physical game," Kerr said. "Ton of fouls called early, a lot of holding and grabbing and pushing and shoving. It got out of hand a little bit, and the third quarter it seemed like the game was stopping every time." Asked about the weight of trying for playoff perfection, Kerr said, "I don't think there was any concern or thoughts about history. I think it was we played a desperate team on their home floor, a great team, with great players, and they came out and handed it to us." A James 3-pointer put Cleveland ahead 115-96 entering the fourth quarter. James rested for the first 97 seconds of the fourth quarter but two quick Warriors' 3-pointers hastened his return as Golden State surged within 115-104. But they never got closer. Cavaliers fans were chanting, "Cavs in seven" in the final minutes. It's the same phrase J.R. Smith had posted on his Twitter feed, which he said was hacked. Now he says that's not an impossible notion, a comeback to outdo the greatest comeback they made a year ago. "I wouldn't say it's out of the question," he said. "If we play like we did tonight, it's very possible." (AFP)

NBA finals: Cavaliers win to prevent Warriors' historic playoffs sweep

The NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers powered into the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday, downing the Toronto Raptors 109-102 to complete a four-game sweep of their playoff series.

LeBron James scored 35 points with nine rebounds and six assists as the Cavaliers subdued the desperate Raptors to remain unbeaten in eight games in these playoffs.

They&#39;re the first team to win eight games in a row over consecutive post-season runs.

In the Eastern Conference finals, the Cavaliers will play either the Boston Celtics or Washington Wizards for a place in the NBA Finals.

John Wall tallied 27 points and 12 assists as the Wizards defeated the Celtics 121-102 Sunday to level their series at 2-2.

The Celtics took a 2-1 lead over Washington into game four of their series later Sunday.

Kyrie Irving added 27 points for the Cavaliers and Kyle Korver scored 18 off the bench.

Korver&#39;s 16 first-half points helped the Cavaliers erase an 11-point first-quarter deficit and take a 61-49 half-time lead.

With their backs against the wall, down 16 points early in the third quarter, the Raptors responded, taking a 93-92 lead with 6:38 to play.

&quot;The closeout game is always tough,&quot; Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. &quot;They came out and competed, took an early lead, went up 11.

&quot;It was a tough game for us. We knew it would be, coming into a hostile environment.&quot;

But it marked the second straight year that the Cavs eliminated the Raptors from playoffs on their home floor. They beat them in six games in the Eastern Conference finals last season.

Serge Ibaka scored 23 points for the Raptors. DeMar DeRozan added 22 with eight assists.

But with Kyle Lowry on the bench for a second straight game with a sprained ankle, the Raptors couldn&#39;t match the Cavs&#39; firepower.

Irving put Cleveland in front with a three-pointer with 5:34 to play and made two free throws.

His lay-up with four minutes left had Cleveland up by eight. The Cavs out-scored Cleveland 17-9 over the final 6:15, Irving producing all 11 points in one key 11-2 Cavs run.

James played the entire fourth quarter -- but he&#39;ll have plenty of time to rest since the conference finals won&#39;t start before May 15.

In a closeout game, Lue said, &quot;he tries to go as far as we need him in that fourth quarter.&quot;

&quot;I tried to get him out for a couple of minutes, but he said, &#39;No, I&#39;m fine,&#39;&quot; added Lue, who did make sure that James got a bit of a breather by calling a timeout on the heels of a Toronto 20-second timeout.

James will be playing for a seventh consecutive NBA Finals appearance, having had four in a row with Miami and the past two with Cleveland, and his eighth overall. James is 3-4 in his trips to the championship series.

(AFP)

LeBron James scored 35 points with nine rebounds and six assists to beat Toronto Raptors 4-0

The NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers powered into the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday, downing the Toronto Raptors 109-102 to complete a four-game sweep of their playoff series. LeBron James scored 35 points with nine rebounds and six assists as the Cavaliers subdued the desperate Raptors to remain unbeaten in eight games in these playoffs. They're the first team to win eight games in a row over consecutive post-season runs. In the Eastern Conference finals, the Cavaliers will play either the Boston Celtics or Washington Wizards for a place in the NBA Finals. John Wall tallied 27 points and 12 assists as the Wizards defeated the Celtics 121-102 Sunday to level their series at 2-2. The Celtics took a 2-1 lead over Washington into game four of their series later Sunday. Kyrie Irving added 27 points for the Cavaliers and Kyle Korver scored 18 off the bench. Korver's 16 first-half points helped the Cavaliers erase an 11-point first-quarter deficit and take a 61-49 half-time lead. With their backs against the wall, down 16 points early in the third quarter, the Raptors responded, taking a 93-92 lead with 6:38 to play. "The closeout game is always tough," Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. "They came out and competed, took an early lead, went up 11. "It was a tough game for us. We knew it would be, coming into a hostile environment." But it marked the second straight year that the Cavs eliminated the Raptors from playoffs on their home floor. They beat them in six games in the Eastern Conference finals last season. Serge Ibaka scored 23 points for the Raptors. DeMar DeRozan added 22 with eight assists. But with Kyle Lowry on the bench for a second straight game with a sprained ankle, the Raptors couldn't match the Cavs' firepower. Irving put Cleveland in front with a three-pointer with 5:34 to play and made two free throws. His lay-up with four minutes left had Cleveland up by eight. The Cavs out-scored Cleveland 17-9 over the final 6:15, Irving producing all 11 points in one key 11-2 Cavs run. James played the entire fourth quarter -- but he'll have plenty of time to rest since the conference finals won't start before May 15. In a closeout game, Lue said, "he tries to go as far as we need him in that fourth quarter." "I tried to get him out for a couple of minutes, but he said, 'No, I'm fine,'" added Lue, who did make sure that James got a bit of a breather by calling a timeout on the heels of a Toronto 20-second timeout. James will be playing for a seventh consecutive NBA Finals appearance, having had four in a row with Miami and the past two with Cleveland, and his eighth overall. James is 3-4 in his trips to the championship series. (AFP)

Cavaliers beat Raptors to enter conference finals

American basketball player LeBron James has signed a landmark &nbsp;$100 million contract with the NBA (National Basketball Association) champion Cleveland Cavaliers, ESPN reported&nbsp; 
 
His agent Rich Paul told ESPN the new $100 million contract is for three years, with James earning $31 million next season, which would make him the highest paid player in the league.&nbsp;His salary would rise to $33 million in the 2017-18 season. 
 
Thursday&#39;s announcement, less than two months after James led the Cavaliers to their first NBA championship, had been widely expected. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m re-signing back with the Cleveland Cavaliers, my hometown team,&quot; James said in a video posted on sports news website Uninterrupted.&nbsp;&quot;I can&#39;t be more excited than this opportunity once again, man, to defend our crown, defend our title.&nbsp;We all know last year as a magical, inspiring, all the words you can come up with, it was an unbelievable season. I just can&#39;t wait to get the group back together.&quot; 
 
The 31-year-old James, a four-time NBA most valuable player, won two championships for the Miami Heat before returning to the Cavaliers in 2014, leading them to the NBA finals where they lost to the Golden State Warriors. 
 
The Cavaliers reversed that result this season, bringing the first professional sports championship to the Ohio city since 1964. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Under the 3-year contract, James will earn $33 million by 2017-18. This will make him the highest paid player in the league

American basketball player LeBron James has signed a landmark $100 million contract with the NBA (National Basketball Association) champion Cleveland Cavaliers, ESPN reported His agent Rich Paul told ESPN the new $100 million contract is for three years, with James earning $31 million next season, which would make him the highest paid player in the league. His salary would rise to $33 million in the 2017-18 season. Thursday's announcement, less than two months after James led the Cavaliers to their first NBA championship, had been widely expected. "I'm re-signing back with the Cleveland Cavaliers, my hometown team," James said in a video posted on sports news website Uninterrupted. "I can't be more excited than this opportunity once again, man, to defend our crown, defend our title. We all know last year as a magical, inspiring, all the words you can come up with, it was an unbelievable season. I just can't wait to get the group back together." The 31-year-old James, a four-time NBA most valuable player, won two championships for the Miami Heat before returning to the Cavaliers in 2014, leading them to the NBA finals where they lost to the Golden State Warriors. The Cavaliers reversed that result this season, bringing the first professional sports championship to the Ohio city since 1964. (Reuters)

LeBron James signs landmark $100 million deal with Cavaliers, says agent

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