(The Sports Xchange) – LeBron James scored 35 points and added eight rebounds and seven assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 115-94 Friday night to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series.
The Cavaliers can complete a sweep of the series in Game 4 on Sunday in Toronto. The Raptors, playing without injured point guard Kyle Lowry, led by three points after the first half.The Cavaliers took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter and took command of the game with a 20-3 run. James scored 13 points in the fourth quarter.
Kevin Love added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Kyrie Irving also scored 16 while Kyle Korver had 14 points. DeMar DeRozan led Toronto with 37 points while Jonas Valanciunas added 19 points and eight rebounds.
Spurs 103, Rockets 92
LaMarcus Aldridge scored at will in the paint before San Antonio turned a late barrage of 3-pointers into a victory over Houston in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal series at Toyota Center.
Aldridge, who scored four points in the Rockets’ blowout win in Game 1, had 26 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the field. Kawhi Leonard added 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as the Spurs took a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 is set for Sunday.
After a dunk by Rockets forward Trevor Ariza cut the deficit to 76-72 with 7:50 left, Aldridge and Leonard combined to score the next 12 points for the Spurs. The last Leonard basket was a 3-pointer, and when Danny Green followed with two 3-pointerss, the San Antonio lead was 94-82 with 3:15 left.
Rockets guard James Harden scored a game-high 43 points but had just five assists. Ariza totaled 17 points but had two after the intermission.
