CHICAGO — LeBron James left Cleveland the first time because he didn’t have enough help around him. Now that he’s back, the hired hands carried the Cavaliers within one step of the NBA Finals. ADVERTISING CHICAGO — LeBron James left
CHICAGO — LeBron James left Cleveland the first time because he didn’t have enough help around him. Now that he’s back, the hired hands carried the Cavaliers within one step of the NBA Finals.
James had 15 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds while struggling through another lousy shooting night, Kyrie Irving reinjured his left knee in the second quarter and did not return and yet the Cavs still eliminated the Chicago Bulls with a 94-73 victory in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals because of the role players.
Matthew Dellavedova scored 19 points, Iman Shumpert had 13 points and seven rebounds and J.R. Smith had 12 points and eight rebounds.
The Cavs will now get some much-needed rest. They won’t play again until opening the conference finals on Wednesday, either at home against the Washington Wizards or at the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks can close out the Wizards in their best-of-seven series Friday night.
Irving particularly can use the time off. He re-aggravated his left knee injury in the second quarter when he stepped on another player’s foot and twisted his knee. Irving hobbled off the floor and had to be helped to the locker room, where his knee was rewrapped. The Cavs officially declared Irving as probable to return, but when he was still limping coming out of the locker room — and with the lead in double figures — he was downgraded to doubtful. He played just 12 minutes.
Once Dellavedova began splashing 3s in the third quarter and James made consecutive baskets to push the lead to 67-48, there was little need for Irving to risk further injury.
James’ continued his mastery in closeout situations. He hasn’t lost a series when given multiple times to eliminate a team since 2006.
“I just love the moment and I just try to not waste the opportunity,” James said. “Is it always going to work out that way? No. There’s gonna be series where you can close out and win and you just don’t do it. For me, my mindset is just to go out and try to win every game.”
James has now eliminated the Bulls in four of the last six years. The Cavs, meanwhile, are now 8-2 this postseason and advance to their fifth conference finals in franchise history. It’s their first trip since 2009 when they were eliminated by the Orlando Magic. The Cavs went 3-1 against the Wizards during the regular season — winning the last two games by a combined 64 points — while they went 1-3 against the Hawks.
