Cavs sweep into Eastern finals

Durant tied a play-off career high with 41 points as Thunder pull level with Spurs

LOS ANGELES: The Cleveland Cavaliers punched their ticket to the NBA Eastern Conference finals on Sunday, holding off a desperate Hawks team 100-99 in Atlanta to complete a sweep of their second-round play-off series.

Kevin Love scored 27 points and tied his career-high with eight three-pointers to help Cleveland wrap up the 4-0 series victory.

The Cavs, who fell to the Golden State Warriors in last year’s NBA Finals, will play either Toronto or Miami for a chance to return to the championship series. Kyrie Irving scored 21 points and handed out eight assists. James added 21 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists — and came up big defensively on Atlanta’s final possession.

The Cavaliers were up 100-99 with 10 seconds to play when James tied up Atlanta’s German point guard Dennis Schroder on a drive inside the paint.

James won the ensuing jump ball as Cleveland held on for the win.

Once again Cleveland were on fire from three-point range. They hit 16 three-pointers on Sunday, 10 in the first half, taking their tally for the final three games of the series to 62.

“We’re in a great rhythm right now,” James said. “We know where everyone is on the floor and exactly where we should be.”

Schroder, who finished with 21 points, led a balanced Hawks attack, with five Atlanta players scoring in double figures. The Hawks led by as many as 12 in the second quarter, but they couldn’t hold off the eventual onslaught and the Cavs can now catch their breath as Miami and Toronto battle on in a series in which the Raptors lead 2-1. DURANT LIFTS THUNDER In Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant tied a play-off career high with 41 points to lead the Thunder to a 111-97 victory over the San Antonio Spurs that knotted their Western Conference second-round series at two games apiece.

Down by four after three quarters, Oklahoma City outscored the Spurs 3416 in the fourth quarter. NBA play-offs second round results on Sunday: Eastern Conference At Atlanta Cleveland 100 Atlanta 99 (Cleveland win series 4-0) Western Conference At Oklahoma City Oklahoma City 111 San Antonio 97 (Series tied 2-2)

— USA Today Sports Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after a play against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter in game four of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

— USA Today Sports Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James (23) drives to the basket past Atlanta Hawks’ Al Horford (15) and Thabo Sefolosha (25) in game four of the second round of the NBA Play-offs at Philips Arena.