Lebron takes it to bank at buzzer
CLEVELAND» Lebron James banked in a running one-hander at the buzzer, giving Cleveland a 105-103 win over Toronto on Saturday night in Game 3 and shoving the Raptors to the edge of their most devastating playoff exit.
After the Raptors tied it on rookie OG Anunoby’s 3-pointer with eight seconds left, James took the inbounds pass, dribbled the length of the floor and in one motion, dropped his 17-footer in front of Toronto’s stunned bench.
The Cavs ran and mobbed James, and moments later he was back up on the scorer’s table — just like after a game-winner against Indiana last round — to celebrate a win that was up for grabs.
James finished with 38 points, Kevin Love added 21 and 16 rebounds and Kyle Korver 18 for the Cavs, who can sweep the Raptors for the second straight year.
Kyle Lowry scored 27 for Toronto, which clawed back in the fourth quarter with all-star Demar Derozan on the bench.
After winning two games in Canada, the Cavs came home and won a brawl with the Raptors, who just can’t beat James. He’s 11-2 against Toronto in the past three postseasons.
The three-time champion has ended the Raptors’ past two seasons, and despite playing with a different supporting cast, James is one win from a Toronto trifecta.
Of the 129 teams in NBA history to fall behind 3-0, none has come back to win.
This was supposed to be the Raptors season, the one that ended in triumph over James. Toronto had the East’s best record, the No. 1 seed, home-court advantage and a Cleveland team that appeared very beatable.
But the Cavs stole Game 1 by a point in overtime, and James scored 43 in a magnificent Game 2 performance.
He then delivered a potential series-ending dagger with another moment that belongs with any in his remarkable career.
Celtics 101, 76ers 98. Al Horford scored the goahead basket for Boston late in overtime in a wild Game 3 where Philadelphia gave away the basketball and the confetti, leading the Boston to the win and a 3-0 series lead.
The ending to regulation was about as wild as it gets for both teams. Philadelphia’s JJ Redick threw away the basketball on an errant pass to no one that was scooped by Boston’s Terry Rozier who threw to Jaylen Brown for the basket and an 89-87 lead.
Seconds later, the 76ers’ Marco Belinelli stunned everyone with a falling 22-footer in front of his bench as time expired that sent the game into overtime — and confetti mistakenly blasted from the cannon. There was about a seven-minute delay while team employees scrambled to clean up the mess on the court. Some players even scooped up confetti as everyone waited for the start of overtime.
Belinelli opened OT with a 23footer and Redick followed with a 3 that appeared to take him off the hook.
But the Celtics wouldn’t let them pull away and Horford escaped for a layup with 5.5 seconds that gave Boston a 99-98 lead. Ben Simmons then threw the ball away after a timeout and Horford sealed the win with two free throws.
Jayson Tatum scored 24 points and Rozier had 18 for Boston.
Joel Embiid had 22 points and 19 rebounds for the Sixers, Redick scored 18 and Simmons 16.
The Celtics, who rallied from a 22-point deficit to beat the 76ers 108-103 in Game 2, is looking to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight season.
The highlight came on Belinelli’s shot at the horn that had the Sixers mobbing him in a wild celebration. Confetti Guy — wearing a “Breaking News: I Don’t Care” T-shirt — pushed the button too early and the rectangular pieces were soaring everywhere.
Confetti Guy — who declined to give his name — came over to press row and said the Sixers “better win or I’m done.” They didn’t.
Horford hit the big shots in the final minute of overtime to silence what had been a rabid crowd.