The Cleveland Cavaliers are yet to be defeated in this year's playoffs. After sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the first round, the Cavaliers were one win away on Sunday afternoon of sweeping the Toronto Raptors as well. With Cleveland leading the series 3-0, Game 4 was played on Sunday afternoon at Air Canada Centre in downtown Toronto. It was a sellout crowd of more than 20,000 Raptors fans who were hoping their team can win at least one game in this series and extend their season.
Toronto was shorthanded in Game 4 as they were playing without their All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry.
Lowry was sidelined with a left ankle sprain for the second straight game, and Cory Joseph started in his place.
Cleveland makes 16 'threes' and advances to the Conference Finals
It was a "win or go home" situation for Toronto and early on they played like a team that has nothing to lose. Midway through the first quarter they already had their biggest lead of the series at 18-8. Cleveland missed nine of its first 12 field-goal attempts but managed to tie the game at the end of the first quarter (28-28). It was in the second quarter when the Cavaliers started to pull away in this one.
They outscored the Raptors 33-21 in the period and held a 61-49 lead at halftime. Midway through the third period it was 74-64 for the away team and heading into the final quarter Cleveland had an 85-80 lead.
Toronto opened the fourth quarter on a 13-7 run and took a 93-92 lead early in the period. That was the closest they would come before
Midway through the third period it was 74-64 for the away team and heading into the final quarter Cleveland had an 85-80 lead. Toronto opened the fourth quarter on a 13-7 run and took a 93-92 lead early in the period.
That was the closest they would come before Kyrie Irving scored 11 straight Cavalier points to put Cleveland up eight - 103-95 and seal the deal in this one. The final score was 109-102 for Tyronn Lue's squad that shot 16-for-41 from behind the arc (39%) and forced Toronto into 13 turnovers.
LeBron James headed to his seventh consecutive trip to the Eastern Conference Finals
LeBron James led all scorers in Game 4 as he finished with 35 points. He was 11-for-22 from the field and 8-for-9 from the free-throw line. James also added nine rebounds and six assists. He finished the series against Toronto averaging 36 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists over the four games. James is now headed to his seventh straight Eastern Conference Finals as he continues to dominate the NBA world even at 32 years of age.
James is now headed to his seventh straight Eastern Conference Finals as he continues to dominate the NBA world even at 32 years of age. Kyrie Irving added 27 points and nine assists while Kyle Korver scored 18 off the bench for Cleveland.
Toronto Raptors had five players in double-digit scoring on Sunday. Serge Ibaka led them with 23 points while DeMar DeRozan added 22 points and a career playoff-high eight assists in his final game of the season. The Raptors used a different starting lineup in all four games of this series.
This was Cleveland's eighth straight win this postseason as they advance to the Conference Finals. They became the first team to win eight straight games in consecutive postseasons. The Cavs also have six sweeps in the past three postseasons.
