FIBA Basketball
USA - Prince lords it over Cavaliers
NEW YORK (NBA) - Team USA forward LeBron James will lead his Cleveland Cavaliers into the Eastern Conference semi-finals after completing a first-round series win over the Washington Wizards. James, who is on
NEW YORK (NBA) - Team USA forward LeBron James will lead his Cleveland Cavaliers into the Eastern Conference semi-finals after completing a first-round series win over the Washington Wizards.
James, who is on the Team USA provisional roster for the FIBA World Championship, collected 32 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as Cleveland won a second consecutive game by a single point, beating the Wizards 114-113 in overtime to complete a turnaround and clinch the series 4-2.
James has revitalised Cleveland in the three years since he was drafted out of high school, but this year is their first in the play-offs since 1998.
Now they can celebrate a first play-off series win since 1993 before going forward to face the Detroit Pistons in a tough semi-finals matchup.
While James carried his team throughout the game, it was little-used reserve Damon Jones who hit the game-winning shot with 4.8 seconds remaining.
James, who won both Games Three and Five with last-second shots, was double-teamed, but flipped the ball to Larry Hughes who found Jones for the clutch jumper.
Without any time-outs, the Wizards raced the ball upcourt and got a good look, but Caron Butler's three-pointer from the right wing hit the front of the rim.
Jones' effort capped a big night from the Cleveland bench. Donyell Marshall scored 28 points, Flip Murray 21 and Brazil's Anderson Varejao grabbed 10 rebounds.
Lithuania's Zydrunas Ilgauskas had six points and five rebounds for Cleveland.
Boasting two Team USA stars of their own - Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison - Washington were 101-94 ahead with just over two minutes remaining, but they could not cope with the Cleveland bench, who led the way in an 11-1 run which turned the game.
Arenas scored a game-high 36 points while Jamison finished with 15. Antonio Daniels scored 22 points and Butler added 18 and a career-high 20 rebounds for Washington.
France international Tony Parker, almost certain to play for his country in Japan this season, led the San Antonio Spurs to the decisive win in their first-round series with the Sacramento Kings.
Parker scored 31 points as the Spurs advanced to the Western Conference semi-finals, a 105-83 win sealed a 4-2 series success.
Team USA forward Bruce Bowen contributed 16 points and Tim Duncan 15 for the Spurs, who will now meet the Dallas Mavericks in the next round.
Argentina international Manu Ginobili had 10 points and six rebounds.
Mike Bibby scored 19 points and Wells added 17 with 11 rebounds for eighth-seeded Sacramento, who gave the best in the West all they could handle but ultimately were doomed by 41% shooting to go along with 20 turnovers.
The Kings also got virtually nothing offensively out of Ron Artest, who battled a sprained ankle to shoot two of 11 from the field.
PA Sport
James, who is on the Team USA provisional roster for the FIBA World Championship, collected 32 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as Cleveland won a second consecutive game by a single point, beating the Wizards 114-113 in overtime to complete a turnaround and clinch the series 4-2.
James has revitalised Cleveland in the three years since he was drafted out of high school, but this year is their first in the play-offs since 1998.
Now they can celebrate a first play-off series win since 1993 before going forward to face the Detroit Pistons in a tough semi-finals matchup.
While James carried his team throughout the game, it was little-used reserve Damon Jones who hit the game-winning shot with 4.8 seconds remaining.
James, who won both Games Three and Five with last-second shots, was double-teamed, but flipped the ball to Larry Hughes who found Jones for the clutch jumper.
Without any time-outs, the Wizards raced the ball upcourt and got a good look, but Caron Butler's three-pointer from the right wing hit the front of the rim.
Jones' effort capped a big night from the Cleveland bench. Donyell Marshall scored 28 points, Flip Murray 21 and Brazil's Anderson Varejao grabbed 10 rebounds.
Lithuania's Zydrunas Ilgauskas had six points and five rebounds for Cleveland.
Boasting two Team USA stars of their own - Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison - Washington were 101-94 ahead with just over two minutes remaining, but they could not cope with the Cleveland bench, who led the way in an 11-1 run which turned the game.
Arenas scored a game-high 36 points while Jamison finished with 15. Antonio Daniels scored 22 points and Butler added 18 and a career-high 20 rebounds for Washington.
France international Tony Parker, almost certain to play for his country in Japan this season, led the San Antonio Spurs to the decisive win in their first-round series with the Sacramento Kings.
Parker scored 31 points as the Spurs advanced to the Western Conference semi-finals, a 105-83 win sealed a 4-2 series success.
Team USA forward Bruce Bowen contributed 16 points and Tim Duncan 15 for the Spurs, who will now meet the Dallas Mavericks in the next round.
Argentina international Manu Ginobili had 10 points and six rebounds.
Mike Bibby scored 19 points and Wells added 17 with 11 rebounds for eighth-seeded Sacramento, who gave the best in the West all they could handle but ultimately were doomed by 41% shooting to go along with 20 turnovers.
The Kings also got virtually nothing offensively out of Ron Artest, who battled a sprained ankle to shoot two of 11 from the field.
PA Sport