Camille Naredo

Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles against the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden on February 28, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. Maddie Meyer, Getty Images/AFP 

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 28: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles against the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden on February 28, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Cavaliers defeat the Celtics 123-116. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.   Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Maddie Meyer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Article (news)

Cleveland Cavaliers v Boston Celtics

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1745912702006AFP__20250301__2202596538__v2__HighRes__ClevelandCavaliersVBostonCeltics.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles against the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden on February 28, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. Maddie Meyer, Getty Images/AFP "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles against the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden on February 28, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. <em>Maddie Meyer, Getty Images/AFP </em></span></span></span></div><p>LOS ANGELES -- The Cleveland Cavaliers thrashed the Miami Heat to cruise into the next round of the NBA playoffs on Monday as the Golden State Warriors battled past the Houston Rockets 109-106 to move to the brink of a series victory.</p><p>After pounding Miami 124-87 in game three on Saturday, No.1 Eastern Conference seed Cleveland once again piled on the misery for their outclassed opponents with a crushing 138-83 victory to complete a 4-0 series win.</p><p>The 55-point drubbing was the largest series-clinching victory in NBA playoff history and sets up a series against either the Indiana Pacers or Milwaukee Bucks in the next round.</p><p>Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers scoring with 22 points on a night when six Cleveland players finished in double figures.</p><p>With Darius Garland (toe) missing from the Cleveland line-up, Mitchell received support from De&#x27;Andre Hunter with 19 points, Ty Jerome (18) and Evan Mobley (17).</p><p>Mitchell said Cleveland had been determined to wrap up the series swiftly.</p><p>&quot;We came out here with a goal in mind,&quot; Mitchell told TNT television. &quot;To keep our foot on their throat and on their neck and continue to play 48 minutes of basketball.&quot;</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vt39sGG_sQ8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>That ruthlessness was apparent from the tip-off, with Cleveland rapidly opening up a monster 43-17 lead after the first quarter against a shell-shocked Miami.</p><p>The Cavs cranked up the pressure in the second quarter, stretching their lead to as many as 45 points before reaching half-time with a whopping 72-33 lead.</p><p>The punishment continued after the break, with the Cavaliers keeping the points flowing to build on their advantage, opening up a 48-point lead at 96-48 midway through the third quarter.</p><p>That lead had grown to 111-63 heading into the fourth quarter, and the carnage continued in the final frame as Cleveland romped home.</p><p>Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said the series loss underscored the gulf between the two teams.</p><p>&quot;Damn, it was humbling,&quot; Spoelstra said. &quot;This series was humbling. These last two games were embarrassing. But Cleveland is a very good team... we were as irrational as we usually are thinking that we have a chance to win this series, and they showed us why we weren&#x27;t ready for that.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>- Butler inspires Warriors -</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IWRkKFa7Lwk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>In Monday&#x27;s other playoff game, Jimmy Butler made a dazzling return from injury for Golden State in a pulsating Warriors victory over Houston in San Francisco.</p><p>Butler -- who was injured in a controversial incident in game two last week and missed game three with a pelvic contusion -- scored 27 points to help Golden State take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.</p><p>An ill-tempered contest frequently threatened to boil over, with several shoving matches erupting at different periods of a hard-fought scrap at the Chase Center.</p><p>While Stephen Curry had a quiet night with 17 points, Brandin Podziemski rained in six-of-11 three-pointers to finish with 26 points.</p><p>Houston had led by seven early in the second half, but saw that lead whittled away after an inspired 18-1 run by Golden State that put the home side in control.</p><p>While Houston fought back to open up a four-point lead late in the fourth, Golden State rallied to claw back the initiative with five late Butler free throws to seal victory.</p><p>&quot;Jimmy was just amazing,&quot; Golden State coach Steve Kerr said, revealing that the 35-year-old six-time NBA All-Star had fought through the pain from his pelvis injury throughout the game.</p><p>&quot;If it were the regular season, he&#x27;d probably miss another week or two but it&#x27;s the playoffs and he&#x27;s Jimmy Butler,&quot; Kerr added.</p><p>Butler, whose arrival from Miami in February breathed new life into Golden State&#x27;s season, said his move had reignited his love for basketball.</p><p>&quot;I would die for these guys,&quot; Butler told TNT. &quot;I got my joy back. I always say that we got the most confident guys. Anybody can put the ball in the basket, but more than anything we&#x27;re locking in defensively and when we limit our turnovers we&#x27;re hard to beat.&quot;</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>The Cleveland Cavaliers thrashed the Miami Heat to cruise into the next round of the NBA playoffs on Monday.</p>

The Cleveland Cavaliers thrashed the Miami Heat to cruise into the next round of the NBA playoffs on Monday.

NBA: Cavaliers scorch Heat in sweep, Warriors down Rockets in thriller

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NBA: Cavaliers scorch Heat in sweep, Warriors down Rockets in thriller

Agence France-Presse

Published Apr 29, 2025 03:46 PM PHT

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