LeBron James has guided the Cleveland Cavaliers back to the NBA Playoffs Finals after they closed out the Toronto Raptors 113-87.
A year after their chase for a championship was derailed by season-ending injuries to All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, the Cavaliers are hungry for the title they feel cruelly eluded them.
They crushed the Toronto Raptors 113-87 in Toronto to clinch the Eastern Conference title series 4-2.
James was on a mission to extinguish the Raptors with 33 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots.
"I don't think last year I appreciated it enough getting back to the finals," James, who has been to six straight finals series with two different teams, said.
"This year I am going to appreciate it."
The Cavaliers will play the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder lead the series 3-2 and can eliminate the Warriors on Sunday (NZT) with a win in game six in front of their wild Oklahoma City home crowd.
If the Warriors win, the series will be decided on Tuesday (NZT) in Oakland.
Newshub.
