Cavs and Spurs claim NBA playoffs wins

Cleveland put one foot in the Eastern Conference final of the NBA play-offs with victory over Toronto, while San Antonio won in Houston to lead their series.

NBA champions Cleveland have one foot in the Eastern Conference final of the NBA play-offs after another emphatic win over Toronto.

The Cavs won 115-94 to go 3-0 up in the series, with just one more victory required to advance.

LeBron James scored 35 points while Kevin Love added a double-double (16 points, 13 rebounds) as the Cavs maintained their 100 per cent record in this year's post-season.

"We knew we were coming to a hostile environment, we knew they were going to give us everything they had, no matter who was in the lineup," James said.

"We just had to weather the storm."

DeMar DeRozan recorded 37 points but the Raptors - minus injured guard Kyle Lowry (ankle) - are staring down the barrel, with game four on Sunday afternoon in Toronto.

"Sunday's game is about pride," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "You don't want to get swept, especially in your home building."

San Antonio Spurs have the advantage in their Western Conference tussle with Houston after an 11-point road win gave them a 2-1 lead in their semi-final series.

Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge both registered 26 points in the 103-92 success.

Boomers guard Patty Mills scored 15 points off the bench, as life without star guard Tony Parker (quad injury) began with victory for the Spurs.

Parker's absence was the first time the Spurs had played a postseason game without him since 2001, ending an NBA record of 221 straight playoff appearances for the Frenchman.

"You can't replace Tony Parker. He's a Hall of Famer one day, but I think guys just came out with a sense of urgency and just played hard," Aldridge said.

Aldridge had managed just 19 points combined in the first two games, but stepped up in game three.

"I do what the team needs," Aldridge said. "Tonight this was needed and I did it.

"So I'm always going to try to be aggressive out there and try to make things happen."

Rockets star James Harden had 43 points but his overall influence was affected by his team's poor shooting.

"We had several opportunities," Harden said.

"As a unit we couldn't get it going consistently."

Game four is in Houston on Sunday night.


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Source: AAP



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