Cavaliers reach East finals with sweep of Hawks
ATLANTA - Kevin Love scored 27 points, LeBron James hit a huge shot with 39.2 seconds to go, and the Cleveland Cavaliers finished off their second straight playoff sweep, beating the Atlanta Hawks 100-99 Sunday to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
The Hawks had one last chance to extend the series after James missed a 3-pointer with the clock winding down. Atlanta got the rebound and put the ball in the hands of Dennis Schroder, who led the team with 21 points.
The speedy point guard drove into the lane but was surrounded by James and Tristan Thompson. Schroder slipped and James tied up the ball, forcing a huge mismatch of a jump ball with 2.8 seconds left. With a 7-inch height advantage, James flicked the ball toward the sideline.
Paul Millsap tried to get off a desperation shot, but it was after the buzzer and didn't go in anyway.
Cleveland, who has yet to lose this postseason, will face the winner of the Toronto Raptors-Miami Heat series. Toronto leads the series 2-1.
The East finals are set to begin May 15 should the Raptors-Heat finish in six games or less, or will begin May 17 should the series need seven games.
It's the sixth time in franchise history the Cavaliers have reached the conference finals.