Celtics 93 Cleveland 101 (Cleveland wins series 4-0)

BOSTON--LeBron James dribbled out the final 20 seconds while players embraced as the Cavaliers completed a sweep of the Celtics.

It may have been the calmest, most congenial 20 seconds of a physical game that left two players with potentially serious injuries and Cleveland wondering if Kevin Love would be ready for the next round.

One thing is certain: Love was angry after Cleveland beat Boston 101-93, a game he left midway through the first quarter on Sunday (Monday morning, Singapore time) with a dislocated left shoulder.

Kelly Olynyk had his right arm entangled with Love’s left arm—a move Love called “bush league” and intentional—as both went for a loose ball. Love grabbed his left shoulder and ran immediately to his locker room. Boston coach Brad Stevens said deliberately hurting a player is not in Olynyk’s personality.

“I thought it was a bush-league play,” Love said after the game. “Olynyk was in a compromising position, had no chance to get the ball, and it’s just too bad that he would go to those lengths to take somebody out of the game and do that to someone. I have no doubt in my mind that he did that on purpose.”

James, who led Cleveland with 27 points, said he’s “seen a lot of tie-ups in my day, but that one looked different.”

“It didn’t look like a basketball play,” he added. “We want to play the game of basketball the right way. You want to be physical, but you never want the game to get out of hand.”

The Cavaliers’ said Love would return to Cleveland and receive additional examination, imaging and evaluation at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health over the next 24 hours before his status is updated.

Their series victory over Boston was the first since beating the Bulls in the opening round in 2010.

It was also their first sweep since 2009, when they did it against Detroit and Atlanta before losing to Orlando in six games in the Eastern Conference finals.

“We have some vets but we’re a young team together,” James said. “The Celtics gave us the test that we needed.” AFGENCIES

OTHER RESULTS

Other results

San Antonio 105 LA Clippers 114 (Series tied at 2-2, Western Conference)

Toronto 94 Washington 125 (Washington wins series 4-0 Eastern Conference)

Houston 109 Dallas 121 (Houston leads series 3-1, Western Conference)

STAT OF THE NIGHT

5

The number of times James has reached the finals, winning it twice, in the 10 playoffs he has played during the last decade.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT

“We are all men here. We don’t need to cry. It’s playoff basketball. You need to move forward.” Boston’s Isaiah Thomas on the physical play with Cleveland.

TODAY’s GAMES

Brooklyn v Atlanta (Starhub Ch 216, 7am. Eastern Conference)

Chicago v Milwaukee Eastern Conference

Portland v Memphis Western Conference