Cavaliers 'big three' stand tall to win playoff opener with Pistons

Charlie Naismith 05:56 18/04/2016
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  • Star showing: Kyrie Irving.

    Cleveland’s ‘Big 3’ of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love all stood up when it was required on Sunday night, to edge the Detroit Pistons 106-101 in Game 1 of their first round playoff match-up.

    James scored 22 points with 11 rebounds, Love also double-doubled with 28 points and 13 rebounds while Irving top-scored with 31 points at Quicken Loans Arena.

    The result had a redemptive air for Irving and Love, who were both injured for the majority of Cleveland’s post-season run to the NBA Finals last year.

    Love, in particular, was a major force at both ends, pulling down 10 defensive rebounds and scoring two crucial 3-pointers in the closing stages.

    Detroit led 80-76 going into the fourth quarter but after Reggie Jackson’s 3-pointer with just over six minutes remaining tied the scores at 88-88, the Pistons never took the lead again.

    Marcus Morris claimed 20 points while Andre Drummond added 13 points with 11 rebounds but Detroit’s lack of playoff experience was shown up by a committed Cavs team who peaked at the right time.

    Meanwhile, Boston guard Avery Bradley will likely miss the rest of the Celtics’ first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks with a right hamstring strain.

    Celtics coach Brad Stevens revealed that Bradley underwent an MRI exam after being injured in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s 102-101 loss in the Eastern Confer- ence series opener in Atlanta.

    “As of right now I would say he’s out Tuesday night, but obviously he’ll continue to get treat- ment around the clock and go from there,” Stevens said. “So I would say very unlikely the rest of the series.”

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