The NBA playoffs standings has the Cleveland Cavaliers going for a 4-0 sweep of the Atlanta Hawks in Game 4, as LeBron James has the Cavs up 3-0 in the series and this comes as the Golden State Warriors are up 3-1 after the Houston Rockets won on Monday to push the western conference finals into a fifth game behind a huge performance from James Harden.
--UPDATE: The Cavaliers won Game 4 over the Hawks, taking the series 4-0.
The Cavaliers were able to pull out Game 3 on Sunday night with another strong performance from LeBron James and now they are one win away from a sweep. James has been averaging a triple double in this series and the Cavaliers have done it without Kevin Love and a healthy Kyrie Irving. The Hawks have been banged up and now they are one game away from heading home after finishing first in the east this season.
The game on Tuesday night is in Cleveland and that is where the Cavaliers hope to end things. The Cavs could use some rest and with the finals starting in early June, they could book themselves at least a week with a win. Irving could use that time to heal and while James has played great, he said that he is banged up as well. James is averaging a triple double in the series and he has never done that for the duration of a series in the playoffs. The team can clinch the series sweep with another win.
The Warriors were blown out in Game 4 against the Rockets, as Houston was able to start off very fast, taking a 45-22 lead in the first quarter. The team won 128-115 and saved some face heading into Game 5, as the team did not want to get swept after having such a solid season. The Rockets finished second in the west, but they went down 3-0 in the series and now they are playing for pride, as no team has ever come back from that deficit in the NBA playoffs before.
Stephen Curry left the game for a bit after hurting his neck, but he was able to return, but the Warriors were not quite the same. The team does not have much to worry about, but if it gets to a Game 6 that will add some fatigue to things and hey, anything can happen. Harden was electric after going just three for 16 in Game 3, as he had 45 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Draymond Green had another strong game for the Warriors, putting up 21 points, 15 rebounds and four assists.
The Warriors got 24 points from Klay Thompson and the Rockets got 12 rebounds from Dwight Howard, who challenged his team before Game 4 to win after going down 3-0. The Rockets now have to try and battle back once again and this time the next game will be in Oakland. James and the Cavs will try and close out the Hawks, while the Warriors can finish off the Rockets in Game 5.
