NBA Wrap: LeBron’s historic night; Thomas an unlikely star; Roy injured in shooting

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Little Isaiah goes big0:51

NBA: Highlights from the NBA playoffs.

• May 3rd 2017
• 19 hours ago
• /video/video.news.com.au/News/

Isaiah Thomas is lighting up the playoffs.

CLEVELAND is running away with its Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Raptors after a 125-103 win on an historic night for LeBron James.

James needed just 14 shots to put up 39 points as he continually found his way to the free throw line (where he was 15/21) against a Toronto defence with no answers.

It saw the Cavs superstar move past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (5762 points) into second place on the NBA’s all-time postseason scoring list. Only Michael Jordan (5987) remains in front of James.

The Cavaliers hit 10/15 three-point attempts to grab a 62-48 halftime lead. Cleveland hit its first eight shots from downtown as James became just the fourth players in NBA history with 300 postseason triples.

Jonas Valanciunas was huge early for the Raps, hitting 9/10 shots for 19 points off the bench.

LeBron passes Kobe but is still chasing MJ. pic.twitter.com/KDRUkkA0No

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 4, 2017

The punishment continued in the second half as Raptors star DeMar DeRozan endured a nightmare night from the field (2/11 for five points) and fellow guard Kyle Lowry left the game with an ankle sprain.

Kyrie Irving added 22 points and 11 assists for the Cavs, who also received big contributions from substitutes Channing Frye (5/7 triples) and Iman Shumpert (14 points, six rebounds).

Toronto has now been blown out in its past five playoff trips to Cleveland, stretching back to last year’s conference finals. The Raptors head home for games three and four in a 2-0 hole.

ISAIAH THOMAS: NBA’S UNLIKELY STAR

Some notes on Isaiah Thomas, who is the toast of the NBA after scoring 53 points against Washington to give Boston a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final series:

— Thomas stands just 175cm tall, making him the shortest player in a league full of giants.

— He was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 60th and final pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He is now arguably outperforming every player picked ahead of him outside San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard. Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, Chicago’s Jimmy Butler and Golden State’s Klay Thompson are the other stars from that year’s crop. Australia’s Ater Majok, now playing in Lebanon, was taken at 58 by the Lakers.

— After averaging 20 points and six assists per game in his third season with the Kings, he completed a move to Phoenix because Sacramento signed Darren Collison to start at point guard. Collison averaged 13 points and four assists this season.

Like, it remains inexplicable that the Kings had Isaiah Thomas and were just like, "Nah, Darren Collison is better."

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) May 3, 2017

— After just 46 games with the Suns he was traded to Boston for Marcus Thornton (who lasted just nine games in Phoenix and is now in Washington) and a first-round draft pick Phoenix traded to draft Marquese Chriss.

— Thomas averaged 19 points and five assists in his first season with the Celtics, 22 and six in his second as he became an All-Star for the first time and 29 and six and his third as he joined the MVP discussion.

— On the eve of this year’s playoffs Thomas’ sister, Chyna, was killed in a car crash. After losing the first two games of Boston’s first round series against Chicago, he led the Celtics to four consecutive wins to progress to the conference semis.

Isaiah Thomas is the 2nd best player in the Eastern Conference

RT if you agree with @ColinCowherd pic.twitter.com/3gbTPmcTNX

— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) May 3, 2017

— After flying across America to attend his sister’s funeral, Thomas landed back in Boston at 4am and, the same day, scored 33 points in a game one win against Washington.

— After having his tooth knocked out in game one against the Wizards, Thomas spent several hours having major dental work before game two. He then went out and scored 53 points on what would have been his sister’s 23rd birthday to put the Celtics up 2-0 in the series.

God smiling down @Isaiah_Thomas..

— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) May 3, 2017

JAMES NOT HAPPY WITH BEER COMPANY

LeBron James thirsty for beer0:21

NBA: LeBron James figured he'd earned more than a trip to the stripe in the 3rd quarter, stopping off to have a good look at the beer selection courtside.

• May 2nd 2017
• 2 days ago
• /video/video.news.com.au/News/

A moment of levity by LeBron James has apparently turned into a dispute with beer company after the Cleveland Cavaliers star discovered that Great Lakes Brewing Co. used James’ likeness to promote one of its lagers.

A day after James swiped a bottle of Great Lakes brew during the Cavs’ win over the Raptors on Monday, the company used a picture of James in two tweets that have since been deleted to market Dortmunder Gold.

The Cleveland beer company also developed and sold a flavor shortly after James left the Cavs for the Heat in 2010 dubbed “Quitness,” which was described as “a dry hopped India pale ale that leaves a bitter aftertaste, perfectly describing the mood of Cleveland sports fans these days.”

James didn’t sound too thrilled about the situation ahead of Wednesday’s Game Two against the Raptors.

“This is about the last thing I’m trying to worry about right now, my agent and my legal team will take care of it, but yeah I know (Great Lakes) is trying to benefit off of me,” James told Cleveland.com. “And I heard they were the same company that made all those ‘Quitness’ beers, and now they’re trying to benefit off me this way? Yeah, it’s pretty funny.”

According to Cleveland.com, James and his associates were considering legal action against the company. ESPN reported that the tensions between the two sides had subsided after the company had taken down the tweets.

— Fox Sports US

FORMER STAR SHOT SHIELDING KIDS

Brandon Roy during his short-lived career in Portland. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

Former Portland Trail Blazers star Brandon Roy is recovering after being injured in a shooting in Los Angeles, reports said.

KING-TV in Seattle said Roy was treated for wounds following the shooting before returning to Washington state, where he works as a high school basketball coach.

USA Today reported the 32-year-old was injured as he shielded children from gunfire during the incident, which occurred outside his grandmother’s house.

“Like many others, we’re just learning of the injury suffered by former Trail Blazers player Brandon Roy in a shooting over the weekend in California,” the Blazers said in a statement.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Brandon and his family during this time.”

Roy played five seasons in Portland before retiring in 2011 because of knee problems. An attempted comeback in 2012 was cut short by a further knee injury.

— AFP