Cavaliers come out on top in fierce Game 3, take 3-0 series lead

Max Bultman

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Cavaliers come out on top in fierce Game 3, take 3-0 series lead image

LeBron James fell to his knees as the final buzzer sounded on Sunday's Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, seemingly exhaling for the first time all night. He earned it. 

James finished with 37 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists as the Cavaliers beat the Hawks, 114-111, to take a 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.

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James took the team on his back in overtime, despite being hobbled by what he said are a multitude of injuries. He scored the team's final five points, including a clutch three in the left corner to take the lead.

“I worked extremely hard as the leader, and knew I needed to make some plays down the stretch,” James said on TNT. “It’s a great feeling to make plays for my teammates, and I was able to make a few.”

The game took a strange turn at the end of the first half, when Atlanta center Al Horford, who had 14 points in the first half, was controversially ejected for elbowing Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova.

Without Horford in the second half, though, Atlanta hung tough. James recovered from an 0-for-10 start from the floor to finish regulation with 32 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists. It was James' second-consecutive triple double, and his 12th career playoff triple double, good for second all-time.

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There was another chaotic sequence at the end of regulation in which James appeared to be tripped up by the knee of an Atlanta play in transition, falling to the court and losing control of the ball. But there was no whistle, and the Hawks brought the ball up court while James pleaded for a foul call. 

Atlanta's Mike Scott got to the rim with a chance to go up three points with under 20 seconds to play, but Cavaliers forward Tristian Thompson came up with a massive block to keep Cleveland within one. Iman Shumpert was fouled on the ensuing scrum, and he made one of two free throws to tie the game. Jeff Teague had a chance to win the game, but he missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Overtime was a back-and-forth affair that saw the lead change hands four times in just five minutes. Teague and James traded 3s with under a minute to play, setting up a thrilling finish that saw Atlanta get two chances to tie late. But they couldn't convert, and will now need a win in Game 4 to avoid a sweep.

Teague did everything he could to knock off the Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving-less Cavs. He scored 30 points, dished out seven assists and grabbed six rebounds. Paul Millsap scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a very balanced scoring effort for Atlanta.

Highlight:

Jeff Teague blows by the Cavs for this lay-in:

LeBron James throws down the slam over two Hawks defenders:

What's Next: Game 4: Tuesday, May 26th 8:30 p.m. (ET) at Cleveland (TNT)

Max Bultman