CLEVELAND, April 28 – Antawn Jamison had 25 points, LeBron James finished just shy of a triple-double and the Cleveland Cavaliers punched their ticket to the quarter-finals by beating Chicago 96-94 on Tuesday.James, who finished the game favouring his right elbow, had 19 points, including 16 in the second half. He also collected 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Cavs won the series four games to one.
Cleveland now meets Boston, who wrapped up their series against Miami in five games on Tuesday. Boston and Cleveland contested a hard fought seven-game series in 2008.
"I think it’s a great matchup. It’s great for basketball – such a classic series," said Boston’s Paul Pierce. "They’re the team to beat right now. They showed it through the course of the season the way they played. We know this is going to be a tough series, another really, really tough series."
James appeared to be unable to lift his right arm late in the game. He was forced to shoot a free throw left-handed with seven seconds left.
Cleveland’s Delonte West finished with 16 points and Shaquille O’Neal had a spirited effort with 14 points and eight rebounds.
Derrick Rose scored 31, but missed a key shot with just over a minute left for the Bulls. Luol Deng added 26 points in the loss.
Boston’s Ray Allen drained five three pointers in the second half and finished with 24 points for the Celtics in a 96-86 win.
Boston advanced with the help of 16 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists from Rajon Rondo.
Heat star Dwyane Wade scored 31 points. He had a franchise playoff record 46 points in game four to help Miami survive an elimination game.
The Celtics made four three-pointers in the first five minutes of the third and took a 67-46 lead with seven minutes left. But Mario Chalmers nailed consecutive three pointers and Wade followed soon after with a pair of free throws and a pair of three-pointers to make it 69-62 with 2:18 left in the third.
Miami cut it to three before Allen drove and drew a foul and goaltending call on Joel Anthony.
