LeBron, Irving help Cleveland win opening playoff game

LeBron James and the other two members of Cleveland’s ‘Big Three’ led the Cavaliers to a comfortable home victory over Boston in the opening game of their playoff series.

Guard Kyrie Irving scored 30 points in his post-season debut, sinking his first five three-pointers. Forward Kevin Love had 19 points and 12 rebounds and James added 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

Isaiah Thomas came off the bench to lead the Celtics with 22 points and 10 assists, while back-up centre Kelly Olynyk added 12 points.

“Having four days of preparation and being with my brothers in the war room going over film, going into the game, you feel prepared,” Irving said. “I’m just glad I got Game One out of the way, all the nerves.”

Sunday marked the Cavs’ first playoff game in five years.

Elsewhere, Atlanta guard Kyle Korver ignited an electric atmosphere inside Philips Arena with a 21-point performance, lifting the Hawks past the visiting Brooklyn Nets 99-92 in Game One of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.

Brooklyn forward Thaddeus Young cut the Atlanta lead to 93-89 on a floater in the lane with two minutes to play but Hawks point guard Jeff Teague scored his team’s final six points to secure the win for top-seeded Atlanta.

Chris Paul scored 25 of his game-high 32 points in the second half as the Los Angeles Clippers pounded the San Antonio Spurs 107-92 in the opener of their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Blake Griffin added 26 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals for the Clippers, who won their eighth game in a row and 15th in 16. Guard Jamal Crawford came off the bench to score 17 points.

Reserve point guard Beno Udrih scored a playoff career-high 20 points, and Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol posted double-doubles as Memphis rolled over Portland 100-86 to take a 1-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.