CNN
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The Cleveland Cavaliers completed the Miami Heat’s first round sweep in an impressive way on Monday, dominating the road to win a 138-83 Game 4 Road victory.
The Cavs concluded their 4-0 series victory with a big 55-point victory as six Cleveland players hit double digits in the night.
Cleveland’s winning margin in four games totaled 122 points, the biggest advantage of the NBA Playoff Series so far. Previous records were 121 points since the Denver Nuggets defeated New Orleans in 2009.
The 55-point victory margin in Game 4 was the fourth-largest playoff victory in history, with a record 58-point pimples being achieved twice. When they routed the New Orleans Hornets in 2009, the Mark and the Denver Nuggets Louis Hawks. In 1973, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 56 points.
The Cavs would have tied the record for the highest ever if Miami’s Pelle Larsson 3-pointer cut the lead to 55 with 38 seconds left.
“We handled the business. This is the toughest game in the series. For us, we’re really proud of it.
“We understand that this is special and have a bigger goal in mind. We’ve been doing special things all year round, but we never wiped out in the first round and reached the second.”
The Cavaliers scored the mark early in Game 4, leading 43-14 in the first quarter.
Cleveland entered a 72-33 halftime at Miami’s Caseyya Center, the third-largest lead after two quarters in NBA playoff history.
Visitors took the starters to rest for most of the fourth quarter to ensure a dominant victory, continuing their excellent regular season form, earning the Eastern Conference No. 1 seed with 64 wins.
It was the third time the heat has been swept through the Best Seven Series, and the team’s worst playoff loss in franchise history. Miami Guard Tyler Hero then said the team has a lot to do to improve for next season.
“Leaving Cleveland, we’re back in Miami. We didn’t expect this to be the tough last two games, both for losses of 40 and 50 points. “It’s embarrassing.”
“I’m definitely humble, I’ve got a good opportunity to do a lot of work and come back next season and try to understand this.”
The Cavaliers will face either the Indiana Pacers or the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
The possibility of chasing 3-1 in the first round series to the Pacers and reaching the next round looks even more severe after the team announced on Monday that star guard Damian Lillard suffered a left Achilles heel that was torn apart on Sunday.
Lillard was assisted by the court in the first quarter of Milwaukee’s Game 4 loss after falling to the floor, stretching the ball and clutching his lower legs. When he stood up, he was unable to put weight on his left leg and needed assistance to get to the locker room.
The Bucks on Monday revealed his torn Achilles tendon as the nine All-Stars received an MRI, saying they would not only get surgery but miss the rest of the season.
Lillard posted on social media shortly after his injuries were confirmed.
The injury could also put his participation in doubt next season. Kevin Durant missed the entire 2019-20 NBA campaign after toreting his Achilles tendon in the NBA Finals last season.
Lillard was injured in his third match since returning from a deep venous thrombosis in his right calf.
“To be honest, this is tough,” Bucks manager Doc Rivers said after Sunday’s game. “Clots, followed by this, that’s why you have teammates and family around him. He’s a really big, funny guy on the basketball level, but more importantly his teammates and father, and everything.”
“I admire him so much,” said Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetocomo. “A lot of people don’t see what Dame has to deal with, but we’re around him every day. It’s difficult. It’s difficult to be in his position. He’s one of the toughest and most mentally toughest people I’ve ever been to. So he’s him.”
Antetokounmpo added: “I think he’s going to overcome all the obstacles that were placed before him. Everyone will be there for him.
Game 5 between the Pacers and the Bucks is set in Indianapolis on Tuesday.
