NBA playoffs Sunday: Cavs & Rockets win, Celtics & Jazz each tie their series

NBA Playoff Sunday gave us four great games as we head into week two of the posteason. The Cavaliers sent the Pacers fishing, the Rockets took a commanding 3-1 lead, and both the Celtics and Jazz tied up their series. Here is what went down on Sunday.

LeBron James has now won 21 straight first round playoff games. The man rarely loses and he definitely does not lose in the first round.

Russell Westbrook and Steven Adams gave a press conference yesterday after the Thunder lost to the Rockets in an exciting, close, and sloppy Game 4 during the first round of the NBA playoffs. Sorry, let me rephrase that: Steven Adams didn’t give much of a press conference at all, because when a reporter asked him a question, Russ stepped in and this happened:

[*Steps up to podium*] Let’s walk through this and break it down, because the hot takes concerning this one minute and thirty-five seconds of #content are probably only going to heat up as Monday morning progresses. And, in reality, I don’t think it’s all that take-able. It’s just a series of events that illustrate a series of facts, and I think these are the facts.

The Rockets and Thunder were engaged in a thrilling basketball game until a free throw shooting contest broke out during the fourth quarter.

With 4:11 on the clock, the Rockets began intentionally fouling Andre Roberson, who shot 42.3 percent from the free throw line this season. Roberson missed both shots, so the Rockets did it again. And again. And once more.

The Clippers and Jazz played a competitive fourth quarter, until the Jazz started pulling away in the final minutes.

In those final minutes, Blake Griffin looked sad, as he was out with an injury that’ll keep him sidelined through the rest of the postseason. It’s hard to blame him, when it feels like this constantly happens to the Clippers.

The Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics are in the midst of an intense Game 4, but that didn’t stop Robin Lopez from helping Jae Crowder tie his shoe:

There’s quite a bit to dissect here, so let’s start from the beginning.

If you thought Russell Westbrook was finished breaking records, you haven’t been paying much attention to this season.

Westbrook recorded his third consecutive playoff triple-double, posting 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in the first half of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 4 showdown against the Houston Rockets on Sunday. In doing so, he recorded the fastest playoff triple-double in the last 20 seasons, according to ESPN.

The Cleveland Cavaliers advanced to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs on Sunday, sweeping the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 with a 106-102 victory. They did it thanks to LeBron James, whose laborious effort produced 33 points on 13-of-25 shooting, nine rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks to deliver the Pacers their first four-game sweep in franchise history.

James’ performance against the Pacers was a microcosm of his sheer dominance in playoff first rounds.

The Indiana Pacers are fighting for their playoff lives in Game 4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Lance Stephenson is trying to take matters into his own hands.

With the Cavaliers down by five points with about seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Lance tried to get past LeBron James with a flurry of crossovers ... and failed miserably.

At this point of his career, LeBron James is known for a few things. Chasedown blocks are one of them, and if Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young didn’t know that already, he learned it the hard way on Sunday.

James tracked down Young on a fast break like a heat-seeking missile and detonated for a ferocious block in the third quarter of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Game 4 matchup against the Pacers. It was part of a second-half run in which Cleveland extended its lead to 12.

The Chicago Bulls still lead the series at 2-1, but they’ll need to come up big in Chicago to hold off the Boston Celtics on Sunday. Without Rajon Rondo, the Bulls will need all they can get from Jimmy Butler to go up 3-1 on the Celtics.

Game 4 between the Celtics and Bulls will air on TNT at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The Rockets lead the series 2-1 but Oklahoma City is coming off their first win of the playoffs on Friday night. The Thunder and will look to tie the series up at two games a piece at home in Chesapeake Energy Arena on Sunday.

Sunday’s 3:30 pm ET matchup will air on ABC for the first time this series. Game 1 and 2 were on TNT and Game 3 was on ESPN. Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Lisa Salters will be on hand to call Game 4 on Sunday.

After an NBA Saturday that provided some unforgettable moments, Sunday’s hoop lineup features a quarter of games each with increasing intrigue.

Kicking off NBA Sunday is a showdown between the No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers and the No. 7 Indiana Pacers. The Pacers trail the Cavaliers, 0-3, in the series and are on the brink of being swept on their home floor. Paul George and Lance Stephenson will need two huge games to get a W over Cleveland, but they will have to change the way they defend LeBron James and the Cavs’ spread lineup if they want a shot.