THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS’ star trio came up big as the Eastern Conference champions opened their playoff campaign with a 106-101 win over the Detroit Pistons.
Reunited for the first time in the post-season since last season’s first round, LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love combined to lead the top-seeded Cavs past the relentless Pistons in game one of their first-round series in Cleveland on Sunday.
Irving posted 31 points, while Love — who dislocated his shoulder in last season’s fourth playoff game — contributed 28 points.
James dished up 22 points and 11 assists in a double-double display.
Seeded eighth in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons, who had a seven-point advantage erased inside the last 11 minutes when the Cavs went on a 30-18 run, were led by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (21 points) and Marcus Morris (20 points).
Elsewhere in the East, the Miami Heat dismantled the Charlotte Hornets 123-91 in game one.
The San Antonio Spurs had a far easier assignment on home court as they crushed the Memphis Grizzlies 106-74 in the opening game of their Western Conference first-round series.
With Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Brandon Wright absent, the West’s top-seeded Spurs condemned the Grizzlies to a 32-point loss in San Antonio.
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Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points, while LaMarcus Aldridge and Tony Parker added 17 point 15 points respectively.
Vince Carter led the Grizzlies — seeded seventh — with 16 points.
Out West, the LA Clippers easily accounted for the Portland Trail Blazers, 115-95.
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