WASHINGTON (AFP) — Cleveland star LeBron James notched his third career playoff triple-double on Friday as the Cavaliers ousted the Washington Wizards from the National Basketball Association playoffs.
James scored 27 points with 13 rebounds and 13 assists to lead the Cavaliers to a 105-88 victory that clinched the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series 4-2.
In the next round, the Cavaliers will play either the top-seeded Boston Celtics or eighth-seeded Atlanta Hawks, who were playing game six of their best-of-seven matchup later Friday.
The Celtics went into game six in Atlanta with a 3-2 lead.
In Washington, James turned in a sparkling all-around performance to put the finishing touches to what has been a hostile series. He had plenty of help, however, from his supporting cast.
Wally Szczerbiak scored 26 points and Daniel Gibson added 22 for the Cavaliers, who eliminated the Wizards for the third straight postseason.
In Friday's clinching win, Szczerbiak and Gibson shot a combined 10-of-19 from three-point range.
Antawn Jamison collected 23 points and 15 rebounds for the Wizards, who played the final two games of the series without injured star Gilbert Arenas.
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