ATLANTA: The final moments of the Cavaliers’ 100-99 victory Sunday to sweep the Atlanta Hawks turned from basketball to chess. With a crucial jump ball near the Hawks’ basket ultimately deciding the game, both sides were shuffling bodies everywhere.
The Cavs flipped Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith, moving Thompson near half court and sending Smith into the corner. When LeBron James won the tip over Hawks point guard Dennis Schroder, he tapped it toward Smith in the corner.
The Hawks’ Al Horford eventually got to the ball, but not in time to get a shot off and the Cavs advanced to the conference finals.