Basketball On The Internet.

MATTHEW Dellavedova today took Aussie NBA fans on a deja-vu journey with a game reminiscent of Patty Mills' performance for San Antonio in last year's Finals close-out game.

Sure, Cleveland's 94-73 road win over Chicago to clinch their Eastern Conference semi final 4-2 didn't win a Championship but it was up there in terms of courage and stepping up to the challenge.

For starters, Delly copped it from the Bulls crowd when he entered the game, fans unforgiving for his role in "Leg-lock-gate" which led to Taj Gibson's expulsion in Game 5.

(Gibson doesn't shove him to the floor in the first place, it never happens. But I digress.)

The first thing Delly did in the face of his sudden notoriety was lob a ball for a Tristan Thompson dunk. Nice.

But that was small potatoes. Bear in mind LeBron James (15 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds) was playing hurt (ankle, back) and Kyrie Irving went out of the match early in the second quarter with a knee injuury when scores were tied 35-35.

Factor in the absences (already) of Kevin Love (shoulder) and Anderson Varejao, and it was going to take something special for the Cavs to close this out.

But Dellavedova came up huge. He not only played wicked, committed defence on Derrick Rose, but he unleashed a team-high 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting.

Delly pointing acknowledgement to King James for a sweet assist is a sight we long should savour.

The hard-nosed guard has only topscored once before for the Cavs in 149 games.

But he answered the call big-time.

“He’s the toughest guy in the team,” James said.

“I know he’s tough as nails and the one thing about Delly is he never makes one mistake.

“I’m so happy for him and proud of his performance in the absence of Kyrie.”

Iman Shumpert, well known for his own ability to turn a game, also was impressed. “Told y'all - Delly’s da man,” Shumpert trumpeted.

The Bulls had no answers after Irving subbed out at the 9:47 minute mark of the second quarter, the Cavs exploding with a 23-9 run to close the half.

Dellavedova was the catalyst, but typically modest in his own post-match comments.

“They put so much attention on Bron and you know he’s going to find you when you’re open," he said.

"Kyrie was out for the second half so I knew I was going to be out there. It’s easy to let shots go when your teammates have that much confidence in you.

“I’ve pictured myself making important plays in the game.

“It was nice to be able to help the team out tonight.”

James said Delly was tough because he played rugby in Australia.

Maybe for a second, the King though Delly was from Maryborough in Queensland. But Maryborough in Victoria? That's Aussie Rules territory.

And today, Delly ruled.

There was another unlikely hero in the Western Conference semi final at Staples Center in LA, leading the way for Houston as it squared its series with the LA Clippers at 3-3.

Unwanted mid-season by the Detroit Pistons, Josh Smith was the star with 14 fourth quarter points as the Rockets overturned a 19-point deficit to run out 119-107 winners.

The decider is back in Houston and for the Clippers, outscored 40-15 in a close-out game at home? It doesn't seem the best strategy with a road Game 7.

The Clippers' capitulation was one of the great playoff chokes of recent memory, bungling a 19-point lead and outscored 18-0 from their 102-94 buffer.

Ahead 112-102, the Rockets were not going to lose. It was actually a 25-2 run to 119-104 before Chris Paul stroked a consolation triple.

Blake Griffin, who finished with 28 points for Los Angeles, didn’t score in the final period, nor did Matt Barnes or DeAndre Jordan.

In fact, L.A. froze and second-guessed away its golden opportunity to march into the Western Conference Final for the first time in franchise history.

“We gave this one away, there’s no doubt about that,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.

“We got very tentative.

“Very few people even wanted to shoot in stretches. It happens, but it’s awful to watch."

It sure was.

 

SEMI FINALS

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Golden State v Memphis

Golden State 101, Memphis 86
Memphis 97, Golden State 90
Memphis 99, Golden State 89
Golden State 101, Memphis 84
Golden State 98, Memphis 78
Golden State leads 3-2

Houston v L.A. Clippers

L.A. Clippers 117, Houston 104
Houston 115, L.A. Clippers 109
L.A. Clippers 124, Houston 99
L.A. Clippers 128, Houston 95
Houston 124, L.A. Clippers 103
Houston 119, L.A. Clippers 107
Series tied 3-3

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlanta v Washington

Atlanta 106, Washington 90
Washington 104, Atlanta 98
Washington 103, Atlanta 101
Atlanta 106, Washington 101
Atlanta 82, Washington 81
Atlanta leads series 3-2

Cleveland v Chicago

Chicago 99, Cleveland 92
Cleveland 106, Chicago 91
Chicago 99, Cleveland 96
Cleveland 86, Chicago 84
Cleveland 106, Chicago 101
Cleveland 94, Chicago 73
Cleveland wins series 4-2

 

FIRST ROUND

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Golden State 106, New Orleans 99
Golden State 97, New Orleans 87
Golden State 123, New Orleans 119, OT
Golden State 109, New Orleans 98
Golden State won series 4-0

Houston 118, Dallas 108
Houston 111, Dallas 99
Houston 130, Dallas 128
Dallas 121, Houston 109
Houston 103, Dallas 94
Houston won series 4-1

Memphis 100, Portland 86
Memphis 97, Portland 82
Memphis 115, Portland 109
Portland 99, Memphis 92
Memphis 99, Portland 93
Memphis won series 4-1

L.A. Clippers 107, San Antonio 92
San Antonio 111, L.A. Clippers 107, OT
San Antonio 100, L.A. Clippers 73
L.A. Clippers 114, San Antonio 105
San Antonio 111, L.A. Clippers 107
L.A. Clippers 102, San Antonio 96
L.A. Clippers 111, San Antonio 109
L.A. Clippers won series 4-3

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Washington 93, Toronto 86, OT
Washington 117, Toronto 106
Washington 106, Toronto 99
Washington 125, Toronto 94
Washington won series 4-0

Chicago 103, Milwaukee 91
Chicago 91, Milwaukee 82
Chicago 113, Milwaukee 106, 2OT
Milwaukee 92, Chicago 90
Milwaukee 94, Chicago 88
Chicago 120, Milwaukee 66
Chicago won series 4-2

Cleveland 113, Boston 100
Cleveland 99, Boston 91
Cleveland 103, Boston 95
Cleveland 101, Boston 93
Cleveland won series 4-0

Atlanta 99, Brooklyn 92
Atlanta 96, Brooklyn 91
Brooklyn 91, Atlanta 83
Brooklyn 120, Atlanta 115, OT
Atlanta 107, Brooklyn 97
Atlanta 111, Brooklyn 87
Atlanta won series 4-2