The Cleveland Cavaliers and the San Antonio Spurs won their opening National Basketball Association second-round playoff games Sunday.
The Cavaliers defeated the visiting New Jersey Nets 81-77 to take an early lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series. LeBron James netted 21 points to help hold off New Jersey.
Action stays in Cleveland for Tuesday's game two.
The Spurs beat the host Phoenix Suns 111-106 for the lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series. Tim Duncan led San Antonio with 33 points and 16 rebounds.
Steve Nash scored 31 points for the Suns, but he missed the final crucial 45 seconds of the game with a bleeding cut on his nose from colliding head-on with San Antonio's Tony Parker.
Game two is Tuesday in Phoenix.
In Monday's NBA playoffs, Chicago will be looking to even its East semifinal series with Detroit in game two, and Golden State and Utah play the first game of their West semifinal series.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
