The semifinal matchups in the National Basketball Association playoffs are set, after the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs won their two playoff series Friday.
LeBron James scored 23 points to lead the Cavaliers to an 88-72 win over the New Jersey Nets. Cleveland jumped out to a 22-point lead in the first half, then overcame a furious New Jersey comeback.
Cleveland won the Eastern Conference best-of-seven series 4-2. The Cavaliers will meet the Detroit Pistons in the conference finals, beginning Monday on Detroit's court.
In the Western Conference, San Antonio's Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan keyed the Spurs in eliminating the Phoenix Suns, 114-106. Ginobili had 33 points and 11 rebounds. Parker scored 30 points, while Duncan had 24 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high nine blocked shots.
San Antonio won the best-of-seven series 4-2. They will meet the Utah Jazz in game one of the conference finals Sunday in San Antonio. It will be the Spurs' third trip to the Western Conference finals in five years.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
