Basketball: Cleveland sweep Atlanta, head to NBA Finals

ANKARA

 The Cleveland Cavaliers have disposed of the Atlanta Hawks, 118-88, in Game 4 on Tuesday night to become Eastern Conference champions and advance to the NBA finals for the first time since 2007.

The Cavaliers won the best-of-seven series in four games, accomplishing what is commonly referred to as a sweep. 

The Cavs dominated the game from start to finish. Lebron James led the way with 23 points 9 rebounds and 7 assists, his teammate JR Smith had a double-double, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds off the bench.

Cleveland point guard Kyrie Irving, who had missed the last two games because of tendonitis in his left knee, returned in Game 4 for a 16-point performance.

For Atlanta, which had a franchise best 60-win regular season, Jeff Teague scored 17 points and Demarre Carroll added 16 points.

This will be Lebron James's fifth consecutive visit to the NBA Finals.  The previous four trips to the finals, of which two ended successfully, were with the Miami Heat.

Lebron James also went to the finals in 2007 with the Cleveland Cavaliers for nightmarish sweep 4-0 by the San Antonio Spurs 

The Cavs will face either the Golden State Warriors or the Houston Rockets in the finals. 

The Warriors lead the Rockets three games to one. The next game takes place at the Warriors' home court, the Oracle Arena, on Wednesday at 9 p.m. eastern time (0100GMT).