NBA play-offs: LeBron James helps Cleveland Cavaliers into second round

LeBron James has won four NBA MVP awards

LeBron James scored 45 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 105-101 win over the Indiana Pacers and into the second round of the NBA play-offs.

The 33-year-old, who has won three NBA Championships, faced elimination in the first round for the first time.

But he produced his third 40-point game of the series as Cleveland wrapped up the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series 4-3.

It earned them a second-round meeting with East top seeds Toronto Raptors.

The Pacers had ensured a tense deciding contest with a comprehensive 121-87 victory in game six on Friday.

But James made his first seven shots of the finale and finished the first half with 26 points, five assists and four rebounds.

He also became the first player to score 20 or more points 200 times in the play-offs and surpassed the record of Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen for most career post-season steals.

The Cavs have defeated the Raptors, who beat the Washington Wizards in round one, in both of the past two play-offs, including a 4-0 sweep in the 2017 Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Elsewhere on Sunday, James Harden scored 41 points as the Houston Rockets secured a dominant 110-96 victory over the Utah Jazz in the first game of their Western Conference semi-final.

The Rockets saw off the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 in round one, while the Jazz beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-2.

On Saturday, defending champions the Golden State Warriors eased to a 123-101 victory in game one of their Western Conference semi-final against the New Orleans Pelicans, who swept the Portland Trail Blazers in round one.

Despite the continued absence of All-Star point guard Stephen Curry due to an ankle injury, the Warriors dominated, with Klay Thompson scoring 27 points, Kevin Durant hitting 26 and Draymond Green adding 16 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists for a triple-double.

In round one, the Boston Celtics beat the Milwaukee Bucks 112-96 in their game-seven decider on Saturday.

The Celtics, who are without star players Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward due to injury, take on Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference semi-finals after the 76ers claimed a 4-1 series win over the Miami Heat.

NBA play-offs round two

Eastern Conference semi-finals

Toronto Raptors v Cleveland Cavaliers (Game one on Tuesday)

Boston Celtics v Philadelphia 76ers (Game one on Monday)

Western Conference semi-finals

Houston Rockets v Utah Jazz (Rockets lead best-of-seven series 1-0)

Golden State Warriors v New Orleans Pelicans (Warriors lead best-of-seven series 1-0)