LeBron, Cavs pushed to limit but not done yet

CLEVELAND — LeBron James walked sluggishly down a corridor inside Quicken Loans Arena following Game 7 surrounded by the usual squadron of security personnel, some business associates and his publicist.

Each step seemed a challenge. His eyes were heavy. He ached from head to toe. He wanted to lie down.

James was moving on to the second round of the NBA playoffs — almost on his hands and knees.

"I don't think he's appreciated enough for just how much energy he puts into every single game to do what he does," Cavaliers forward Kyle Korver said of James. "It's just unbelievable."Pushed to his physical limits by the Indiana Pacers, and barely helped by Cleveland teammates until they finally showed up when it mattered most Sunday in a 105-101 win, James willed the Cavs into the next round, where they'll face the top-seeded Toronto Raptors for the third straight postseason.

If the Indiana series was any indication, James might have to do it again.

James scored 45 points — his third game over 40 in the series — and the 33-year-old added nine rebounds and seven assists in 43 exhausting minutes as the Cavs closed out the Pacers, a team they swept in the first round a year ago. James, who improved to 13-0 in the first round, would have played all 48, but he succumbed to leg cramps in the third quarter and had to go to the locker room for treatment and fluids.

But while he was out at the start of the fourth quarter, something unexpected happened. The Cavs didn't collapse, and just maybe showed that they're going to be a much different team when they face the Raptors.

As James caught his breath, Cleveland went on a 10-2 run. Kevin Love, who may have nightmares about Indiana's big men for some time, hit a 3-pointer, and George Hill, in the rotation after missing three games with back spasms, attacked the rim. By the time James checked back in, the Cavs had pushed their lead to 10 and only had to withstand one more charge to silence the Pacers.

For Cavs coach Tyronn Lue, the 3:35 stretch was vital. Not only did the Cavs survive without James, they thrived and potentially gained some confidence.

"That was big," he said.