The Austin Toros came back from a 0-1 deficit to win the 2012 D-League title against the Los Angeles D-Fenders. The Toros won Game 2 and the deciding Game 3 in Los Angeles.

The D-Fenders had the league’s best record followed by the Toros, who were a third seed.

Springfield had the second seed. Expansion Canton beat the Armor in the first round.

The Toros began their championship run with a 2-1 series victory against fifth-seeded Erie. In fact, Austin lost Game 1 of all three of its series only to win the the final two games of each one.

After winning at expansion Canton by 15 points in their regular-season finale, the Erie BayHawks returned to practice today as they get ready for Game 1 of their D-League playoff series against Austin on Thursday night at 7 at Tullio Arena.

Game 2 and Game 3, if necessary, will be Sunday and Monday, respectively, in Austin. A third seed, the Toros (33-17) picked the fifth-seeded BayHawks (28-22) as the top three teams got to select their first-round playoff opponent from the bottom four seeds.

After Monday’s practice, players Tyrone Brazelton, Joey Graham, Keith McLeod and Marvin Phillips talk about the playoff format and being chosen by the Toros.

The Erie BayHawks and Reno Bighorns will play a deciding Game 3 Thursday at 10 p.m. at the Reno Events Center after having two memorable games that went down to the final minute.

The second-seeded Bighorns won Game 1 Sunday, 106-101, at Tullio Arena in Erie, but the fifth-seeded BayHawks took Game 2 Tuesday, 114-111,  in Reno, Nev.

Tuesday’s win for Erie snapped Reno’s nine-game winning streak that began when the Bighorns beat the BayHawks at home, 100-89, on March 16.

The Reno-Erie winner will play Rio Grande Valley, the defending D-League champions, in the D-League semifinals. The third-seeded Vipers beat Bakersfield in three games.

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Rajon Rondo and Doc Rivers are on the same page for Boston, which is bad news for everyone else in the playoffs.

Come on David Stern.

We don’t need a break this long between playoff games. We really don’t, but then again, we’re not playing the games.

However, the time between these games is pretty ridiculous. Yo Dave, you’re better than that.

After playing Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday, the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics won’t play Game 3 until Saturday in Boston.

Game 3 of the Western Conference finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns will be Sunday in Phoenix.

They played Game 2 Wednesday.

What amazing is after Game 3 of these two respective series, the remaining games will be played every other day as long as each series continues.

That’s even more puzzling, but I have a greater issue with the time in between Game 2 and Game 3. Each team should take advantage of the time off, though.

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Here’s LeBron James talking about  his injured elbow after Thursday’s practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts.

With the Eastern Conference semifinals series tied 1-1, James will try to lead the Cavaliers to a Game 3 win in Boston on Friday night.

Charlotte needs its new owner, Michael Jordan, to turn back the clock and play in order to beat the Orlando Magic.

Orlando is doing it without Dwight Howard scoring a ton of points and being in foul trouble.

Boston is playing like it did early in the season.

No wonder they are each a game away from sweeping their respective first-round series in the Eastern Conference.

The Magic took a 3-0 lead Saturday by winning, 90-86 at Charlotte against the Bobcats. Howard had just 13 points and fouled out in the fourth quarter after playing just 26 minutes.

As for the Celtics, they can sweep the Heat  by winning Sunday’s Game 4 in Miami. Paul Pierce gave them a 3-0 series lead by hitting a game-winning shot at the buzzer to give Boston a 100-98 win.

Kobe Bryant had that look tonight.

Kobe Bryant scored 41 points in leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a Game 3 win at Denver tonight against the Nuggets.

Ya’ll know the one. Denver saw it much to its dismay.

Bryant’s 3-pointer over J.R. Smith with 1:08 remaining gave Los Angeles the lead for good as the Lakers took Game 3, 103-97, in the Western Conference finals Saturday night at Denver.

Looking exhausted after the game, Bryant finished with 41 points, including two clutch free throws to give Los Angeles a 101-97 lead with 22.2 seconds left.

As big as Bryant was tonight, Trevor Ariza, as he did in a Game 1 win for the Lakers, came up with big steal with Los Angeles up two, 97-95, with 36 seconds left. The play took on greater meaning because Carmelo Anthony fouled out on it as he grabbed Ariza in trying to prevent him from scoring an uncontested lay up.

Ariza came back from an injury to score 16 points.

In contrast, Anthony didn’t come up with the big game Denver needed from him. After dueling it out with Bryant in Game 1 and Game 2, Anthony scored just 21 on 4-of-13 shooting tonight. Now he did attempt 14 free throws, made 12 of them, but he was just 1-of-7 from 3-point range.

Game 4 is Monday at Denver.

LeBron James' only 3-point basket won the game for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Wow.

That was the word LeBron James used in describing his buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give Cleveland a dramatic 96-95 win against the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals Friday night at Quicken Loans Arena.

James said more than that, though.

On how the fans reaction to the shot…
“Wow. I mean, the reaction from the fans and my teammates. It was; the loudest it has ever been in this building was the first time I made the playoffs my third year and we faced Washington (in the first round). When we won that game, the towels was out. It was unbelievable. I lost my wind soon as I ran out on the court. Tonight surpassed that by 10 times. It was unbelievable. You couldn’t hear anything except the roar of those 20,000-plus fans, man. They deserved it. They deserved it.”

On the final shot…
“Well, the first option was for me to fake up and go for the lob. Two things happened. We had 6-10 Rashard Lewis on Mo so it was going to be a difficult pass. When I went to go for the lob, Hedo (Turkoglu) never bit on it. I told Mo, whatever it was going to take from me, I was going to get the ball. No matter what happened. If the first, third, second, all the options run out, I’m coming to get the ball. I knocked down the shot. Biggest shot I’ve made in my career.”

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Kobe Bryant scored 32 points, but wasn't able to lead the Lakers past Denver in Game 2.

Orlando won in Cleveland.

So Denver decided to take one in Los Angeles.

While everyone seemingly wants to see the Lakers and Cavaliers meet in the NBA Finals so LeBron James and Kobe Bryant can duel it out, the Magic and Nuggets have other ideas.

After Orlando won Game 1 at Cleveland on Wednesday night, Denver rallied to defeat the Lakers in Game 2 Thursday, 106-103, to even the Western Conference finals series at 1-1 heading into Saturday’s Game 3 at Denver.

Having stolen home court from the Lakers, the Nuggets have a chance to take command of the series in Game 3 and 4 at home.

It’s clear Denver is more physical than the Lakers, but what’s not certain is if the Nuggets can continue to play this well under extreme pressure.

Final score: Cleveland Cavaliers 97, Atlanta Hawks 82

Atlanta coach Mike Woodson and his Hawks had no answer for LeBron James in Saturday's Game 3 loss against Cleveland.

Analysis: The Hawks gave a better effort at home, but they had no answer for the league MVP. LeBron James scored 47 points, one short of his NBA playoff high, and carried the Cavaliers to victory. Atlanta actually lead in the second half, but lack of execution, plus not being able to stop James, led to defeat. Cleveland can close out the series in Monday’s Game 4.

The go-getter: Who else but LeBron James (Cleveland). James had a game-high 47 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and only one turnover. The guy was 5-of-10 from 3-point range. Simply unstoppable.
The brick-layer: Josh Smith (Atlanta) shot 8-of-18 from the field for 18 points. Hate to be so tough on the guy, but for someone who is 6-foot-10 and as athletic as even James, he settled for too many jump shots against a Cleveland front line that can’t match him physically. He only attempted four free throws Saturday.
The stunning stats: This is becoming the norm. James shot 12-of-16 from the free throw line. As a team, Atlanta was 7-of-11.
The play: James banked in 3-point shot with 1:25 remaining in the first half from the left side and he’s a right-handed player. Scary.

What’s next: Game 4 Monday at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
What to expect: Get out the brooms. Cavaliers will complete their second consecutive sweep of a playoff series with a win Monday.