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On This Date in Cavs Playoff History - April 17

The 61-win Cavaliers opened their First Round series against Chicago in convincing fashion – running out to an early 22-point lead and cruising to the 96-83 win over the Bulls at The Q.

Cleveland’s frontline of LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal (making his 204th career playoff start) and Antawn Jamison (plus Anderson Varejao off the bench) combined for 60 points, 36 boards and 11 blocked shots – dominating Chicago’s big men for most of the afternoon.

Derrick Rose got the Bulls to within seven, 78-71, midway through the fourth quarter, but LeBron (who led the Cavs with 24 points) and Mo Williams (who finished with 19) took over from there – with Williams drilling a three-pointer with under two minutes to play that put Cleveland up 13.

Anderson Varejao grabbed a game-high 15 boards as the Cavs snapped a nine-game postseason losing streak to the Bulls – with Cleveland’s previous win coming on May 25, 1992.