Cleveland's Two Heartbreaking Losses

Both of these losses happened in the same round. 2008 and 2010 were Eastern Conference semifinals, and Boston ended Cleveland's season both times.

Start with 2008. The series went the distance and Cleveland lost it 3-4. In Game 7 in Boston, LeBron James scored 45 points and Paul Pierce scored 41. Boston won 97-92 and went on to win the title.

Sit with that pairing, because it is the lesson in one line. He scored 45 against Boston in the playoffs twice, and the first time his team went home. His best playoff night against them came a decade later: 46 points in Game 6 of the 2018 Eastern Conference finals. The 2008 series still reads 3-4, whatever that Game 7 box score says.

2010 was the shorter version. Cleveland lost the series 2-4, and Game 5 at home in Cleveland was lost 120-88, with LeBron finishing on 15 points and 7 assists.

That 2010 series was his last as a Cavalier before The Decision. The next entry in his list of teams is Miami, 2010 to 2014.