NBA-National Basketball Association roundup

May 18 (The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are living up to the top spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. After drubbing the Toronto Raptors in Game One of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night, the Cavaliers are looking downright unbeatable with a 9-0 record this postseason to show for it. The Cavs are rolling, and James and Kyrie Irving are a big reason why. James scored 24 points and Irving, the team's leading scorer this postseason, had 27 as the Cavs made just seven 3-pointers but shot 55.4 percent and scored 56 points in the paint. "(Tuesday) they wanted us to be in the paint," James said. "We tried to take advantage of that. I keep telling you we're not a jump-shooting team. We're a balanced team. We're able to do whatever the game dictates, and we're able to adjust to that." The Cavaliers are the first team to win their first nine postseason games since the 2012 San Antonio Spurs, who won their first 10 before losing four straight to Oklahoma City. - - - LeBron James' lifetime deal with Nike could be worth more than $1 billion. The Cavaliers star's business manager and agent, Maverick Carter, suggested in a GQ story that James' lifetime Nike endorsement deal might top $1 billion. During the interview with the magazine, Carter was asked about rapper Kanye West's contention that the agreement was worth $1 billion. Carter smiled and pointed one finger skyward. "Yeah, it's a fantastic deal. Nike feels great about the deal," Carter told GQ. "That's the most important thing. As great as I feel, as great as LeBron feels -- Nike feels fantastic about it. "It's the largest deal in the history of the company. Their hope is he makes even more. And our hope is that, too, obviously." James signed the lifetime contact with Nike in December. The deal was reported as the largest single athlete guarantee in the sports apparel company's history. - - - The Houston Rockets plan another interview with Philadelphia 76ers assistant Mike D'Antoni for their head coaching opening. According to ESPN.com sources, the 76ers' associate head coach has landed a second interview with Houston and is an "increasingly serious candidate." D'Antoni, 65, will meet this time with Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, according to ESPN. The Rockets met with D'Antoni and former Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel after Rockets interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff withdrew from consideration for the position earlier this month. The Rockets fired Kevin McHale just 11 games into what was the first season of a three-year deal. - - - (Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)