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LeBron James produced game highs of 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists Wednesday to spark the Cleveland Cavaliers over Washington 113-87, avenging a loss to the Wizards five days earlier. |
James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player who rejoined Cleveland this season after four years at Miami, has struggled to pull the team’s talent together after only one month of the NBA season. But after a four-game losing skid, the Cavaliers have improved to 7-7, 1.5 games behind Central division leader Chicago, while the Wizards, who lead the Atlantic division, fell to 9-5.
Kevin Love added 21 points and Australian guard Kyrie Irving contributed 18 points for the Cavaliers, who also had 15 points off the bench from guard Dion Waiters. Wizards reserve Rasual Butler led Washington with 23 points while Paul Pierce paced the starters with 15 points and Polish centre Marcin Gortat added 12 points in a losing cause.
Five days after they were embarrassed in a 91-78 loss in Washington, the Cavs controlled this one from the start. James led the way, adding 10 rebounds and eight assists in 36 minutes. The four-time MVP, who called his team “fragile” during a recent four-game losing streak, was energized from the start as he powered to the basket and imposed his will on the Wizards.
“We played basketball the right way,” James said. “We shared the ball. We defended. We sustained effort for as close to 48 minutes as possible. I’m very happy and pleased with the way we’ve played the past two games.”
With Cleveland up by 19, James took a seat with 7:52 left, getting an early start on the Thanksgiving holiday, when he plans to watch his beloved Dallas Cowboys.Rasual Butler scored 23 and Paul Pierce had 15 for the Wizards, who got only six points from leading scorer John Wall. The speedy point guard had 28 in last week’s dominant win over Cleveland and went in averaging 27 in his previous three games against the Cavs. Wall attempted just six shots while being closely watched by several defenders.
“They hit us in the mouth first,” Wall said. “Every team plays different at home. Whenever we got close, they made the big shot and the big play.”
James missed 13 of 21 shots last week in D.C., and was guilty of quitting on a play and standing under Cleveland’s basket as the Wizards went on a five-on-four break the other way. In the first quarter Wednesday, James lost the ball trying a crossover dribble, but he didn’t give up, racing back and stopping an easy bucket. “You just can’t give up on plays,” he said. “It starts with me.” Cleveland coach David Blatt said the ugly loss at Washington last week “got our attention.” The Cavs committed 19 turnovers, couldn’t contain Wall and shot a season-low 36 percent while being outplayed at both ends before a national TV audience. Afterward, Blatt said his team was “a little bit in the dark.”
The Cavs seem to be emerging from it. Their ball movement was better, they helped each other on defence and they didn’t stand around waiting for James to carry them.“I thought we played the way we should play,” said Blatt, who cracked several jokes during his postgame interview session. “It’s been a while since I laughed.”
Wizards coach Randy Wittman was disappointed in his team’s defense, which usually leads to fast-break points.