Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (second from left) drives to the basket defended by New York Knicks forward Kyle O’Quinn (second from right) during their NBA game at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Friday. (USA TODAY Sports)
DPA/Los Angeles
With LeBron James and Mo Williams handling the scoring load down the stretch, the Cleveland Cavaliers turned to their stingy defence for a piece of franchise history.
‘King’ James tossed in 12 of his 31 points in the final quarter and Williams added 20, including the tiebreaking jumper with 41 seconds left on Friday, carrying the visiting Cavs to their eighth straight victory, 90-84 over the New York Knicks.
Cavs coach David Blatt praised James after matching the 1976-77 club for the best start through nine games at 8-1.
“He’s such a mature and knowledgeable player, he knows where he has to have the most impact on the game,” Blatt said of the four-time league MVP. “He’s just the greatest player in the game. He knows what to do and plays to win.”
The Cavs had not lost since opening night but were in jeopardy of having their streak stopped.
They trailed 72-66 entering the final quarter but held their hosts to just 12 points on just 4-of-21 shooting.
“Defensively, we locked down in the fourth quarter and Mo came up big,” James explained. “We’re going to make our mark defensively, and that should be our staple every game.”
Down by four, James’ 15-foot jumper capped a personal 6-0 run to give the Cavs an 84-82 advantage with 76 seconds left. The Knicks quickly knotted it on an Arron Afflalo jumper with 59 ticks to go.
Williams, then, splashed down the go-ahead jumper and added four free throws to seal the Cavs’ second win over the Knicks in the last nine days.
“Mo Williams has proved his value here,” Blatt said. “He’s a big part of what we’re doing.”
Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points but just four in the second half for the Knicks (4-6), who shot a frosty 37 per cent from the field in defeat. “We need to learn how to close out games,” Anthony said. “I know LeBron James is unstoppable but come on, man.”
Elsewhere
Indiana Pacers 107, Minnesota Timberwolves 103: Paul George scored 29 points, Monta Ellis added 24, and the Pacers (6-4) held off the visiting T-Wolves for their sixth win in seven games.
Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine netted 26 apiece for the T-Wolves (4-5) who cut a 27-point third-quarter deficit to 101-100 with 78 seconds left before suffering a third straight loss.
Toronto Raptors 100, New Orleans Pelicans 81: Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas scored 20 points apiece, the host Raptors (7-3) pulled away to beat the Pelicans.
Eric Gordon scored 30 for New Orleans (1-8), again playing without All-Star big man Anthony Davis because of a hip injury.
Memphis Grizzlies 101, Portland Trail Blazers 100: Zach Randolph hit the game-winning layup with six tenths of a second left, Spaniard Marc Gasol had a season-high 31 points, and the Grizzlies (4-6) edged the visiting Trail Blazers to end a four-game slide.
CJ McCollum had 26 points in Portland’s (4-6) fourth consecutive loss.
Oklahoma City Thunder 102, Philadelphia 76ers 85: Russell Westbrook collected his second straight triple-double, with 21 points, a career-best 17 rebounds and 11 assists, and the Thunder (6-3) minus Kevin Durant (left hamstring strain) dropped the visiting Sixers to 0-9 this season.
Boston Celtics 106, Atlanta Hawks 93: Isaiah Thomas had 17 of his 23 points in the second half with 10 assists, and the Celtics (4-4) closed on a 10-0 run, to cage the visiting Hawks, playing without coach Mike Budenholzer, because of a family matter.
Orlando Magic 102, Utah Jazz 93: Frenchman Evan Fournier scored 21, Tobias Harris added 19 with 13 rebounds, and the Magic (5-5) beat the visiting Jazz for their fifth win in the last seven games.
Gordon Hayward and Trey Burke scored 16 points apiece for the Jazz (5-5) losers of three straight.
Chicago Bulls 102, Charlotte Hornets 97: Jimmy Butler’s game-sealing jumper with five seconds left capped a 27-point outing, and Spaniard Pau Gasol added 19 with 13 rebounds as the host Bulls (6-3) stopped the Hornets’ four-game winning streak. Frenchman Nicolas Batum topped Charlotte (4-4) with a game-high 28 points.
Dallas Mavericks 90, LA Lakers 82: Turkish-native Zaza Pachulia had 18 points with 16 rebounds, and the host Mavericks (5-4) spoiled Kobe Bryant’s return by handing the visiting Lakers a fourth straight loss.
Bryant scored 19 points for the Lakers (1-8) after missing the previous two contests with a sore back.
Sacramento Kings 111, Brooklyn Nets 109: DeMarcus Cousins had 30 of his season-high 40 points in the second half along with 13 rebounds, Rajon Rondo had 23 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for his third triple-double of the season, helping the Kings (3-7) clip the visiting Nets. Jarrett Jack topped Brooklyn (1-8) with 21 points and 12 assists.
Denver Nuggets 107, Houston Rockets 98: Italy’s Danilo Gallinari dropped in 27 points, Will Barton added career-best 26, and the Nuggets (5-4) rolled the visiting Rockets (4-5), despite a game-high 28 from James Harden.
