The Cleveland Cavaliers averted a season sweep by Miami and exacted a dose of revenge against LeBron James by beating the Heat 102-90 on Tuesday.
Cleveland took a whopping 23-point lead, then lost it and had to storm back late in the game with a 12-0 run for the victory and a dose of revenge against former teammate James.
It was the second trip back to Cleveland for James since the All-Star decided to become a free agent in the offseason last summer and make the switch to Miami. The Heat won both games in Miami against the Cavs this season.
Photo: Reuters
However, James took the loss in his stride.
“Anytime we play anybody, we know we’re going to get the best out of them,” James said. “They came out and played extremely well. It was a good win for them.”
J.J. Hickson had 21 points and Anthony Parker netted 20 for Cleveland, who were embarrassed by Miami 118-90 on Dec. 2 last year when James scored 30 points. That night, Cleveland fans heckled and booed James throughout the contest.
“The first time we played them here, we were embarrassed and they took a little from us,” Parker said. “This is the night that we wanted to get that back, for us, but more for the fans. That was great getting it back for them.”
James still had a triple-double on Tuesday, finishing with 27 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, but couldn’t get the win. Dwyane Wade had 24 points and six assists for the Heat, who had a five-game win streak halted.
Cleveland fans have not -forgotten James’ snub, but they weren’t as outwardly angry toward James as they were last December. James was booed throughout, but there were no blatant incidents.
James said things weren’t as hostile as his previous visit.
“I expect the worst,” he said. “But worse than last time, Dec. 2? No,” he said.
Miami fought back from 23 down and tied it 83-83 on Bibby’s seventh three-pointer with 7:03 left. The Heat then went scoreless for the next four minutes.
The Cavaliers shot 56 percent from the field to post their 15th win and their most lopsided victory this season.
ROCKETS 112, NETS 87
In Newark, Kyle Lowry had 16 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, as Houston moved within two games of the final playoff berth in the Western Conference with a victory over New Jersey.
Kevin Martin added 20 points as the Rockets (39-35) posted their sixth win in seven games and inched closer to idle eighth-place Memphis (41-33) with eight games left in the regular season.
Brook Lopez had 22 points for the Nets, who lost their third in a row and seventh in eight games. Deron Williams missed his sixth straight game for New Jersey (23-50), which has lost 50 games for the second straight season.
THUNDER 115, WARRIORS 114, OT
In Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant scored 39 points and Russell Westbrook hit the winning free throw with 11.4 seconds left in overtime, as Oklahoma City finished its longest homestand of the season with a victory over Golden State.
Durant scored eight of Oklahoma City’s nine points in overtime, but served as a decoy to create room along the right side of the lane as Westbrook drove to the basket and got fouled. Westbrook missed his first free throw, but made the second to put the Thunder on top.
Stephen Curry led Golden State with 35 points.
KINGS 116, SUNS 113
In Sacramento, Marcus Thornton scored 24 points and had 11 rebounds for the Kings, which won its season-high fourth straight game by defeating Phoenix.
Despite the strong possibility of the team moving to Anaheim next season, the Kings are enjoying their best stretch of the season, winning five of six games.
The loss was the third straight and eighth in 11 games for the Suns, who are 10th in the Western Conference and trail eighth-place Memphis by four-and-a-half games with nine games left in the regular season.
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