CLEVELAND — LeBron James, like he has numerous occasions on this area on this flooring, planted his foot on the court docket and exploded for a one-handed slam — his signature play within the metropolis the place he as soon as introduced a championship.
They had been his first factors of the sport — an evening the place he’d be celebrated by Cavaliers followers not just for his return to northeast Ohio however as a result of he got here dwelling together with his son, Bronny, as a teammate.
However by the point he left the court docket, flipping the ball to the ref in frustration after his sixth turnover, the occasion was over. At the least for the oldest James on the Lakers’ roster.
“We want Bronny” chants crammed the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse at almost each stoppage within the fourth till JJ Redick relented and put the rookie guard into the sport close to his hometown.
LeBron James dunks in the course of the Lakers’ loss to the Cavaliers.
(Sue Ogrocki / Related Press)
It was all there was left to see Wednesday evening, the Cavaliers remaining unbeaten whereas handing James his worst loss in Cleveland, the Lakers shedding 134-110 in a sport they had been out of for almost the complete 48 minutes.
Cleveland attacked the Lakers with measurement and physicality, neutralizing Anthony Davis and James on the basket. And their capturing, which new Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson warned pregame could be a little bit of idiot’s gold, didn’t come near slowing down.
The Cavs made eight threes within the first quarter in simply 13 makes an attempt whereas making all 9 of their two-point pictures, a masterpiece in fashionable basketball the place groups attempt to hunt pictures on the rim and behind the road.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 26 factors and Davis scored 22 with 13 rebounds, however neither impacted the sport in significant methods. No Laker did.
And whereas the Cavs blitzed the Lakers from three early, it was their transition and inside protection that ended up getting most brutalized. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley mixed for 44 factors on almost 60% capturing.
Cleveland led by 19 after the primary quarter, and the sport was by no means shut after that.
Bronny James rewarded the persistence of the Cleveland followers who stayed, hitting a mid-range jumper late within the fourth for his first NBA factors.
