The Lakers have very few certainties this year, but the most important is that LeBron James is still at an impressive level. At 37 years old and back home in Cleveland, the Los Angeles star destroyed the Cavaliers (120-131) and added a triple-double of 38 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists . After surpassing Karl Malone as the second leading scorer in NBA history, LeBron put on an absolute display of offensive resources with some spectacular plays like a dunk over his former teammate Kevin Love. This time LeBron did not walk alone as the Lakers offered one of their best offensive performances of the course just as the end of the regular season tightens.
Russell Westbrook (20 points and 11 assists) and an amazing DJ Augustin (20 points without missing a shot, including a 6 of 6 in triples) accompanied their leader along with other secondary actors such as Malik Monk, Austin Reaves or Stanley Johnson. The purple and gold made 56.4 percent of their shots and close their four-game tour with a decent 2-2 and, above all, with renewed energy after a vibrant game. Darius Garland (29 points and 17 assists) was the best of the Cavaliers overwhelmed by LeBron and fell apart in the fourth quarter (35-23).
THE LEBRON SHOW
To slow down the Cavaliers, one of the NBA’s most reliant teams on tall men, the Lakers came out with two centers in their quintet: Dwight Howard and Wenyen Gabriel . From the outset the bet was going well with a promising 0-6 in the first minute, but the Cavaliers reacted immediately. A resounding 23-5 run for the hosts, with Darius Garland and Lamar Stevens leading the charge, made the Lakers relive some of those first hellish quarters that have abounded this season (23-11 with 5:04 to go). The first sign that tonight could be different was given by DJ Augustin, electric from the bench and who scored 11 points (3 of 3 on triples) that helped the Lakers a lot before finishing the fourth (35-28). The visitors had started the duel with a poor 3 of 11 in triples, but LeBron was in charge of sharpening the aim.
In a wonderful second quarter, LeBron added 17 points exposing again and again the shortcomings in defense of a Lauri Markkanen who simply could not stop the physical wonder of the Angeleno. Russell Westbrook joined their avalanche and, with a basket by Carmelo Anthony, the Lakers regained control of the match with solvency (45-46 with 7.06 for the break). The answer came courtesy of Garland, as slippery as he was smart and who stood by the Cavaliers when the going got tough. But nobody could stop LeBron, who gave his old Cleveland fans a devastating dunk on his friend Kevin Love to put the finishing touch to a remarkable first half for the Lakers (62-67).
“To be completely honest, I hated that it had to be him (for Love). He’s my boy, he’s my brother. I hope he’s still invited to his wedding ,” LeBron joked after the meeting.
Love didn’t take it badly, before starting the third quarter he grabbed LeBron by the neck between laughs as if that was his only way to get revenge. The Cavaliers’ real payback came on the track. With a very good third quarter in which the Lakers’ defense was not up to the task, the Cleveland team came back from the game before the last quarter (97-96) with players like Caris LeVert, Lauri Markkanen and Evan Mobley giving an important and necessary step forward. Still, the thermometer for the Cavaliers was Garland, who with a precious assist without looking for Stevens made it clear that tonight he was going with everything. The two teams involved in a splendid attacking recital, the Lakers hit the table that was definitive.
A 2-12 run at the start of the fourth quarter stunned the Cavaliers (99-108 with 9.28 left). The Lakers’ offense shone with fluidity and a very generous circulation of the ball that allowed players with little name but a lot of hunger to also do their bit like Stanley Johnson, who scored 12 points in that last quarter. Even so, and without detracting from the solid game of Westbrook, the night only had one protagonist, LeBron, who scored 13 points in the last twelve minutes and who with two fantastic “fade away” in the end left his mouth open once again to his beloved Cleveland fans.