Cavs need all of Big 3 to rally past Wizards
LeBron's buzzer-beating three forces OT, Cleveland snaps Washington's home streak • Lakers top Knicks
LeBron James brought the Cleveland Cavaliers back, Kevin Love led the scoring and Kyrie Irving finished things off.
James’ remarkable three-pointer in the last second of regulation and Irving’s three-pointer from the wing – essentially the same shot from the same place on the floor that he made in Game 7 of last year’s Finals – carried the Cavs to a thrilling and exhausting 140-135 overtime victory on Monday night over the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center.
Love scored 39 points, his second-highest total of the season, and James fouled out during the first minute of overtime with 32 points, a career-high 17 assists and seven rebounds. Irving scored 23 points, including 11 in overtime with James on the bench. The Cavs rallied from a fivepoint deficit in overtime to win.
The win snapped the Wizards’ 17-game home winning streak after they made it clear prior to the game how important this night was. They had won their last seven games overall, too. Now the Cavs have won five of their last six.
James drove the length of the court in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, but blew an easy layup with 3.4 seconds remaining that would’ve given the Cavs the lead.
After John Wall made a pair of free throws to extend the Wizards’ lead to 120-117 and seemingly clinch the victory, Love heaved a full-court pass that James caught in the right corner. He made an off-balance, turnaround three-pointer over Bradley Beal as he was falling out of bounds with threetenths remaining to force overtime.
It was a remarkable shot by a remarkable player who just recounted Monday morning how he’s able to stay calm under duress. It was certainly true Monday.
“Just experience. Best teacher in life is experience, I’ve experienced it,” James said before the game. “I’ve won, I’ve lost, but at the end of the day, I put myself in position where when the stakes are high, I can just calm my mind and know what needs to be done.”
James scored 13 points in a wild fourth quarter that included seven ties and seven lead changes.
Beal scored 41 points, one shy of his career high, but missed a three with 3.6 seconds left that could’ve forced a second overtime. (Akron Beacon Journal/TNS)
Lakers 121, Knicks 107
Los Angeles won in Madison Square Garden to snap a 13-game road losing streak.
The Lakers hadn’t won on the road since beating the Philadelphia 76ers 100-89 on December 16. Los Angeles posted its first win at the Garden since February 2011. Lou Williams scored 22 points to lead seven Lakers in double figures.
The Knicks, who lost for the ninth time in 13 games, were led by Carmelo Anthony with 26 points.
Raptors 118, Clippers 109
DeMar DeRozan returned to the lineup and scored 31 points, leading Toronto past Los Angeles. DeRozan, who missed seven of the previous eight games due to a sprained ankle, helped the Raptors to their second straight win but only their fourth in the past 12 games.
Kyle Lowry added 24 points and eight assists for the Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Cory Joseph chipped in with 12 points off the bench.
Grizzlies 89, Spurs 74
Marc Gasol had 15 points and eight rebounds as Memphis beat San Antonio.
The Grizzlies won for the fifth time in six games as Mike Conley finished with 12 points and a game-high nine assists.
The Spurs played without forward Kawhi Leonard, while LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Pacers 93, Thunder 90
Paul George had 21 points, including a clutch basket with 1:20 remaining, and Indiana extended its season-best winning streak to seven.
Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, who finished with 27 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists, missed two potential game-tying three-pointers in the final 7.8 seconds, including one at the buzzer. (Reuters)