LeBron takes over the point as Cavaliers beat Bulls
For LeBron James, there’s no such thing as playing out of position.
The Cavs beat the Chicago Bulls 119-112 on Tuesday on a night in which every player in Cleveland’s lineup started at his particular position for the first time this year.
James played point guard, and recorded season highs with 34 points and 13 assists. James is the only active NBA player with at least 20 points and 10 assists posted from each of four starting positions.
This was James’ sixth career game with at least 20 points and 10 assists at point guard in 15 seasons. He often runs the offense from any position on the court, including his usual spot at small forward.
The only position where he hasn’t scored 20 points with 10 assists is center.
“I think the best thing for me personally is ever since I was a kid I’ve always learned every position on the floor,” James said. “When I started playing ball, for some odd reason, I could learn every single position on the floor all at one time. The point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward and center. And know all the plays, what they’re doing and what’s the reads.”
James produced 23 points and five assists in a first half where the Cavs trailed by as many as 14 and were down 68-65 at halftime. He shot 13-of-20 for the game and was 4-of-4 from threepoint range in the first half.
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg was left muttering the same sorts of words all NBA coaches have found themselves saying at some point about James, often while shaking their heads. No matter James’ starting spot. “When he’s hitting threes, you have to give up something with him,” Hoiberg said. “We did a decent job contesting his shots. A lot of that has to do with you’re playing against the best player on the planet.”
(Advance Ohio Media/TNS)
Magic 125, Nets 121 Aaron Gordon scored a
career-high 41 points and hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 35 seconds remaining to lead Orlando over Brooklyn.
The Magic’s Evan Fournier scored 28 points, including 12 in the final 5:22. Gordon, who was 5-of-5 from beyond the arc, added 12 rebounds. D.J. Augustin, starting at point guard for Orlando in place of injured Elfrid Payton, scored 19 points.
D’Angelo Russell led the Nets with 27 points. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added 18 points, and DeMarre Carroll had 16.
Clippers 102, Jazz 84
Blake Griffin had 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists as Los Angeles improved to 3-0 with a victory over Utah.
Patrick Beverley added 19 points and Austin Rivers, making his first start of the season, added 16 points. DeAndre Jordan had 11 points and 18 rebounds, and Danilo Gallinari added 14 points for the Clippers.
Rookie Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 19 points, including 15 in the final quarter. Rudy Gobert scored 12 points, and Thabo Sefolosha had 11 points and 12 rebounds for Utah.
Trail Blazers 103, Pelicans 93
C.J. McCollum scored 16 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and Portland closed the game with a 9-0 run to win its home opener over New Orleans.
Evan Turner and Damian Lillard each scored 13 points, and Ed Davis added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Trail Blazers. Portland has won an NBA-record 17 consecutive home openers dating to a 96-86 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000.
DeMarcus Cousins collected 39 points and 13 rebounds for the Pelicans. New Orleans’ Anthony Davis played only the first five minutes before departing with a left knee injury.
Pacers 130, T’Wolves 107
Victor Oladipo scored a teamhigh 28 points as Indiana routed Minnesota.
Cory Joseph scored 21 points – thanks to shooting 5-of-6 from three-point range – and Bojan Bogdanovic added 19 points as five Pacers scored in double-figures. Indiana shot 66.7 percent from the floor.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the way for the Timberwolves with 28 points on 12-of-17 shooting, and Jamal Crawford and Nemanja Bjelica each chipped in 18 points. (Reuters)