James ejected, Cavs still win
LeBron James lost his cool. Kevin Love and the Cavaliers stayed hot.
Incensed at not getting a foul called on a drive to the basket, James was ejected for the first time in his illustrious career Tuesday night, tossed in the third quarter of Cleveland’s 108-97 win over the visiting Miami Heat.
Love scored 32 of his 38 points in the first half and James added 21 as the Cavaliers extended their winning streak to nine games.
With the Cavs leading by 23, James, who had attempted just one free throw at that point, drove the length of the floor and drew contact from Miami’s James Johnson and Dion Waiters. When he didn’t hear a whistle, James screamed and gestured toward referee Kane Fitzgerald, who quickly called a technical and pointed for the three-time champion to leave the floor.
It was the first time James had been thrown out in 1,082 NBA games, and he said it was a first since he started playing as a boy in Akron.
“I got fouled all the way up the court, from the time that I stripped him ( Johnson) all the way until I got to the rim, and so that’s what it’s about,” James said. “I said what I had to say and I moved on, but he (Fitzgerald) thought that I should get two of them, so it is . ... We got the win and that’s most important.”
Love had his way with every defender Miami put on him, finishing 10-for-16 from the field and 14-for-17 at the line. He scored 22 in the first quarter and the Cavs led by 27 before halftime.
Wizards 92, T’wolves 89: Otto Porter Jr. hit a 22-foot jumper with 25 seconds remaining, lifting visiting Washington after it trailed for nearly the entire fourth quarter.
Bucks 112, Kings 87: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 19 of his 32 points in the third quarter, helping visiting Milwaukee beat Sacramento. Eric Bledsoe had 21 points, five assists and five rebounds for the Bucks, who led by as many as 36 and won despite not scoring a second-chance point. Suns 104, Bulls 99: Devin Booker scored 33 points after sitting out a game because of inflammation in his right big toe, and Phoenix picked up a road win. Jazz 106, Nuggets 77: Derrick Favors scored 24 points, and host Utah used a dominant second half to take control. Rookie Donovan Mitchell added 16 points as Utah tied a season high with its third straight win. The Jazz opened the third quarter with a 20-6 run, and Denver did not recover. The Nuggets got a little loose with the ball after halftime and made seven turnovers in the third quarter. Clippers’ Griffin hurt: Blake Griffin has a sprained left knee and could miss up to eight weeks, dealing a stunning blow to the injury-riddled Clippers. The team said that an MRI exam revealed a medial collateral ligament sprain but no other structural damage. Griffin got injured late in Monday night’s 120-115 win over the Lakers. He had 26 points and 11 rebounds in the Clippers’ third straight victory.