James deals 17 assists, Cavs get past Hawks
LeBron James always takes pride in being efficient. His numbers Tuesday night were several steps beyond that.
James had 25 points and tied a career-high with 17 assists, as Cleveland defeated the Atlanta Hawks 123-114 the Cavaliers’ 15th win in 16 games.
James, as he has done all season, turned in an almost error-free performance. He was 11 of 13 from the field, had seven rebounds and two turnovers. James was given a standing ovation when he was removed from the game with 2:34 remaining.
The four-time MVP set the tone for the entire team. The Cavaliers hit a seasonhigh 20 3-pointers, including nine in the first quarter. Cleveland had a seasonhigh 35 assists.
“For me to get assists means somebody’s making shots,” James said. “That’s always been an enjoyment of mine to be able to see my teammates reap the benefits of the pass that I try to put on time and on target.”
Kyle Korver had 19 points, including six 3-pointers. Kevin Love, returning after missing a game with a hip injury, scored 17 points, all in the first half. MAVERICKS 95, SPURS 89 >> J.J. Barea scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half and Dallas spoiled the season debut of San Antonio star Kawhi Leonard. Leonard
missed the first 27 games because of right quadriceps tendinopathy, a condition that causes pain and weakness in the knee. He wasn’t around in the fourth quarter when Barea finished a rally that he started by scoring eight points in the final 1:49 of the third.
KNICKS 113, LAKERS 109 >> Kristaps Porzingis had 37 points and 11 rebounds, Michael Beasley made the biggest plays in overtime, and New York beat Los Angeles. KINGS 99, SUNS 92 >> George Hill had 18 points and seven rebounds in his return to the starting lineup and Sacramento rallied late in the fourth quarter to beat Phoenix.
76ERS 118, TIMBERWOLVES 112 >> Joel Embiid returned
to the lineup to score 28 points, and Philadelphia topped Minnesota in overtime.
NUGGETS 103, PISTONS 84 >> Jamal Murray scored 28 points, and Denver handed Detroit its seventh straight loss.
NETS 103, WIZARDS 98 >> Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Caris LeVert each scored 16 points, and Brooklyn overcame blowing a doubledigit second-half lead and took advantage of a costly mistake by Washington in the final seconds.
ZELLER TO UNDERGO KNEE SURGERY >> Hornets center Cody Zeller will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his torn medial meniscus in his left knee. It remains unclear how long Zeller will be out.