The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
James records triple-double
Cavaliers pull away from Grizzlies in second half
MEMPHIS, TENN. » Cleveland revamped its roster at the trade deadline. The Cavaliers’ leader didn’t change.
LeBron James had 18 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in his 11th triple-double of the season, and the Cavaliers pulled away after a slow start to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 112-89 on Friday night.
George Hill also scored 18 points, while Larry Nance Jr. finished with 15 and Jordan Clarkson had 14 as the newcomers had good nights in the Cavaliers’ fifth win in the last six games. The only loss in the stretch was on Thursday night to the Wizards.
“It’s just us communicating, talking. That’s it,” Clarkson said of the Cavaliers’ adjustments to new teammates. “Coaches have us in early before practice running plays. We’re trying to get comfortable with everything still. Trying to get comfortable with all the calls. We’ve got a ways to go, but we’re coming.”
Tyreke Evans and JaMychal Green each had 15 points for Memphis, with Evans also dishing out 10 assists and Green grabbing 10 rebounds. Marc Gasol had 14 points and nine rebounds.
“We’re trying to get comfortable with everything still ... We’ve got a ways to go but we’re coming.”
– Cavsliers guard Jordan Clarkson
The Cavs showed a bit of fatigue to start the game, perhaps a dose of travel hangover from getting to town late after Thursday’s loss.
“A lot of our guys were — I don’t want to say tired, but sleepy,” James said, adding:
“For us to come out with the energy we had for the most part of 48 minutes is a good game for us.”
Cleveland trailed by double digits early, but outscored Memphis 58-40 in the second half, sending the Grizzlies to their eighth straight loss. Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said the difference was a change in defensive intensity after Cleveland’s early struggles gave the Grizzlies a lead that reached 13 in the first quarter.
“During timeouts, I was telling the guys — especially at halftime — ‘I don’t know how we’re up, but we’re up after playing a bad half of basketball,”’ Lue said, adding that the second half was much better defensively.
James was already under triple-double watch at halftime with 10 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Hill already had 13 points as the Cavaliers carried a 54-49 lead into the break.
James reached his triple-double with about 4 minutes left in the third, on an assist leading to a 3-pointer by Cedi Osman. That was part of Cleveland outscoring Memphis 31-22 in a foul-filled third quarter, building the lead to double digits and holding an 85-71 advantage into the fourth.