James, Irving and Love triple-team Sixers
PHILADELPHIA— The Cavaliers have so many ways to beat teams, and this time it was Kyrie Irving’s turn to win a game.
Irving scored 19 of his season-high 39 points in the fourth quarter and LeBron James had a triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists, leading Cleveland to a 112-108 comeback victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
Kevin Love chipped in 25 points and 11 rebounds to help the defending champions notch their fourth straight win.
“When you have great players, it can come from any of us at any given moment,” Irving said. “When one of us gets it going, we always continue to go to that person. It can be anybody’s night. We’re always trusting each other. That fourth quarter was just for me to be aggressive.”
Joel Embiid led seven players in double figures with 22 points for the 76ers, who have lost three straight. Embiid — who won’t play Monday in Toronto as the Sixers continue to manage his recovery from a foot injury — also had nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
“When those guys are on like that, it’s really hard to beat them,” Embiid said.
The Cavaliers never led through the first three quarters, but Irving got hot early in the fourth to put Cleveland in front. He gave Cleveland its first lead on a layup 2:38 into the period and had 10 of the first 13 Cavaliers fourth-quarter points on a variety of jumpers and drives. His layup with 7:51 left gave Cleveland its biggest lead to that point, 90-86.
James’ three-pointer with 5:01 left in the second quarter was his 1,000th as a member of the Cavaliers, who have made at least threes in every game this season.
J.R. Smith of the Cavs finished 0 for 11 from the field, including 0 for 7 from three-point range.