Back on track
IN THE GROOVE: James returns for Cavaliers blowout over Pistons
LEBRON James returned with 21 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers got back to winning ways with a 104-81 win over the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
James, who was rested for the Cavs defeat to the the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, added three rebounds and three assists as the NBA Champions improved to 10-2.
Kyrie Irving topscored with 25 points and claimed 11 assists while Kevin Love chipped in with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
“Offensively and defensively this is the best we’ve played all year,” James said afterwards.
The defeat continues Detroit’s poor record on the road this season. The Pistons have now gone 1-7 on their travels, shooting just 31 per cent on Friday.
The Cavs meanwhile maintained their strong start to the season, extending their NBA record run of games in which they have made at least 10 three-pointers to 12.
“I thought what we did defensively was really good,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said.
“We made some mistakes, but we played hard. When you play hard, you can cover for mistakes. I thought we did a great job of just playing hard in that first half.”
For Detroit, Jon Leuer scored 15 points, while Andre Drummond added eight with 10 rebounds.
The Pistons, however, were never in the game after trailing 56-39 at half-time with the Cavs opening up a 33-point lead at one stage in the fourth quarter.
“We got crushed,” Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. “They did everything better. We were just awful... Their guys all played really, really hard. We need to find people that play that hard.”
The Cavs’ J.R. Smith, meanwhile, returned from an ankle injury after a
week’s layoff to score nine points via a trio of three-pointers.
The 31-year-old’s tally saw him ease past Dirk Nowitzki’s mark of 1,703 three-pointers into 15th on the all-time list.
“I guess you stick around long enough and make enough shots, you pass somebody,” Smith quipped.
Lue said Smith was benefiting from being less of a target for opposition teams than James, Irving and Love.
“He’s always been a great shooter,” Lue said.
“Here with this team, with Kevin and Kyrie and LeBron and the way they demand so much attention, now he’s getting open, easy shots and he’s always been a knockdown shooter. I think now he’s getting easier shots and shots in rhythm and he knows where his shot’s going to come from.”
RESULTS: Charlotte 100 Atlanta 96, Phoenix 116 Indiana 96, Cleveland 104 Detroit 81, New Orleans 113 Portland 101, Oklahoma City 124 Brooklyn 105, Golden State 104 Boston 88, Memphis 80 Dallas 64, Toronto 113 Denver 111 (OT), San Antonio 116 LA Lakers 107, LA Clippers 121 Sacramento 115.