LeBron saves Cavs from another loss

King James caps triple double with key block, buzzer-beater; Pistons, Rockets roll on

With Cleveland in dire straits, LeBron James drained a buzzer-beating game-winner on Wednesday as the Cavaliers escaped with a 140-138 overtime victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at home. Living up to his role as the Cavs’ go-to guy, James made the game-winner that capped a triple-double performance of 37 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds. The Cavs are just 7-13 since Christmas.—

DETROIT— Blake Griffin and the Detroit Pistons are on a roll heading into their matchup with his former team.

Cleveland, meanwhile, needed a pair of last-gasp heroics on different ends of the floor from its resident King to finally get a whiff of fresh air.

LeBron James drained a buzzer-beating game-winner on Wednesday as the Cleveland Cavaliers set aside their troubles with a 140-138 overtime victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

A Cavs team in freefall got a desperately needed win thanks to “King” James. With a second remaining in overtime he swatted away a shot by Minnesota’s Jimmy Butler.

He then seized an inbounds pass from Jeff Green, turned and fired over Butler for the desperately needed victory.

“It was a great win for us,” said James, who threw both arms in the air in triumph when his game-winner fell—capping a triple-double performance of 37 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds.

“The way we’ve been playing we needed that from him tonight,” said Cavs coach Tyronn Lue. “He was very special.”

The Cavs are now just 7-13 since Christmas.

The Pistons, on the other hand, have been on a roll.

Griffin scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, and Andre Drummond added 17 points and 27 rebounds to lift Detroit to its fifth straight victory, 115-106, over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night. Detroit hasn’t lost since acquiring Griffin last week in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers play at Detroit on Friday night.

“Obviously, I know all those guys really well. I can’t say that it’s just another game,” Griffin said. “At the end of the day, we’re trying to get wins, they’re trying to get wins. I’m not really the type of guy to be all buddybuddy during the game.”

Allen Crabbe had 19 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter for the Nets. They have lost four in a row and eight of nine. “That’s the Allen we want,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Just more aggressive, more assertive, and if that means he’s going to take a few bad shots a game, then we’re OK with that.” The Cavs thus avenged their 28-point loss to Minnesota on Jan. 8. Seven Cavaliers scored in double figures in a see-saw battle that saw 34 lead changes and 16 ties, evolving into a shootout in which the teams combined for an NBA record 40 threepointers. Butler led the Timberwolves with 35 and KarlAnthony Towns added 30.

Andrew Wiggins’ jump shot with 1:25 left in overtime put Minnesota up 138-136. James’ layup knotted the score at 138138 with 24 seconds remaining.

Butler drove to the basket against Cavs rookie Cedi Osman with a chance to win it, but James came from the weak side and rose to swat the shot away.

“Coach Lue called up a great play,” James said. “Jeff Green gave mea heck of a pass and I just trusted my instincts to let it go.”

While one win won’t solve all the Cavs’ problems, Lue welcomed the sight of his players celebrating.

“When you make a big shot like that and the whole team is running the floor chest-bumping that’s a great sign,” Lue said. “That’s how we’ve got to be. I think we’ve got to enjoy the game more.” Houston’s MVP bet James Harden torched the Heat in Miami, pouring on 41 points in the Rockets’ 109101 victory. Harden, the league’s leading scorer, connected on 13 of 25 shots from the field, including five of 12 from three-point range, as the Rockets notched a sixth straight victory.

When you make a big shot like that and the whole team is running the floor chestbumping that’s a great sign… I think we’ve got to enjoy the gamemore

TYRONN LUE

Cavaliers coach