Injury-hit Cavaliers, Warriors pull thru
LeBron James’ 70th career tripledouble propelled the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers to a 114-109 NBA victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, when the injury plagued Golden State Warriors also pulled off a win.
Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James was once again the difference maker for the Cavs, who traveled to Chicago without Kevin Love, Rodney Hood, Kyle Korver, Larry Nance Jr., Cedi Osman and Tristan Thompson.
Thanks largely to him Cleveland finished their six-game road trip 3-3.
“For us to go 3-3 throughout everything as far as the injuries and available guys, I think it was a good trip for us,” James said.
Coach Tyronn Lue also missed the second half of Saturday’s game because of an undisclosed illness, but the Cavs – who led 69-52 at halftime – fended off the Bulls’ late challenge to secure the win.
Trailing 85-81 going into the fourth period, Chicago tied the score twice in the final frame.
James’ jump shot over Paul Zipser with 39 seconds left put the Cavs up by six, and on the Bulls’ ensuing possession he rejected Cameron Payne’s shot.
James finished with 33 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, and became the sixth player to notch 70 triple-doubles in his career.
For a Warriors team missing stars Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson along with Patrick McCaw and Omri Casspi it was Quinn Cook and Kevon Looney who stepped up in a 124109 victory over the Suns in Phoenix.
Cook led the Warriors with a careerhigh 28 points. Looney posted careerhighs of 13 points and six blocked shots, and Draymond Green came within two assists of a triple-double with 25 points,
Illinois. 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Warriors bounced back from a loss to Sacramento on Friday.
Seven players scored in doublefigures for Golden State, who trailed by 15 points in the second quarter but out-scored the Suns 72-49 in the second half.
In other results, Milwaukee held off Atlanta, 122-117; Brooklyn trounced Dallas, 114-106; New York routed Charlotte, 124-101; Memphis upended Denver, 101-94; San Antonio dumped Minnesota, 117-101; and Utah repulsed Sacramento, 103-97.