LeBron has joyous return to Cleveland
CLEVELAND — LeBron James felt only love at home.
Making his first trip back to Cleveland since leaving for the second time as a free agent, James was welcomed like a hero Wednesday night and rallied the Los Angeles Lakers to a 109-105 win over the Cavaliers, who played an inspired game against their former teammate but couldn’t stop him when it mattered most.
James finished with 32 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists. He also scored or assisted on 11 straight points as the Lakers overcame a 99-91 deficit in the fourth quarter.
The Cavs had a chance to tie late, but Kyle Korver missed a wide-open 3-pointer with 17 seconds left and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made four free throws in the final 15 seconds to seal it for Los Angeles.
From the moment he stepped back onto Quicken Loans Arena floor, his home court for 11 seasons, James was treated like a returning champion.
“From the time we landed yesterday, it just felt a differ-
ent way,” he said. “I’m a different person. We’re all different from eight years ago, both good and bad. But more importantly, this experience has been great. So it’s all about growth and we all have grown from that moment eight years ago. So I kind of leave the past in the past and always focus on the present and see what happens in the future.”
On the night before Thanksgiving, Cleveland said thanks to the Northeast Ohio son, the one who ended the city’s 52-year championship drought.
“We recognize the fact that certainly this is a big night for the city of Cleveland,” Cavs coach Larry Drew said before tipoff, “because a hero has come back.”
The Cavs, who came in an NBA-worst 2-13, didn’t roll over against James and played one of their best games this season. They seemed in control up 99-91 before James, as he did some many times for Cleveland, led a comeback.
James was the last Lakers player introduced before the game, presented with a line familiar to all Cavs fans: “A 6-foot-8 forward from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School,” said arena announcer Sean Peebles. “Welcome home! LeBron James.”
It was unlike that ugly night of Dec. 2, 2010, when James returned with the Miami Heat and was subjected to non-stop booing and profane chants. James has moved on. Cleveland, too.