LeBron breaks double figures consecutive game record, Cavaliers beat Pelicans 107-102
BY STONE LEXINGTON
CAVALIERS BEAT WRITER
In a bit of a rarity, a LeBron James team is in danger of not securing home-court advantage in any round of the playoffs. He would tell you, however, that postseason seeding is no concern of his, as long as his team is there.
James’ Cleveland Cavaliers entered Friday night’s matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans clinging on to the third spot in the Eastern Conference, just a half game above the surging Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers. Should either of those two teams pass Cleveland in the standings when the playoffs arrive, the Cavs would likely finish in the fifth spot in the East.
The last time a James-led team finished below even the second seed in the East was 2008, when his Cavs finished with the fourth seed. Helping their cause to finish higher in the standings on Friday, the Cavs rallied from a double-digit halftime deficit to take a 107-102 victory over the Pelicans in Quicken Loans Arena.
“We had some guys that really stepped up in that second half,” Cavs acting head coach Larry Drew said.
None stepped up more than James. James was magnificent (as usual) on Friday, nearly posting another triple-double, which isn’t surprising considering he averaged a triple-double over the previous 23 contests. James finished with 27 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists against the Pels, but it was his eight-point spurt in the waning moments of the fourth quarter that helped Cleveland get over the hump.
Leading 97-94 with just under four minutes remaining in the game, James started his late scoring run with two free throws that put the Cavs up five. Three straight James jumpshots later, the final of which coming with 1:59 to play, and the Cavs were comfortably up by seven points. The Pelicans were only able to score four points in the final two minutes.
“I’m really speechless,” Drew said of James. “He is such a special, special player. He brings it every single night.
“To have that type of durability is just phenomenal. I just don’t think in my lifetime I’ve ever seen a guy like that that’s that durable and that can get it done like every single night the way he’s gotten it done.”
With the triumph over New Orleans, the Cavs have won seven of their last eight games and have just six games remaining on their regular season schedule. Jordan Clarkson was the secondary star for Cleveland against the Pelicans, totaling 23 points and four rebounds. Rodney Hood contributed 16 points.
Through roster changes, injuries, coaching leaves and drama, the constant for the Cavs has been James, who leads the league in minutes per game and hasn’t missed a game this season. With his 10th point on Friday, James has now scored in double-figures in 867 consecutive regular season games (since 1/6/07) and passed Michael Jordan for the longest double-digit scoring streak in NBA history.
James may garner a few first-place MVP votes, but the award is widely expected to be in the hands of Houston Rockets guard James Harden when it is presented. Nevertheless, James has been nothing short of MVP-like for the Cavs this season..
POSTED 03/30/2018 23:02
Lake County Sentinel
Photo by Greg Goth
