Cavaliers dominate Nuggets 124-91
BY STONE LEXINGTON
CAVALIERS BEAT WRITER
While the Cleveland Cavaliers captured their fifth Central Division title in franchise history Monday night, the accomplishment pales in comparison the team’s prevailing goal — Championship or bust. With a dominating 124-91 victory over the Denver Nuggets Monday in Quicken Loans Arena, the Cavs (50-20) reached the 50-win mark for the ninth time since the franchise’s inception.
“We definitely have to develop that killer instinct,” Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue said. “Guys have to realize that we have a tough stretch.”
The Cavs’ resident global icon led Cleveland to a two-game season series sweep of the Nuggets, the second time in three seasons the Cavs have swept Denver. LeBron James, who entered the night having scored at least 20 points against the Nuggets in 15 consecutive meetings, totaled his second triple-double of the season with 33 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. After he recorded his 10th assist with 6:35 remaining in the fourth quarter to secure the triple-double, James exited the game to a standing ovation and hug from Kyrie Irving. James’ 10th assist gave Cleveland a 103-81 lead and the Cavs’ bench brigade cruised the rest of the way.
“I liked his pace,” Lue said of James’ performance. “I thought his pace opened the game up for us.”
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Cavs in the contest with Denver. Cleveland jumped out to a 38-23 lead when the first quarter ended, but saw their lead slip away before halftime. When Nuggets guard Will Barton sank a three-pointer with 5:33 left in the second quarter, Denver had battled all the way back from a 19-point deficit to lead 42-41. Cleveland took a 56-48 lead into halftime and made their run in the third quarter. At the end of the third quarter, Cleveland led 87-72 and took a 20-point lead less than three minutes into the fourth.
“I thought we lost our pace,” Lue said on giving up the large first quarter lead. “I thought we turned the ball over a lot. It got them out in transition, and we also committed some dumb fouls in the backcourt.”
Cleveland has been deadly from beyond the arc of late and kept up their long-distance pace against the Nuggets. The Cavs converted 15 of their 31 three-point attempts Monday, knocking down 10 or more three-pointers in a season-high eighth straight game.
Cavs power forward Kevin Love missed the contest with Denver with an illness, but his presence wasn’t needed to get past the struggling Nuggets (29-42).
Barton led Denver with 27 points and four rebounds off the Nuggets bench. No other Nuggets scored more than 11 points.
“I thought we were active,” Lue said. “I thought we battled the post. I thought our guards got into their guards bodies and we were physical with those guys. Will Barton came in and had it going, but overall, I thought our effort and intensity and our principles were pretty good.”
While both the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs remain undefeated at home this season, the Cavs have the third-best home record in the NBA at 29-6. Cleveland entered Monday with a one-game lead over the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference, and to better their chances in the playoffs, it would behoove the Cavs to hold on to the top spot to secure home-court advantage throughout the Eastern playoffs.
The Cavs are 22-7 against the Western Conference this season, which includes a 12-2 mark at The Q. However, the most important number of wins Cleveland needs to secure against the West is four if they advance to the NBA Finals this season. Anything less than four wins in June would be considered a failure.
POSTED 03/21/2016 22:19
Lake County Sentinel
