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Cavs Get Physical, Sweep Season Series in Charlotte

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Wrap-Up -- With just a dozen games remaining before the NBA’s second season tips off – and in the midst of a brutal road stretch – the Cavaliers were in need of a solid win against a quality foe. They got one on Friday night.

After taking one on the chin on Wednesday night in Denver, the Wine and Gold bounced back strong against a Charlotte team that had won three straight – overcoming an early deficit and warding off a late run to sweep the season series with a 112-105 win on Friday night at the Hive.

The Hornets came into the contest trailing Miami by 2.5 games for the East’s final postseason seeding; the Cavaliers, trying to fend off Boston and Washington for the Conference’s top spot. Both the Celtics and Wizards – who roll into The Q on Saturday night – won their home matchups while the Wine and Gold’s victory – combined with Indiana’s loss to the Nuggets – sealed their third straight Central Division crown.

Despite Charlotte’s efforts to get physical with him, LeBron James led both squads – scoring 23 of his 32 points after intermission, going 9-for-14 from the floor, adding a game-high 11 assists, nine boards, two blocked shots and a steal.

The Hornets had allowed their previous two opponents a combined 20 free throw attempts. On Friday night, the four-time MVP made 16 trips to the line – finishing 14-of-16 on the night, both season highs.

Kyrie Irving notched half of his 26 points in the first quarter alone – going 11-for-22 from the floor to tally his career-best 20th straight game of at least 20 points, the longest active streak in the NBA. Having to duel fellow All-Star Kemba Walker for much of the night, Irving added seven assists and a game-high four steals.

Kevin Love – who returned from a 13-game absence late last week – doubled-up for the second time in his last three outings and 34th time this season – finishing with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting to go with a game-high 12 rebounds and four assists.

The Cavaliers second unit was very effective in Friday’s win without putting up spectacular numbers – combining for 22 points on 9-for-17 shooting. But Richard Jefferson and Iman Shumpert led both squads in the plus/minus department, finishing +15 and +14, respectively.

Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 28 points – going 10-for-20 from the floor, including 5-of-10 from long-distance. Marco Belinelli followed up with 22 points off Steve Clifford’s bench, going 7-for-12 from the field.

Kevin Love

LBJ and KLove record double-doubles as Kyrie adds 26 points.

After a dismal defensive performance in their previous game, the Cavaliers tightened things up considerably on Friday – holding the Hornets to just 42 percent shooting, including 26 percent from long-range.

On the offensive end, the Cavaliers were very good – shooting 55 percent from the floor and 88 percent from the stripe, handing out 26 assists to just 18 for the Hornets.

Turning Point -- After trailing by eight points midway through the fourth quarter, the Hornets rallied to get within a deuce and had a chance to tie the game when Kemba Walker toed the stripe with a chance to tie the game at 100-apiece with 4:20 remaining.

But Walker split the pair and, on Cleveland’s next possession, J.R. Smith canned triple from the corner to key a quick 8-0 run.

Charlotte would cut the Cavaliers’ lead to five twice more in the closing moments, but would get no closer – with LeBron James sealing the deal, scoring the Wine and Gold’s final seven points of the night.

By the Numbers36 … double-doubles that LeBron James has now posted this season – matching a career-best. Friday night’s effort marked his 18th career 30-point game against Charlotte and the victory improved his record to 10-1 against the Hornets since his return to Cleveland, 39-6 over the course of his career.

QuotableLeBron James, on the Cavaliers’ approach on Friday night …

”I liked our disposition tonight. We came in with a physical mindset and that eventually helped us win the game – because we were physical from the start all the way down to the finish.”

Up Next -- In one of the toughest stretches of the season, the Cavaliers return home for the second half of the weekend back-to-back, welcoming the Wizards to The Q on Saturday night after wrapping up their four-game roadie. On Monday, it’s a heavyweight showdown with the Spurs in San Antonio followed by a Thursday night meeting with the Bulls in Chicago. The Cavaliers wrap up the month of March next Friday night at The Q against the Sixers. Cleveland has seven regular season games remaining in April – four at home and three on the road, wrapping up with Fan Appreciation Night on the 12th vs. Toronto.

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