var $ = jQuery.noConflict(); $(document).ready(function(){ loadrecapdata('0021600599'); });
Wrap-Up -- Before traveling to Oakland for their biggest road contest of the regular season on MLK Day, the Cavaliers needed to right a road trip that recently hit the rocks after a pair of offensive clunkers.
They did exactly that in Sacramento – jumping on the Kings early and holding them off the rest of the way – taking the 120-108 decision on Friday night at the brand new Golden 1 Center.
After shooting a combined 35 percent from the floor, including 30 percent from long-range in the previous two games, the Cavaliers rediscovered their rhythm in California’s capitol – shooting 51 percent from the field and 41 percent from deep, scoring exactly 120 points against the Kings for the third straight occasion.
And after averaging just 13.5 assists over the last two games, LeBron James alone went for 15 on Friday.
In fact, every member of Cleveland’s Big Three excelled on Friday night.
James – in his return to the city where he made his career debut back in 2003 – finished with 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting, adding a pair of boards, a steal and blocked shot to go with his game-high 15 helpers.
Kyrie Irving shook out of his recent shooting funk to lead the Cavaliers with 26 points – going 10-for-22 from the floor to go with five assists, three boards and a steal.
Kevin Love doubled-up for the 24th time this season – finishing with 15 points and a season-high 18 rebounds, going 6-for-16 from the floor in the victory.
But it was more than the Big Three that led Cleveland on Friday night.
Coach Tyronn Lue, hoping to jumpstart the offense, made the move to replace DeAndre Liggins in the starting lineup with Iman Shumpert. And in just his second start of the year, Shump tallied 16 points – going 6-for-9 from the floor, including 4-of-6 from long-range.
The Wine and Gold also got a big performance from their newest member. After Kyle Korver missed his first two shots of the night, the veteran sharpshooter found his range, adding 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting, also going 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Five Cavs score in double figures as the Wine and Gold improve to 29-10
DeMarcus Cousins led the Kings with 26 points and a season-high 11 assists while Rudy Gay added 23 points and 10 boards.
Turning Point -- The Cavaliers ran out to a 32-15 lead after one quarter, but after eight days on the road, the Kings began chipping away in the second quarter and, over a three-minute span, cut Cleveland’s 21-point lead to just 10.
But Korver began heating up for the first time in a Cleveland uniform – scoring seven points in short order as the Cavaliers used an 11-0 run to take another three-TD lead right before intermission.
The Kings would once again cut Cleveland’s lead to eight, 66-58, midway through the third quarter. But this time it was Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert who caught fire and when Kyrie drilled his final three of the night, it capped a 13-1 run that would give the Cavs all the breathing room they’d need.
By the Numbers – .949 … Kyrie Irving’s free throw percentage since December 10 – going 54-for-59 from the stripe over that stretch – including a perfect 26-for-26 mark over his last five outings.
Quotable – LeBron James, on Kyle Korver getting comfortable with his new squad …
”He just got more comfortable with what we wanted to do this morning in shootaround. He said he didn’t have a shootaround, he didn’t ever have a practice, and the first two games [he played] were in Utah and Portland. This morning was the first time he got an opportunity to see what we wanted to execute and how he can be a part of that. It was great to see him make those shots and we want him to keep firing.”
Up Next -- After holding off the Kings to return to their winning ways, the Wine and Gold’s roadie culminates with a big one on Martin Luther King Day in Oakland, taking on the Warriors at Oracle Arena for the first time since winning the NBA title there in June. The Cavaliers get a much-needed two-day break after that, returning to work on Thursday night when they take on the Suns at The Q, followed by a big Saturday night showdown with the Spurs.