Wrap-Up – The Cavaliers rediscovered their mojo in the final two games of their recent West Coast trip. The only question was whether they were bringing it home when they tipped off a four-game homestand against the Division-leading Bulls.
The Wine and Gold answered that question immediately and emphatically – going wire-to-wire against the struggling Bulls, taking the 108-94 decision in a nationally-televised MLK Day matchup at The Q.
All five starters scored in double-figures – with three of them tallying double-doubles, one of them leading both teams in scoring and the other netting a season-high in assists.
In just his fourth game back from an eight-game layoff with a strained back and cranky knee, LeBron James looked even more re-energized with some home cookin’ – going 12-for-23 from the floor for a game-high 26 points, adding five boards and four assists in 36 minutes of action.
J.R. Smith followed up with 20 points, going 6-of-9 from beyond the arc – including a pair of fourth-quarter bombs to put the affair on ice. Kyrie Irving netted 18 points and a career-high tying 12 assists in the win. Kevin Love notched his team-leading 22nd double-double of the season, finishing with 16 points and a dozen boards. And Timofey Mozgov – in just his fifth start with the Cavs – added 15 points and a game-high 15 boards, while holding Chicago’s Pau Gasol to 4-for-14 shooting.
Monday’s contest was an illustration of two teams going in different directions. The loss was the Bulls’ sixth in their last eight games; the victory was Cleveland’s third straight. With Joakim Noah still out with a sprained right ankle, the Wine and Gold dominated Chicago on the boards, 54-40. The Cavs handled Chicago in second-chance scoring (19-7), points in the paint (46-30) and on the break (13-7) while holding them to 38 percent shooting from the floor.
All five starters record double figures.
View some of the best snapshots.
Tristan get the hoop and the harm.
Go inside the locker room.
Watch full final game highlights from Monday's victory.
Turning Point – The Cavaliers took the lead on their second possession of the night when LeBron James hit Timofey Mozgov for an alley-oop – and never looked back. Cleveland built its lead to double-figures early in the second quarter and went up 15 at halftime. The Cavaliers opened their advantage to 25 points late in the third quarter, but the Bulls opened the fourth with a 14-6 run. But LeBron scored on a reverse layup followed by J.R. Smith’s fifth triple of the night – putting the Cavs back up 19, and putting win No. 22 on ice.
By the Numbers – 10-0 … Cavaliers’ record this year when they top the century mark at The Q.
Quotable – LeBron James, on the direction of the team …
”I like where we’ve been the past few games. The last week we’ve played some really, really good basketball. From the second half of the Phoenix game all the way to tonight, we’ve played some really good basketball. It’s a good feeling for us, understanding that this is what we have, we know what we have, and you’re going and moving in the direction knowing that you have to get better every day.”
Up Next – Starting with Monday night’s win over Chicago, the Cavaliers will play 10 of their next 14 at The Q. On Wednesday night, they welcome Gordon Haywood and the Utah Jazz to town, trying to avenge a last-second loss suffered in Salt Lake City in early November. On Friday night, they it’s their third meeting with the Hornets, having topped them twice already this season. On Sunday afternoon, it’s Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and our old friend, Dion Waiters brining the Thunder to Cleveland for a marquee matinee. The Cavs travel to Detroit on Tuesday, but return to The Q the following evening for a matchup with Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge and the Blazers.