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Key: Homecoming Kings
The Cavaliers got just what they needed on Friday night in Charlotte – a solid win with a full rotation against a quality opponent with a serious challenger on deck. Sounds like a lot for one game, but with 11 contests remaining in the regular season and a pair of squads hot on the Cavaliers’ trail, every game from here on out takes on a little extra weight.
On Friday night, Cleveland swept the season series against the Hornets – their seventh all-time against Charlotte. The Cavaliers – now 10-1 against the Hornets since LeBron James’ return – did it on both ends at the Hive.
Offensively, they shot 55 percent from the floor and 88 percent from the stripe, handing out 26 assists. On the defensive end, they held the Hornets to just 42 percent shooting, including 26 percent from long-range.
After winning seven of eight to position themselves behind Boston and Cleveland in the East, the Wizards have come back to Earth – dropping four of five before getting wins over Atlanta and Brooklyn this week.
Washington is also playing the second-half of a back-to-back, having defeated the Nets by three touchdowns at the Verizon Center on Friday.
The last time these two teams squared off, it was one of the best regular season games of this (or any) year, with LeBron tying the game on a desperation three-pointer with .9 remaining in regulation and Kyrie taking over in overtime – giving Cleveland the dramatic 140-135 win back on February 6.
Key: Power-Point Presentation
Despite this game being vital to the East standings, both teams are also focused on the big picture – keeping guys healthy for the upcoming postseason run.
On Friday night, although he ended up tallying 22 points and nine dimes, John Wall fought through a migraine headache that could potentially sideline him on Saturday. The four-time All-Star has been sensational this season. He’s the only player to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals this year and he, James Harden and Russell Westbrook are the only ones to average a point-assists double-double.
In two games against Cleveland this season, Wall’s averaged 25.0 points and 7.5 assists – but he’s also committed six turnovers in each contest, both losses.
Kyrie Irving comes into the contest as one of the hottest guards in basketball – running his 20-point scoring streak to a career-best 20 games on Friday night – finishing with 26 points to go with seven assists and a game-high four steals.
Uncle Drew has also notched at least 20 points in five straight contests against the Wizards – averaging 26.6 points and 5.6 assists over that span. In the thrilling overtime win in early February, Irving tallied 11 points in the extra-session, including the game-winning bomb with 35 seconds remaining.
Key: No Worse For the Wear
LeBron James was spectacular on Friday night in Charlotte, but he took plenty of lumps along the way. Even Coach Tyronn Lue remarked after last night’s win that it was “the most I’ve ever seen LeBron hit the deck.” He suffered a scratched cornea to his right eye when he was poked by Jeremy Lamb late in the third quarter and took a hard fourth-quarter fall on his back that you could hear up in the press section.
Through it all, the 13-time All-Star remained in the game – eventually leading both teams with 32 points – netting 23 of those in the second and scoring Cleveland’s final seven points. James went 9-for-14 from the floor – doubling up for the 36th time this season (matching a career-best) with 11 assists, nine boards, two blocked shots and a steal.
In two wins against Washington this season, the King is averaging 29.5 points on 58 percent shooting, including 75 percent from long-range to go with 8.5 boards, 11.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks.
In the February 6th thriller in D.C., LeBron had a monster performance – tallying 32 points, going 12-for-18 from the floor and 6-of-8 from deep to go with a career-high 17 assists – becoming the first player in franchise history to post a 32-7-17 in a game.
If he’s able to go, LeBron will lock up with the vastly-improved Otto Porter – who comes into the game as the NBA’s second-best three-point shooter at .442 – trailing only Kyle Korver (.446) for the top spot.
Key: Shooting Stars
It was a relief to see J.R. Smith snap out of his recent funk on Friday night in Charlotte.
After returning from thumb surgery on March 9, he’s struggled to find his rhythm – and, of course, he’ll be a key component on both ends moving forward if the Cavs hope to repeat as World Champs. Heading into last night’s contest, Swish had gone 10-for-41 from the floor in his previous four outings, including a 1-for-7 performance on Wednesday night in Denver.
Smith didn’t light up the scoreboard on Friday night at the Hive, but he did can three of the five triples he attempted – including a big bomb over an outstretched Nicolas Batum with 4:06 to play after Charlotte cut Cleveland’s lead to a single point.
Smith will have his hands full on Saturday night against Washington’s Bradley Beal, who comes into the game needing just four three-pointers to break Gilbert Arenas’ franchise record. The fifth-year guard from Florida has upped his overall numbers after the All-Star Break for the third straight season and has posted 46 games of at least 20 points.
He’s also had four 40+ point games so far this season – including his sole appearance against Cleveland this year, dropping a game-high 41 points on Cleveland, going 16-for-28 from the floor in a losing effort in the instant classic back on February 6.
Key: Meanwhile, In the Trenches
While some of the most skilled wing and backcourt players in the Association do their thing on Saturday night at The Q, there will be a pair of durable, blue-collar bigs banging it out in the post.
Washington’s Marcin Gortat has tallied 35 double-doubles so far this season – netting double-digit points in and grabbing double-digit boards in 47 contests this year. The Polish Hammer has posted 11 games of at least 15 rebounds, including Washington’s first meeting with Cleveland this year.
In the February 6th matchup at the Verizon Center, Gortat finished with 16 points, eight boards and three blocks.
In that thriller, Tristan Thompson posted one of his best games of the campaign – going off for a season-best 22 points on 10-for-13 shooting, adding 12 boards (six off the offensive glass).
As he looks to extend his consecutive games-played streak to 442 games on Saturday night, Thompson will try to regain his rhythm as the postseason rapidly approaches. It’s been two weeks since he posted his last double-double. But Tristan is still doing solid work all over the floor – shooting 69 percent from the floor over his last 10 games while remaining one of the league’s top offensive rebounders – averaging 3.7 boards off the offensive glass, good for 5th in the NBA.