Phoenix was averaging 106.5 points per game, but was held to season lows in the first half (34) and total points and committed a season-high 28 turnovers.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers rode Kevin Love early and cruised to the easy 117-103 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic on Monday (Tuesday in Australia).
LeBron James has joined fellow Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson as the only players in National Basketball Association’s (NBA) history to rank in the elite top 25 list in points and assists.
“He’s the guy who laid the foundation”, James said of Robertson. It was his fifth assist of the game and 6,387th of his career, passing Norm Nixon for No. 25 all time. It came on a 3-pointer by Kevin Love in the second quarter. “I’ve been very blessed to be with a lot of great teammates and two great organizations that allowed me to do some unbelievable things”, James said. “So none of that would be possible without them”.
Love scored 17 straight for the Cavs during a five-minute stretch in the second quarter that included three 3-pointers. Can you say you think James is better than Kobe Bryant without insulting Bryant? “In our league too much is trying to compare greats to greats instead of just accepting and acknowledging and saying, ‘Wow, these are just great players'”. When Cavaliers head coach David Blatt was informed of the what James had done, he told reporters it “gives me chills to even hear that”. “That’s an awesome, unbelievable accomplishment”.
Back on the court following a hamstring injury, Durant scored 27 points and tallied six rebounds. Durant was 10 for 13 from the field in his first game since he got hurt November 10 at Washington. Rookie Kristaps Porzingis had 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Shooting guard J.R. Smith converted 10 of his 16 attempts, including a six-of-10 performance from three-point range en route to scoring 26 points. Matthew Dellavedova scored 15 points and dished out nine assists. Tyler Johnson scored 12, and Hassan Whiteside had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
But while the Cavaliers marched on, it was another dismal night for the Philadelphia 76ers, who slumped to their 15th straight defeat since the start of the season in a 100-95 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Rajon Rondo had 14 points and 20 assists.
The Bucks had seven players score in double figures, including each of its starters. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 17 points.
But just as Magic fans began dreaming of an upset, the Cavaliers clicked into gear with Love pouring on the points as Cleveland took a grip on the contest.
Kemba Walker starred with 39 points, 21 of those coming in the fourth quarter, as the Charlotte Hornets prevailed 127-122 against the Sacramento Kings in overtime.
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Spurs 98, Suns 84: Kawhi Leonard had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and the Spurs shut down the Suns.
