In their 96-86 win over the Knicks on November 4, the Cavaliers overcame a 15-point deficit.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo put the Bucks (5-5) ahead for good with a pair of free throws 56 seconds into the second overtime period.
“We played from behind and I’ve tried to get us out of a hole late”, James said.
James finished with 37 points for Cleveland in the loss. Five more players finished in double figures, while only three more (including Kevin Love scoring 24 points) had 10 or more for Cleveland.
James scored Cleveland’s last six points in regulation and blew right by Bucks guard Khris Middleton for a game-tying dunk with 16.5 seconds to play.
In Los Angeles, Blake Griffin scored 34 points, including a crucial jumper with 17 seconds left, and the Clippers rallied to beat the Pistons, ending a two-game skid. James averaged 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as Cleveland took three of four meetings last season. James took over down the stretch.
“We had to make a decision on who we wanted to go down there in the end”, Cleveland coach David Blatt said. Despite five straight points from Williams and James, the Cavaliers found themselves again down by nine points when Afflalo knocked down a jumper and followed it up with a driving layup. James converted the free throw and after missing a jumper over Porzingis, he drew a foul on Galloway and cut the lead to 74-71. Cleveland struggled at the line, converting only 18 of 31 for 58 percent. The Knicks missed their first 10 shots from the floor in the fourth quarter, but still maintained a 76-73 lead with 6:32 left to play. “Naturally, with LeBron (James) and his capability of making big plays, we went to him and he used the looks that the defense showed him to make plays for himself and Mo (Williams), who made a couple of big shots and big plays for us”. “We get into trouble when we try to manufacture offense as individuals rather than as a unit”. “Look, we all make mistakes, but that’s a bad mistake”.
J.R. Smith hit a 3-pointer with 27 seconds left to pull Cleveland within 108-105. But with Derek Fisher getting quality minutes from Langston Galloway and Lou Amundson, the Knicks extended their lead to 72-66 entering the fourth.
NY lost their recent game and are looking to bounce back in a big way as they host the Cavaliers. That basket ignited the Knicks, who went on to outscore the Cavaliers 17-11. The mood inside the arena was solemn but the crowd became more engaged as Anthony was scoring 22 first-half points.
7 … double-doubles that LeBron James needs to become the 12th active player with 300 double-doubles.
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As the Cavaliers prepared for their morning shootaround, a worker removed DraftKings signage from the court, believing it was a national TV game – the NBA has a deal with rival daily fantasy site FanDuel. They travel to Milwaukee on Saturday and to Detroit on November 17.
