The Cleveland Cavaliers have decided against playing star forward LeBron James on Wednesday with the Mavericks in town.
Advertisement
James was given the night off by coach Tyronn Lue as part of his plans to keep Cleveland’s starters fresh for the playoffs. Dallas is now 34-33 on the season which leaves them in eighth spot in the Western Conference, two games clear of Utah who are in ninth place. In addition to being at the top of their conference, their 6.2 point differential is pretty impressive (or it would be in a normal season), and they have plenty of talented players not named LeBron James. Lue was hinting at the oft-repeated theory that the Cavs don’t play hard when James sits, but he, meaning James, has definitely earned a break. Lue said he intends to play James in both games in Florida and wanted to take advantage of the schedule to give James three full days of rest.
Lue said he chose to sit James following the team’s four-game road trip. James was on the bench on February 28, when the Cavs fell behind at Washington by 30 points before losing by 14.
Irving, Love and Channing Frye scored all of Cleveland points during a 19-2 spurt and the Cavs appeared to be on their way to an easy win. They regularly run out unconventional lineups with three point-guards, Dirk can’t really guard anyone anymore, and Wesley Matthews is decidedly not back to 100 percent after tearing his achilles last season. James, who scored 16 points in the first half, connected on nine of 15 shots from the floor and three of four 3-pointers in 31 minutes.
In the second quarter, James sank an 18-footer in the opening two minutes for his only points of the quarter and then added six in the third quarter, including a late 3-pointer.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming off a loss while the Dallas Mavericks are coming off a win.
Advertisement
The Mavericks turn around and host the Golden State Warriors on Friday. Bryce, 8, knocks down a 3-pointer easily in his youth league game. It was the fewest free throws made by Cleveland on the road since sinking two at Seattle on January 11, 2002.
