Another Milestone for LBJ: Cavs vs. Wizards, Behind the Box Score

Cleveland Cavaliers 105
Washington Wizards 94
Box Score

It was a big weekend for the Cleveland Cavaliers with their trip to Washington D.C. Roughly 24 hours after recording the undisputed best Mannequin Challenge inside of the White House, not long after a podium straight up blew the mind of Iman Shumpert, the wine and gold rolled into the Verizon Center and took care of business against the reeling Washington Wizards.

It was far from a perfect contest, the Cavaliers falling to an early deficit thanks to 23 first-half points from John Wall, but things evened out pretty quickly as 32 second-quarter points allowed the Cavs to go into halftime with a two-point lead that they would never relinquish. The Cavs’ starters did most of the damage, the five-man unit outscoring Washington’s to the tune of 89-65. They also took care of the ball, winning the assist battle 13 to 11 while turning the ball over just 12 times—a mark targeted by LeBron James as one where the Cavs have the most success.

Those who were puzzled by the Cavs losing Tuesday night’s contest to the Atlanta Hawks can sleep well after this one. While it took a night where the Cavs shot over 55 percent from three-point range, it was the product of players like James and J.R. Smith taking full advantage of uncontested opportunities, combining to shoot 12-of-17 without a player within 3.5 feet.

Those Cavs—they’re a real crowd pleaser.

334: In scoring 14 points and pulling down 16 rebounds, Kevin Love notched his 334th career double-double. As he’s played 523 career games, Love has put up a double-double in 64 percent of his contests. He wasn’t exactly the most efficient from the floor, needing 12 shots to get his 14 points, but he tied LeBron James in free throw attempts on the night, getting to the line nine times. Nine times? Nine. Times.

97: LeBron James finished the game with 27 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, two steals, and two blocked shots. His jump shot was nearly unstoppable early on, notching his 27,000th point with a three-pointer early in the first half. Potentially more impressive is that in the last 10 years, James now has 97 games wherein he scores at least 25 points, pulls down 10 rebounds, and dishes five assists. The next closest player in that same 10-year span? Kevin Durant with 53.

31, 317: In scoring his 27,000th point, James became the youngest player in the history of the NBA to do so, passing Kobe Bryant, being 31 years and 317 days old.

2.43: In addition to scoring a game-high 29 points thanks to a barrage of quick-release jump shots and serpentine layups—ultimately winning the backcourt competition—Kyrie Irving is credited with having run 2.43 miles during the win, covering the most distance out of any player in the game. He passed a game-high 51 times, notching a game-high six assists for good measure.

16: Though not necessarily thought of as a rim protector, Tristan Thompson led the game with 16 contested shots, blocking three of them. It wasn’t the best night shooting for Thompson, finishing with just two points, but his work on defense, the glass and screen setting (a team-high four screens by Thompson led to baskets) is more than ample when you have the Big Three doing exactly what is expected of them.

3:53: The time in the fourth quarter when Washington’s John Wall scored his first point of the second half, doing so by getting to the line on a questionable foul call at the expense of J.R. Smith. After lighting the Cavs up for 23 (on 11-of-17 shooting) in the game’s first two quarters, Wall was rendered invisible in the second half, going 0-for-4 before cashing in said free throw. He’s lead the Wizards with 28 points, but also had a team-worst differential of minus-18.

1: Quintessential James mid-court steal and slam, once again sending Wizards fans home with a fresh reminder of how dominant he still is, a decade after bouncing them from the playoffs on the regular.

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