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JEFF ZILLGITT
LeBron James

LeBron James' historic game powers Cavs to needed win over Raptors

CLEVELAND — LeBron James scans the box score following a game looking at team turnovers first, then his own turnovers.

LeBron James and the Cavaliers remain in third place in the East.

After Cleveland’s notable 132-129 victory over Toronto, James saw nine team turnovers and zero personal turnovers.

To go along with 17 assists.

And 35 points.

"I’ve never seen anything like it, to be perfectly honest with you," Cavaliers interim coach Larry Drew said.

Few, if any, have seen anything like it.

James became the first player to record at least 35 points, 17 assists and zero turnovers since the NBA began tracking turnovers in 1977-78, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Perhaps Oscar Robertson may have done it in one of the five games in which he had 35-plus points and 17-plus assists.

"It’s just amazing what he does, night in and night out," Drew said. "How he sustains it is just mind-boggling. It just seems like every night I sit over there and I just kind of shake my head."

James scored or assisted on 80 of Cleveland's 132 points.

Asked what he was more proud of, the 17 assists or zero turnovers, James said, "The no turnovers, for sure. If you don’t turn the ball over, it doesn’t allow teams to get in transition vs. our set defense. It gives us extra possessions, extra shots at the basket. So, no turnovers, just taking care of the basketball is good for me."

It was just one of 82 games, but despite what coaches and players like to say, they are not all equal. Some mean more than others.

The Cavs needed a victory like this. The Raptors are the No. 1 seed in the East and the only team in the NBA that ranks in the top five in offensive and defensive efficiency.

With All-Stars DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry and a deep, versatile bench, they are for real — a legit contender to represent the East in the NBA Finals. Before Wednesday they had won 19 of 21 games, and on Jan. 11, they beat Cleveland 133-99.

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"It’s a good win for us because of how depleted we are on our roster and everything that’s been going on," James said. "It’s a good win for us against a very good opponent. But I don’t need to remind anybody about what my teams are capable of doing."

Kevin Love (23 points, 12 rebounds) is back in the lineup after missing 20 games with an injury. George Hill had 22 points, Jeff Green 15, Jose Calderon 14 and J.R. Smith 10.

"It’s one of the best games I’ve seen them play (this season)," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.

Cleveland trailed by 15 at the half, too, giving up 79 points. "We just kind of had, like the depleted feel," James said. "We came back in the locker room, made some adjustments and knew what we had to do to get back in the game. So, very resilient. For the most part to close out the game, we had guys that have played in big games."

It was a subtle comment. Those talented young Raptors players haven’t been in many big games. The Cavs, especially James, Love and Smith, have.

Cleveland is getting healthier, too. Tristan Thompson, Rodney Hood and Larry Nance Jr., are expected back soon. Kyle Korver will rejoin the team at some point as he spends time with family grieving the death of his 27-year-old brother Kirk.

And even though coach Tyronn Lue is on a leave of absence to focus on his health, the Cavs have veteran assistant coaches on the bench, including Drew, who was an NBA head coach for two teams.

Cleveland’s performance against the Raptors is an example of what every playoff team in the East knows. No matter how the Cavs have performed this season — often looking like anything but a title contender — they can reach Finals as long as one the greatest to ever play is on their team.

 

It wouldn’t be the first time that a James team is playing better as the playoffs approach.

James won’t win MVP this season. That’s James Harden’s award. But what James is doing at 33 years old is incredible — 27.4 points and career-highs in assists (9.1), rebounds (8.6) rebounds, triple-doubles (16) and double-doubles (44) while shooting 54.5% from the field and 36.9% on three-pointers.

"What is known is I’ll be available, so we’ve got a chance," James said.

With him, a fourth consecutive trip to the Finals for Cleveland — and James' eighth consecutive Finals appearance — is possible, and every team knows it. He can drag a team to the Finals and may this season.

Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.

 

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