Cavaliers Top Pelicans on LeBron’s Historic Night
History was made in Cleveland last night as the Cavs played the Pelicans. The final score being 107-102.
The game started off with everybody in anticipation for a new record to be broken by LeBron James. It only took 6 minutes for that to happen, as LeBron scored 11 points in the first quarter alone to break Michael Jordan’s record of 866 straight double digit scoring games.
Accompanying LeBron in the first half was Rodney Hood, who looked more aggressive than he has all season. He scored 16 points to round out the game.
Jordan Clarkson was also huge off the bench once again for the Cavs. He didn’t miss any of his four three point attempts, and finished the game with 23 points on 69% shooting.
The first quarter began with the Cavaliers playing a fast pace style the likes the Pelicans couldn’t seem to stop, even given Kevin Love’s off night.
The Pelicans bounced back in the second quarter to take a 10 point lead into halftime, even with their star, Anthony Davis not playing as well.
The same continued for the Pelicans in the third quarter. Jrue Holliday stepped up his game and looked almost unguardable.
It became more difficult to stop him once George Hill went down with an apparent ankle injury. He scored all 8 of his points in the beginning of the third.
It was only once the threes starting falling for Cleveland that the Cavs turned the tide taking a one point lead into the fourth and final quarter.
The Cavs and Pelicans battled in the fourth quarter exchanging buckets down the stretch. The game never fully seemed in reach until LeBron decided to take over.
Exposing the mismatch of E’twaun Moore, Mirotic, and Miller, LeBron James went isolation on three straight possessions. Using his now signature setback, LeBron scored 6 straight points to stretch the lead.
On the other side, Jrue Holliday used screens by Anthony Davis in order to get the switch on Kevin Love, which he scored nearly every time.
The Cavaliers lead by three with 20 seconds left. Jrue Holliday found himself wide open for the game tying three, but hit it off the back of the rim. Jordan Clarkson was fouled and made both free throws to put the game out of reach.
The Cavaliers moved to 46-30 on the season, and look to keep their place as the third seed in the east. The continue their home stand when the Dallas Mavericks come into Quicken Loans on April 1st.