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LOS ANGELES, USA – LeBron James’s 18 points in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 122-102 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, April 4 (Wednesday in Manila) marked his 788th straight game in which he scored in double digits, moving him to second on the NBA’s all-time list.
James’s 18 were part of a triple-double that also included 11 rebounds and 11 assists – his 12th triple-double of the season and the 54th of his career in regular-season games.
The last time James failed to score in double digits was on January 5, 2007, when he put up 8 points against the Milwaukee Bucks.
He moved past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the second-longest such streak in league history. Michael Jordan heads the list with 866 consecutive games of double-digit scoring.
No doubt more important to James, the victory pulled the reigning NBA champion Cavaliers level with the Boston Celtics atop the Eastern Conference ahead of Wednesday’s showdown between the two.
“Tonight was a big game, too,” Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said. “For us to win this game to get to tomorrow’s game. We understood that and in that second half we really played Cavaliers basketball. That’s how we’re capable of playing.”
Trailing 55-53 at halftime, the Cavaliers produced 9 3-pointers and authored a 23-point swing in the third quarter to seize control.
Kevin Love led the Cavaliers with 28 points and 11 rebounds.
Kyrie Irving added 24 points and J.R. Smith chipped in 19.
Smith and Love drained 5 3-pointers apiece. Kyle Korver, back in action after a 4-game absence with a left-foot injury, added 3 3-pointers and scored 11 points off the bench.
Four of Smith’s 3-pointers and two of Korver’s were in the big third quarter.
“No one can survive that,” Magic coach Frank Vogel said.
With 18 3-pointers total, the Cavaliers became the third team in NBA history to make 1,000 3-pointers in a season. Their tally for this campaign now stands at 1,004.
But the Cavs were already turning their attention to Boston – and beyond.
“They’ve been playing some great ball,” James said of the Celtics.
“But I’m not one to get caught up in the regular season. I’m sorry. I’ve been to 6 straight Finals, man. I’m the last person to ask about a regular-season game.” – Rappler.com
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