LeBron James knows nothing about the laws of nature. Or he wants nothing to do with them. At 37 years old and with 19 seasons in the NBA behind him, the forward does not age. He maintains an insane fight against the passage of time in which, for the moment, he is the winner. He showed it in Toronto with 36 points and in Washington with 38 and becoming the second highest scorer in League history. And he showed it this morning in Cleveland, his home, against some Cavaliers who succumbed (120-131) to his destructive hammer.
For the 6th time this season and 105th in his career, the akron wunderkind did a triple-double with 38 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists, which could have been 20 if his teammates had made half the free shots he offered them. And all before the astonished look and the real homage on the part of what was his fans during 11 campaigns in two different stages. Cleveland, the Cavaliers, will always owe him a debt for that impossible ring in 2016 against the Golden State Warriors. The only one in the history of a franchise that is usually swept away by his ex: 17-1 balance in favor of LeBron, who averages 29.6 points against them. There is no peace.
LeBron check
It was not an easy exit for the Lakers, who were massively outclassed by the Cavs. Darius Garland, the Cleveland’s new wunderkind, signed 7 points (he finished with 29) from the start to overcome the ten difference (23-11). A distance that would have increased considerably were it not for DJ Augustine. The point guard scored 3 triples if he failed in his first appearance to bring the Angelenos closer. Finished with a perfect 20 points: 7/7 shooting from the field (6/6 from 3). Well also Russell Westbrook with another 20 goals.
The mate on Love
LeBron took over in the second quarter with 17 of the Lakers’ 39 points, including a dunk on his friend Love. The score at halftime, 62-67. 5 points of difference that Vogel’s men were shaken by their defense (the classic of the season) and Cleveland’s lack of shame, which finally succumbed in the last five minutes of the duel due to the appearance, once again of James: ball that arrived, ball that scored with two fade away including high-flyers who gave the final blow to those from Ohio.
With this win, the Lakers cling to the play in with a balance of 31-41 that places him in 9th position of the Western Conference. San Antonio, 11th, is three games away. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, remain on the verge of direct access to the playoffs: they are 6th with 41 wins in 72 games. Toronto is just one game away.