The Big Three got the Cavaliers back on track with a much-needed 97-88 win over the Charlotte Hornets at The Q on Monday night.
LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving led the charge, combining for 65 points. More specifically, they fueled a blazing start that gave the Cavaliers a 21-0 lead more than six minutes into the game.
Cleveland (14-9) swarmed Charlotte with aggressive traps and blitzed the gaps, leaving the Hornets discombobulated. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the three-touchdown lead was the largest in the NBA since Portland got out to a 22-0 lead against Boston last Feb. 21.
On their first 11 baskets, the Cavaliers had 11 assists — six by James.
Charlotte missed its first nine shots before Al Jefferson got on the board with a contested baseline jumper with 5:33 left in the first quarter.
The Hornets made their run in the second, going on a 21-9 run to cut the deficit to three. But the Cavaliers closed the quarter on an 11-4 spurt to enter the break up 54-45.
Cleveland didn’t start the second half quickly, allowing the Hornets to get within three once more. However, the momentum switched when the Cavaliers ended the period on an 18-9 run, led by Love and James — who had seven and eight points in the quarter, respectively.
At the end of three, the Cavaliers led 80-68.
In the final quarter Cleveland locked down defensively. Charlotte shot 8-of-18, which translated to 20 fourth-quarter points. It wouldn’t be enough.
James was three rebounds shy from a triple double. He registered 27 points, seven boards and a contest-high 13 assists.
Love, who had secured his 13th double double by halftime, ended with 22 points and a season-high 18 rebounds, along with five assists and four steals.
Irving supplied 16 points, four rebounds and five assists.
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