Wrap-Up — Eight games into the young season, there’s no doubt that the Cavaliers can match baskets with anyone. But when they crank it up on the defensive end, it’s guaranteed to be a long night for any opponent.
It took the Wine and Gold two quarters to figure out the Wizards – and specifically explosive guard John Wall – but once they did, Washington never lead the rest of the way.
After Wall dropped 23 points in the first half of Friday’s matchup in D.C., Iman Shumpert locked down the three-time All-Star in the second stanza, holding him scoreless until the final four minutes of regulation. By then, the Cavaliers had given themselves just enough breathing room to seal the 105-94 win at the Verizon Center.
The Big Three were hitting on all cylinders again in the nation’s capital – where the Cavaliers have won five of their last seven.
Kyrie Irving led both squads with 29 points, going 11-for-23 from the floor, including 4-of-9 from long-range, as well as assists, handing out six helpers in the win.
LeBron doubled-up for the third time in his last four outings – finishing with 27 points on 9-for-18 shooting, canning all three three-pointers he attempted while adding 10 boards, five assists, two steals and a pair of blocked shots. Early in Friday’s contest, LeBron became the youngest player in history to score 27,000 points.
Kevin Love continued his brilliant early season run – doubling-up for the fifth time this season with 14 points and a game- and season-high 16 boards, snagging seven of those off the offensive glass.
J.R. Smith drilled five bombs in the win, going 5-for-9 from beyond the arc for 17 points while holding Marcus Thornton – filling in for an injured Bradley Beal – to just two points on 0-for-5 shooting.
The Cavaliers – who came in averaging 13.1 treys per game – were 14-for-33 from deep on Friday while holding the Wizards to 3-for-15 shooting, including 1-for-8 after intermission.
Cleveland trialed through much of the first half, extending their lead to a dozen midway through the second quarter. But the Cavaliers worked their way back into the ballgame, tied the game with one minute remaining in the first half and took the lead with 25 seconds to play on J.R. Smith’s two free throws. The Cavs wouldn’t trail the rest of the way.
Kyrie Irving and LeBron James pace the Cavs as J.R. Smith catches fire from beyond the arc to down the Wizards.
John Wall led the Wizards with 28 points in the loss – going 12-for-24 from the floor on the night. But it was a tale of two halves for Washington’s all-time assist leader, who was just 1-of-7 in the second stanza as Iman Shumpert stifled Wall, who finished with only three helpers overall.
Turning Point — As good as the Cavaliers were in the second half, it was the final moments of the second quarter that laid the foundation for the win.
After Wall’s jumper gave Washington the 45-33 lead with 6:21 to play in the period, it was all Wine and Gold the rest of the way. Kyrie Irving converted back-to-back and-1’s to cut the Wizards lead in half.
After LeBron’s 19-footer got the Cavs to within a point, 52-51, Wall hit another floater to put Washington up three. But it was Kevin Love’s turn to convert an old-fashioned three-point play, tying the affair at 54-apiece.
Markieff Morris gave Washington its last lead with a pair of free throws. But Love and J.R. Smith were perfect in their next two trips to the line, giving Cleveland a halftime edge they would not relinquish.
By the Numbers – 6 … straight seasons that Kevin Love has averaged at least one three-pointer made while averaging at least nine boards per contest. Only Shawn Marion has equaled Love’s six-year mark, with Dirk Nowtizki (five straight) and Larry Bird (three) rounding out the list.
Quotable – LeBron James, on the Cavaliers defensive surge in the second half of Friday’s win …
“We had to get back to our defensive ways. Coach Lue challenged us tonight and we definitely picked it up in the second half. John (Wall) is such a talented player and an All-Star point guard in this league. We just had to tighten it up a little bit more and we were able to do that.”
Up Next – After topping the Wizards on Friday night at the Verizon Center, the Wine and Gold return to The Q for a Sunday afternoon matinee matchup with the red-hot Hornets. On Tuesday night, the Raptors make their first visit to Cleveland this season followed by a Wednesday night matchup on the road in Indiana. The Cavs close out the week with another big Central Division matchup – a rematch with the feisty Pistons on Friday night at The Q.
