By Juan Blanco
RotoWire
Jordan McCrae scored a game-high 36 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to an 88-80 come-from-behind upset of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the Las Vegas Summer League tournament Thursday at Thomas and Mack Center.
Trailing by 16 points, 52-36, at halftime, the 14th-seeded Cavaliers rallied with 29 points in the third quarter and kept their foot on the gas in the fourth quarter to outscore the No. 3 Lakers, 23-13, in the final 10 minutes. Tied 70-70 with 7:04 to play, the Cavaliers went on an 11-3 to take control, 81-73, with 2:42 remaining and didn’t look back.
McCrae, who was 12-for-22 from the field and had nine rebounds, scored 20 points in the second half. Kay Felder finished with 20 points, as no other Cavalier scored in double figures.
Cleveland managed to claw its way back despite shooting 1-for-14 from beyond the arc, in part by winning the battle down low with a 49-34 rebounding advantage. The Cavaliers (3-2) also outscored the Lakers, 42-34, in the paint.
Los Angeles (3-1) had five players in double figures, led by D’Angelo Russell, who totaled 19 points, five rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. First-round pick Brandon Ingram scored 13 points, and Larry Nance, Jr. had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Xavier Munford finished with 12 points and Ivica Zubic, who had seven rebounds, and Jamil Wilson each scored 10.
The Cavaliers advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals where they will face the Brooklyn Nets. The Lakers play the Utah Jazz in a consolation game Friday.
