Sports

LeBron’s 33 Lead Cavaliers Past Bulls 106-91 in Game 2

Published

11 years ago

May 7, 2015

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dunks the ball against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series Wednesday, May 6, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) — The headband returned. The aggressiveness, dunks and dazzling plays all came back, too.

LeBron James wasn’t going to have a second sub-par game.

James attacked from the start and scored 33 points, Kyrie Irving added 21 and the Cleveland Cavaliers evened their semifinal series with Chicago, beating the Bulls 106-91 in Game 2 on Wednesday night.

Donning the signature headband he ditched in March, James played like a man possessed. He powered to the basket, leaving Bulls defenders in his wake and keeping the Cavs, missing two starters, from falling into a 2-0 hole. He added eight rebounds and five assists for Cleveland, which led by 25 in the third quarter and withstood a third-quarter charge by the Bulls.

James said the choice to wear the headband was spur of the moment.

“It was in my locker and I decided to give it a go,” he said. “It was time for it to make a comeback.”

The Cavs made one, too.

For the second straight game, they were without forward Kevin Love (shoulder surgery) and J.R. Smith (two-game suspension), but they had James and he was more like himself after an “off” opener.

“We’re a little banged up, we’re short-handed, so I have to be aggressive,” James said. “Even more aggressive than my usual self, and I was happy I was able to make a couple of plays to help our team win tonight.”

Jimmy Butler scored 18 and Derrick Rose had 14 points and 10 assists for the Bulls, who host Game 3 on Friday night. Pau Gasol added 11 points — 10 fewer than Game 1, when he destroyed the Cavs on uncontested jumpers.

Iman Shumpert added 15 points, James Jones made five 3-pointers and Tristan Thompson added 12 rebounds for Cleveland. Thompson started at power forward in Love’s spot, allowing James to move back to small forward. On the perimeter is where James is most dangerous and he made it clear from the outset that he wasn’t going to stand around and wait for the game to come to him.

At Irving’s urging, James was “ultra-aggressive.”

“There wasn’t one possession where he wasn’t dominant,” Irving said. “When he has that mindset, he’s the greatest player playing our game right now.”

The Cavs burst to a 13-2 lead, led by 22 in the first quarter and never looked back.

“They smashed us,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said.

James arrived at Quicken Loans Arena at around 4 p.m., three hours before tip-off. As if there needed to be another sign of the game’s importance to Cleveland this was it, as the superstar typically gets to the arena for a home game around 90 minutes before the start.

“Maybe he wanted to beat the traffic,” quipped Cavs coach David Blatt. “Knowing him, it was something else.”

It sure was.

Along with his old look, James seemed all-business from the time he took the floor for warmups. He scored 14 in the first quarter and got to the free-throw line five times, three more than in Monday’s loss. James, who went just 9 of 22 from the field in Game 1, set the tone and his teammates followed.

“For the leader of the team, that’s what you’re supposed to do,” Rose said. “Everybody on the team followed right behind him.”

Love visited his teammates in the locker room before the game, and he joined them on the bench in the second quarter. Moments after Love, wearing a sling on his left arm, waved to the crowd, James delivered one of those plays only he can make. He burst down the left side of the lane and delivered a right-handed dunk over Butler, who did a marvelous job defending the four-time league MVP in Game 1.

But this wasn’t the same James or the same Cavs.

“Our back was against the wall,” James said. “We couldn’t go down 2-0.”

TIP-INS

Bulls: Not everyone was thrilled with James’ fashion choice. “I don’t care about no headband,” Butler said. “He’s a great player, headband or not.” … The Bulls are now 21-8 this season with their “A” lineup: Rose, Gasol, Butler, Joakim Noah and Mike Dunleavy.

Cavaliers: Reserve G Matthew Dellavedova added nine points and nine assists. … Smith will return for Game 3, but the way Shumpert is playing, there’s no guarantee he’ll have his starting job back. … James (1,059) moved into a tie with Tony Parker on the career postseason assists list. He’s two away from catching Steve Nash (1,061).

SHUMPERT’S INJURY

Shumpert left in the third quarter with a strained left groin that could be serious. After riding a stationary bike, he returned to the floor but Blatt indicated the injury could limit him.

“Time for one of those miracle-48-hour recoveries,” Blatt said. “That’s what we’re hoping for.”

ROSE’S DROUGHT

Rose has not attempted a free throw in three straight playoff games, dating to Game 6 against Milwaukee. He didn’t have any excuses.

“If they’re not calling it, they’re not calling it,” he said. “I can’t worry about that.”

Thibodeau was careful not to criticize the officiating when asked what Rose needs to do to get to the line.

“I guess he’s got to go harder, I don’t know,” he said. “It looked like there was a lot of contact to me. Others didn’t see it that way.”

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LeBron’s 33 Lead Cavaliers Past Bulls 106-91 in Game 2

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Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

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Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

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Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

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The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

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The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

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Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

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Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

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