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LeBron and Bronny James watch during the Lakers’ lopsided loss to the Cavaliers on Wednesday night in Cleveland. (Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)
LeBron James, like he has countless times in this arena on this floor, planted his foot on the court and exploded for a one-handed slam — his signature play in the city where he once brought a championship.
It was his first points of the game — a night where he’d be celebrated by Cavaliers fans not only for his return back to Northeast Ohio but because he came home with his son, Bronny, as a teammate.
But by the time he left the court, flipping the ball to the ref in frustration after his sixth turnover, the party was over. At least for the oldest James on the Lakers’ roster.
“We want Bronny” chants filled the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse at nearly every stoppage in the fourth until JJ Redick relented and put the rookie guard into the game near his hometown.
LeBron James dunks during the Lakers’ loss to the Cavaliers. (Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)
It was all there was left to see Wednesday night, the Cavaliers remaining unbeaten while handing James his worst loss in Cleveland, the Lakers losing 134-110 in a game they were out of for nearly the entire 48 minutes.
“I just don’t think we matched their intensity with energy and effort,” James said. “It’s never good to take a step backwards, but we did that. And now we got to figure out how we can, take two steps forward next time.”
Cleveland attacked the Lakers with size and physicality, neutralizing Anthony Davis and James at the basket. And their shooting, which new Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson warned pregame might be a bit of fool’s gold, didn’t come close to slowing down.
The Cavs made eight threes in the first quarter in just 13 attempts while making all nine of their two-point shots, a masterpiece in modern basketball where teams try to hunt shots at the rim and behind the line. And the Lakers’ offense never figured things out, the team turning the ball over a season-worst 21 times.
“You play a good basketball team, you can’t make that many mistakes.” Redick said. “And we got down early and we…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lebron-bronny-james-bitter-ohio-013739262.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-10-31 01:37:00
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