James registers 62nd career triple double; Carter tallies season-high 24 points in 109-95 loss to Kings; Three takeaways

1. Kings’ second-unit surge buries Cavs in first half

With Frank Mason and Malachi Richardson making their first career starts, and the first unit mustering 23 points in the first half, head coach Dave Joerger would need his revamped bench to step up.

A deep, five-man bench did the trick, tallying 32 points and effectively contributing to the team’s 57% shooting percentage in the first two quarters.

Willie Cauley-Stein and Bogdan Bogdanovic formed a formidable frontcourt-backcourt tandem, combining for 19 points, six rebounds and eight assists in 29 minutes of first-half playing time. The Cavaliers were unable to match the momentum, as the opposition went on an 11-0 run throughout the later stages of the second quarter to gain a 57-45 advantage, the largest deficit of the first half.

Jeff Green scored six points and Dwyane Wade notched four, but only 18 bench points put Cleveland in a 62-55 hole heading into the intermission.

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