The Cleveland Cavaliers (19-6) looked well-rested on Saturday night, managing to come away with a 119-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Neither side played their best defensive game, as the Cavs and Lakers both shot roughly 50 percent from the field, but the Cavs were a step or two ahead all night long.
Kyrie Irving, who rested during the Cavs’ two previous contests, played his first game in a full week, matching his career-high with 12 assists.
He also scored 21 points on the night.
Kevin Love posted his 16th double-double in 24 games played, finishing with 27 points and 17 rebounds.
LeBron James put up 26 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and passed for nine assists.
The Lakers (11-19) were led by Nick Young (32 points) and Jordan Clarkson (20 points), and gave D’Angelo Russell the night off.
In Russell’s absence, rookie Brandon Ingram started at point guard and came within reach of a triple-double, finishing with nine points, ten rebounds, and nine assists.
Our Role Player of the Game is J.R. Smith, who added 14 points, hitting 4-of-5 three-point attempts on the night.
Channing Frye and Iman Shumpert each scored eight points off the bench and Richard Jefferson pitched in with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting.
It was one of Jefferson’s more productive games of the season and it was nice to see Irving pass up a good look at a layup, kicking it out to RJ in the corner with the extra pass.
Jefferson was wide open and rattled the three in completing a play where Irving showed his trust and confidence in the 36-year-old, despite his slow start to the season.
That type of RJ would be a great addition to a second unit that has been lacking offensive production outside of Shumpert and Frye.
Smith, who is shooting 32 percent from the field this season, has put together two good performances this week, as he scored 23 points against Memphis on Tuesday.
The Cavs are back in action on Tuesday night at Milwaukee.
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