LeBron James hits game-winner to sink Nets

James, who spoke to the team following Wednesday’s loss at Toronto, finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds and Kevin Love stayed hot with 18 points and 16 boards to help Cleveland snap a three-game road skid with a 95-90 win against Charlotte on Friday.

Nov 27, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles the ball around Charlotte Hornets guard Jeremy Lin (7) during the first half at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Here’s what I took away from the loss. Minnesota, one of the worst home teams in the National Basketball Association this season, also improved to 6-2 on the road.

James spoke to his teammates after Cleveland’s loss in Toronto on Wednesday, though he refused to call it a team meeting. “Coach has been believing in me since I got here and I appreciate it and I just have to keep working”.

The last time James lost to a Charlotte team was February 19, 2010, during his first stint with the Cavaliers. The Wine and Gold looked confused and disorganized on many different plays during the game, but by sheer talent, pulled out the win.

The play itself is kind of surprising, in that a hook shot isn’t normally a part of LeBron’s arsenal. Kevin Love also contributed to the win by notching a double-double at halftime, finishing with 18 points and 16 rebounds.

Fox Sports reported that the 31-year-old forward scored 25 points and 13 rebounds in his most recent win. He mentioned P.J. Hairston and Marvin Williams, hoping he wouldn’t have to assign Nic Batum to James until at least the fourth quarter.

Third, Cam Newton showed up to the game in all Hornets everything – including a throwback Larry Johnson jersey – and even dabbed for the crowd.

“To me it says if we lose, we can blame this one on J.R.”, Smith joked about guarding Johnson on the final two possessions. Cleveland took its first lead at 61-60 on Love’s three-pointer midway through the third. James made a pair of free throws at the other end for a three-point lead, but Johnson shook Smith on the Nets’ ensuing inbounds following a timeout.

With 6:55 remaining in the fourth quarter, Hornets’ star Kemba Walker managed to slide a layup that gave his team an 86-85 lead, but the Hornets only managed four points the rest of the quarter.

The Warriors set a franchise mark for 3-pointers with 22, one shy of the league record.

Curry made a season-high 9 of his 16 three-pointers in his 14th career 40-point game, five of them this season.

Thaddeus Young had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, while Jack had 12 points and a career-high 14 assists, but James and the Cavs had the last word.

And yet with 15.2 seconds remaining, somehow, they still were in the game. There could be legitimate points made about Cleveland’s big-man trio of Tristan Thompson, Anderson Varejao and Timofey Mozgov – making a combined $28.7 million this season – combining on the court for just 12 points on 5-for-18 shooting, 20 rebounds and six turnovers against the Nets.

“It’s never a one-on-one league”, point guard Walker added of guarding a player of James’ stature.