James’ game-winner with 1 second left lifts Cavs

Behind 25 points and 13 rebounds from LeBron James, Cleveland got past Charlotte 95-90 on Friday to snap a three-game road skid.

King James’ teams have won 23 straight games against franchises based in Charlotte – both the Hornets and Bobcats. He was called for two late moving screens and struggled at times to try and slow down Brook Lopez, but many players do.

The four-time MVP said he was just happy the Cavs could get back to. Minnesota, one of the worst home teams in the National Basketball Association this season, also improved to 6-2 on the road.

“I got to my spot I wanted to get to and I just trusted what I’ve always done”, James said.

The assist pushed James’ career total to 6,837, nudging him ahead of Norm Nixon into 25th place.

“They’ve just been consistent”, said LeBron James, who lost to Golden State in the finals last season with Cleveland.

The play itself is kind of surprising, in that a hook shot isn’t normally a part of LeBron’s arsenal. The Cavs gained a one-point lead after nailing five-third quarter threes.

“That gives me chills to even hear that”, Blatt said.

LOS ANGELES – Blake Griffin and J.J. Redick each scored 20 points before sitting out the fourth quarter, and Los Angeles routed undermanned New Orleans.

Thompson further noted, “When we’re playing soft, I take that onus on myself”. He played a hell of a game on defense all night drawing the assignment on Joe Johnson, it was the polar opposite performance of Kevin Love. “And I think he’s probably better focused”, Hollins said…. Well he leads the league in scoring during the final minute when the game is within 3 points on either side.

Nic Batum missed two 3-pointers in the last 20 seconds for the Hornets.

Johnson had a potential game victor rim out with 18 seconds left while Smith was guarding him, then Smith committed the costly foul on the next possession. The Nets entered Friday ranked second-to-last in 3-point percentage (29.9) and are making a league-low 4.9 a game, compared to the Cavaliers’ Eastern Conference-leading 10.5 (at a 37.2 percent clip).

On top of that, Cleveland welcomed back the return of their starting big man, Timofey Mozgov, who was much needed in fending off Hornets’ talented center Al Jefferson. The frustration of another loss that’s about losing focus has faded away after the comeback win against the Charlotte Hornets a day earlier, but the Cavaliers still look reeling from something, and lacking confidence or conviction in their gameplan for too many minutes. Dellavedova also returned with seven points and five assists after missing a game with a calf injury.

Curry made a season-high nine of his 16 attempts from long range in his 14th career 40-point game, five of them this season.

Newton was introduced in the third quarter and started doing the “dab” as the crowd went wild and music played in the arena. Luckily the Cavs have LeBron James and the Nets don’t. Prominently, Thomas Davis, Cam Newton and coach Ron Rivera and his wife all were scheduled to show up.

After holding the Washington Wizards to six points in the fourth quarter on Wednesday night, the Hornets got a taste of their own medicine against the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers host Brooklyn on Saturday night.