LeBron knows the Cavs need to play a bit better

The Cleveland Cavaliers got back to their winning ways on Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks and today’s game vs. the Atlanta Hawks marks a step up in competition.

But on the national stage, it appears to matter little that the Cavs have the best record in the Eastern Conference and the second-best record overall.

“Tonight was one of those nights where the guys did a great job of carrying me”, James said. “If there was contact, it was 100 percent unintentional”.

Jabari Parker returned after missing a game because of a sprained right foot and scored 14 points. James was asked when he stopped worrying about hurt feelings when leading a team.

“It’s pretty easy to team up with a guy like that”, the coach said.

The Bucks missed just six shots in the third quarter while Antetokounmpo, Greg Monroe and Khris Middleton combined for 22 of their 31 points to trim the deficit to 86-79 entering the fourth, but they were crushed in rebounding 43-22. “We need to toughen up”, Blatt said. G Kyrie Irving (knee) is playing 5 on 0 and taking a few light contact in 1-on-1 drills, coach David Blatt said. The length and the quickness were always there, but now we’re starting to see what a physically powerful and confident Antetokounmpo looks like.

Atlanta is off until Tuesday November 24, when they play host to the 7-5 Boston Celtics on a nationally televised TNT showcase. We have a lot to work on.

Bayless scored 17 points in a game with a controversial inadvertent whistle by referee Marc Davis at the end of the first overtime.

Parker has played in five games after returning from the ACL tear suffered in his rookie season. Tiago Splitter was limited to nine minutes, all in the first half, with right hip soreness.

Cavaliers: Thompson, usually one of the first players off the bench, started at center with Mozgov out.

13 – Matthew Dellavedova started in place of the injured Mo Williams Thursday, and racked up 13 assists over the course of the evening, a career high. They are now in a two-game skid and ironically, the two losses have come against division rivals the Pistons and the Bucks.