PHOENIX: The lead was 20 with 22 minutes left against one of the league’s worst teams, yet somehow the Cavaliers played themselves into the position of needing big baskets from their stars down the stretch to escape Phoenix with a 120-116 victory Sunday.
Consecutive 3-pointers by LeBron James, including one from 27 feet, extended the Cavs’ lead to 115-109 with under three minutes to play. His driving layup in the final minute stretched the lead to 120-114 and seemingly put the game away. It was a victory, but it was much more difficult than necessary.
With newest acquisition Kyle Korver watching from the locker room, James scored 28 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, and added eight rebounds and four assists. Kyrie Irving had 27 points and seven assists, and Kevin Love had 25 points and 10 rebounds in the win, the fourth in a row against the Suns to tie the Cavs’ longest streak in series history.
But the Suns didn’t go quietly.
The Cavs built a 22-point lead in the first half and still led by 20 early in the third before giving it all away.
The Suns tied the game at 90 on a bank shot by Devin Booker late in the third quarter. Irving’s 3-pointer at the quarter buzzer re-established a 93-90 lead entering the fourth, but James and Irving combined for all five of the Cavs’ turnovers in the quarter, and the Suns shot 16-of-22 (73 percent) to fight their way back.
Ball movement was a problem much of the night. The Cavs registered just 15 assists while committing 20 turnovers and reverting often to isolation, which coach Tyronn Lue has said repeatedly he doesn’t mind at times. But Irving and James each had seven turnovers.
Love fared better in his second game back from food poisoning. He said after the win against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday that he didn’t have his game legs back and thought he’d be better Sunday. He certainly was.
The Cavs are 2-0 to start their longest road trip of the season, albeit against two of the league’s worst teams in the Suns and Nets. James said Sunday morning it’s never about the opponents.
“We have an opportunity to continue our process and continue our journey. It’s never about who we play no matter their record,” James said. “At the end of the day we have to understand our process. Let’s not take a step back no matter who we’re playing against.”
They may not have taken a step back, but they really didn’t take one forward, either.
Eric Bledsoe scored 31 points, and Devin Booker had 28 for the Suns. Tyson Chandler had 10 points and 15 rebounds.
The competition on this trip is about to stiffen considerably Tuesday when the Cavs travel to division-leading Utah. Lue is hopeful Korver will be available to play against the Jazz.
Korver joined his new teammates Sunday afternoon but was not able to play because the Hawks have not completed their end of the deal. They’re waiting on Mike Dunleavy to report.
Lue is hopeful the trade will be finalized by Monday, which will allow Korver to practice with his new teammates in Phoenix before they fly to Utah. Even if he can’t, the plan for now is still to have Korver in uniform and available to play against the Jazz.
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.