Associated Press
Associated Press
CLEVELAND — LeBron James could finally be himself. He smiled easily, joked around and blew a few kisses to the crowd.
This trip home was different than the others. There was less tension, fewer boos, nothing to fear.
This time, James almost felt welcomed.
James scored 28 points and seemed more relaxed than in previous games back in Cleveland, leading the Miami Heat to their eighth straight win, 95-84 over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
He added eight rebounds and eight assists in his fifth game as a visitor against the Cavs, the team that drafted him and the one he led to the NBA finals before leaving as a free agent three years ago to chase NBA championships in Miami. James improved to 11-1 against Cleveland.
Unlike his previous four visits, James wasn’t the target of nonstop booing or taunts. There wasn’t the hatred that filled Quicken Loans Arena the first time he came back on Dec. 2, 2010.
“It’s been less and less since the first time I was here,” said James, soaking his ankles in an ice bucket and drinking a postgame smoothie. “Nothing can be worse than that.”
Dwyane Wade added 22 points and Michael Beasley 17 for Miami, which coasted during long stretches and never appeared threatened.
Dion Waiters, the subject of trade rumors, scored a season-high 24 and Kyrie Irving had 16 for Cleveland.
The Heat opened a 15-point lead in the third and responded to every spurt by the Cavs, who got within eight in the final two minutes.
James outscored Cleveland’s starters 28-26, and except for arguing a few calls with the officials that didn’t go his way, the four-time MVP and two-time champ enjoyed his visit home as he reminded Cavaliers fans what they’ve been missing.
After the final horn, James waved to some fans and tossed his headband and wrist bracelets into the crowd the way he always did when he played in Cleveland.
“Of late, there have been some cheers here,” Wade said. “At the end of the day, he’s from Ohio. I think some fans are proud of that.”
The Cavs, who came in to the season with playoff expectations, have lost four in a row and seven of eight. Six of their 11 losses have been by more than 10 points.
“Everyone else can write us off,” Irving said. “But in this locker room, we believe in each other. We’re going to figure this out.”
The atmosphere inside the arena was subdued compared to James’ previous trips.
There was energy, but not the same anger as many Clevelanders seem to have moved on and are more concerned with the struggling Cavs getting better than venting at James.
The disgust has decayed. This time it was a game, not an event.
In fact, things have cooled to the point that a group of fans have started a campaign to bring back James, who can opt out of his contract and become a free agent next summer. The group handed out neon green “Come Home LeBron” T-shirts outside the arena before the game.
He received the usual boos when he took the floor, but he was soon blowing kisses to fans in the seats as he recognized familiar faces and friends. Before the opening tip, James pointed toward Cavs coach Mike Brown, who nodded toward a former player who has done a lot of growing up.
James started slowly, scoring just 3 points in the first quarter, which ended with the Cavs leading 28-22.
He changed shoes between quarters, swapping a red pair for black ones. In different kicks, his game kicked into gear. He scored nine points in the second quarter, when the Heat turned up their defensive pressure and held the Cavaliers to 14 points on 5 of 25 shooting.
“I didn’t feel good early on, but once I got back into the game I started feeling better,” James said. “In the second quarter I got into some good rhythm. We started knocking down some shots and I got some rebounds and steals.”
James seemed intent on ending his night early. He scored Miami’s first eight points of the third and fed Chris Bosh for two layups. James dropped a 3-pointer and his free throw gave the Heat their biggest lead at 68-53.
The Cavs came in reeling following a 30-point beatdown in San Antonio on Saturday.
Adding to their disarray was a report that the club is trying to trade Waiters, who denied he asked to be moved and insists he loves playing in Cleveland.
“It’s just nonsense,” Waiters said. “There’s been things thrown out there that haven’t been true at all.”
OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant had 24 points and 13 rebounds, Serge Ibaka added 17 points and 11 rebounds and the Oklahoma City Thunder snapped the San Antonio Spurs’ 11-game winning streak with a 94-88 win Wednesday night.
Reggie Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting for Oklahoma City, which is 7-0 at home, the franchise’s best home start since 2004-05, when it was in Seattle. The Thunder have won five straight games, their longest streak of the season.
The Thunder took control of a tight game with an 8-0 run in the third quarter and withstood a run by San Antonio midway through the fourth quarter.
Tony Parker had 16 points and seven assists for San Antonio (13-2), which was seeking the best start in franchise history. The Spurs also started 13-1 during the 2010-11 season. Portland, which entered Wednesday on an 11-game winning streak, is the only other team to have beaten San Antonio this season.
PHOENIX — Goran Dragic scored 31 points, Channing Frye added 25 and the Suns used their up-tempo style to recover from a poor start to snap the Trail Blazers’ 11-game winning streak.
Markieff Morris scored 19 and twin Marcus Morris 15 for the Suns, who wiped out a 16-point second-quarter deficit to hand the Blazers their first loss since Nov. 5 against Houston.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and Damian Lillard scored 16 points for the Blazers, who had also won six straight on the road.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — C.J. Watson made five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with 18 points to send Indiana past Charlotte for its fifth straight victory.
The Pacers (14-1) came in with the NBA’s best defense and limited the Bobcats to 31 percent shooting.
Watson, who had made just 6 of 29 3-pointers this season, was 6 of 8 against the Bobcats.
Lance Stephenson had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Roy Hibbert added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers. Paul George had 15 points to surpass 3,000 for his career.
Al Jefferson had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Bobcats, who have lost six of their last seven at home.