Cavs dismantle Jazz to win 4th straight
Kevin Love and LeBron James put on a show in a dismantling of the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.
James scored a game-high 26 points, while Love chipped in with 19 and 13 rebounds to power the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 106-92 victory and extend their winning streak to four games.
Love and James hooked up early and often and helped the surging Cavaliers move within four games of the slumping Chicago Bulls for the top spot in the Central Division.
The Cavaliers have shaken off their worst stretch of the season to win four of five games since James returned from a back and knee injury that sidelined him for eight contests. It's beginning to sound like a broken record, but the Cavaliers are night and day depending on whether he plays.
A healthy James transforms the Cavaliers into a contender, more so now that he's as close to full strength as he's been all season since rejoining the lineup.
| Team | Record | W-L% |
|---|---|---|
| With James | 1-8 | .111 |
| Without James | 22-12 | .647 |
James has elevated his game - a scary thought - after taking two weeks off to recover. He added nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals in the victory over the Jazz and has put up monster numbers over the last five contests.
| Player | PPG | FG% | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James pre-injury | 25.2 | 48.8 | 5.3 | 7.6 |
| James post-injury | 30.6 | 51.9 | 7.0 | 6.0 |
The four-time MVP had plenty of help Wednesday. All five Cavaliers players scored in double figures for the second consecutive game.
Enes Kanter led the Jazz with 24 points and 17 rebounds.
James and the Cavaliers will look to make it five in a row against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday before a primetime, nationally televised game Sunday against Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder.