10:44 p.m.-CAVALIERS FALL TO LAKERS IN LEBRON JAMES’ RETURN TO CLEVELAND
CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Cavaliers played with the Los Angeles Lakers from wire to wire, but a late-game surge by the Lakers proved too much to overcome in LeBron James’ return to Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland Wednesday night.
Behind 32 points from James, including 11 markers in the fourth quarter alone, the Lakers (10-7) fought their way to a 109-105 win over the Cavaliers (2-14) in Los Angeles’ only trip to Cleveland this season.
James led all scorers with the 32 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field, including a two-for-six mark from three-point range and an eight-of-12 showing at the free-throw line. In addition to the points, James pulled down 14 rebounds, handed out seven assists and blocked one shot in 35-plus minutes of action.
James was far from alone in leading the Lakers, as the four other starters, guard Lonzo Ball (15 points), center JaVale McGee (12) and forwards Kyle Kuzma (12) and Brandon Ingram (14), all reached in double figures against the Cavaliers.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 11 points in 24 minutes off the bench.
Small forward Cedi Osman led the Cavaliers with 21 points, while point guard Jordan Clarkson came off the bench and hit four three-pointers on the way to 20 points. Center Tristan Thompson had a double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive end of the floor, while point guard Collin Sexton added 12 points.
10:00 p.m.-CAVS AND LAKERS TIED AT 81 AFTER THREE QUARTERS
CLEVELAND -- The Los Angeles Lakers had a three-point advantage in third-quarter scoring, but the Cleveland Browns battled back late in the period to draw even at 81 all with 12 minutes to play in regulation at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland Wednesday night.
The Cavaliers knocked down 10 of their 29 looks from the field, but converted three of their eight attempts from three-point range (37.5 percent) on the way to a 29-point showing in the third quarter.
Conversely, the Lakers came out of the halftime break with an attacking mindset and converted 12 of their 20 looks at the basket, including a two-for-five showing from three-point range.
Guard Lonzo Ball led the Lakers with eight third-quarter points, while Cavaliers forward David Nwaba had a team-high seven markers out of the break.
9:15 p.m.-CAVALIERS LEAD LAKERS, 52-49, AT THE HALF
CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Cavaliers countered a game-high 18 points from former teammate LeBron James with 36 from the starting lineup on the way to a 52-49 lead at halftime from Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland Wednesday night.
The Cavaliers got 10 points each from small forward Cedi Osman, center Tristan Thompson and point guard Collin Sexton, along with six from shooting guard Rodney Hood, and then, another 16 combined off the bench between Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Korver and Larry Nance Jr. on the way to the halftime advantage.
As a team, the Cavaliers shot 40.8 percent (20 of 49) from the field, 35.7 percent (five of 14) from three-point range and knocked down all seven of their free-throw attempts in the first half.
The Lakers made 21 of their 41 attempts from the field, but converted only four of their 13 three-point tries and three of their six free throws during the first 24 minutes of action.
8:47 p.m.-CAVALIERS LEAD LAKERS AFTER FIRST QUARTER
CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Cavaliers started slowly against the Los Angeles Lakers, but key shots down the stretch from center Larry Nance Jr. and shooting guard Kyle Korver gave the Cavs a 28-24 lead after the first quarter of play at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
Rookie point guard Collin Sexton led the way with eight points on three-of-four shooting from the field and a two-for-two effort at the free-throw line, while center Tristan Thompson scored six points and pulled down five rebounds, including four on the offensive end of the floor.
Former Cavaliers small forward LeBron James scored six points, pulled down five rebounds, blocked one shot and handed out an assist in nine first-quarter minutes. Power forward Kyle Kuzma led the Lakers with seven first-quarter points.
8:30 p.m.-CAVALIERS PAY TRIBUTE TO LEBRON JAMES IN VIDEO MONTAGE
CLEVELAND -- Fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers were not the only ones to welcome back Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James to Cleveland, as the organization put together a video montage of his second stint with the team.
The video featured highlights of James’ on-court activities, focusing on his leading the team to the 2016 NBA Championship with an historic comeback from a 3-1 deficit against the record-setting Golden State Warriors in The Finals.
Additionally, the Cavaliers lauded James for his work in the community, including his founding of the I Promise School in Akron by saying, “Thank you for what you did on the court, but we all know, it’s bigger than basketball.”
James is the Cavaliers' franchise single-season leader in points scored (2,478 in 2005-2006), minutes played (3,388 in 2004-2005), field goals attempted (1,823) and made (875 in 2005-2006), free throws attempted (814) and made (601 in 2005-2006) and scoring average (31.4 points per game in 2005-2006).
In 849 regular-season games with the Cavaliers, James reset franchise records for the most points scored (23,119), scoring average (27.2 points per game), field goals made (8,369) and attempted (17,022), free throws made (5,130) and attempted (6,998), three-pointers attempted (3,713) and made (1,251), assists (6,228), defensive rebounds (5,156), steals (1,376), minutes played (33,130) and minutes per game (39.0).
In addition to his regular-season records, James is the Cavaliers’ postseason leader in points scored, scoring average, assists, field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, three-pointers made and attempted, defensive rebounds, total rebounds, steals and minutes played.
8:15 p.m.-LEBRON JAMES RECEIVES STANDING OVATION PRIOR TO TONIGHT’S GAME AT THE Q
CLEVELAND -- This return Quicken Loans Arena to play the Cleveland Cavaliers was much kinder to Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James than the first time he left the organization to join the Miami Heat.
James was well received by fans, both Cavaliers and Lakers supporters alike when he took the court for pregame warmups shortly before tipoff, and then, was serenaded with a standing ovation during pregame introductions.
Despite being 33 years old and in his 15th NBA season, James played in all 82 regular-season games for the Cavaliers last year, a first in his Hall of Fame career, averaging 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 1.4 steals over 36.9 minutes per contest.
With his 31-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist showing in a 129-123 win over the Brooklyn Nets at Quicken Loans Arena last February, James made NBA history as he became the first player ever to eclipse the 30,000-point, 8,000-rebound and 8,000-assist plateaus in his career.
5:35 p.m.-LEBRON JAMES MAKES RETURN TO QUICKEN LOANS ARENA
CLEVELAND -- After leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency back in July, LeBron James makes his return to Quicken Loans Arena as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
At 2-13 and on a two-game losing streak, the Cavaliers find themselves in last place in the Eastern Conference, which they won for four straight seasons during James' second stint with the organization (2014-2018).
With James on the roster, the Lakers (9-7) are in eighth place in the Western Conference after years of struggling to put together competitive seasons.
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