CLEVELAND, Ohio – LeBron James zipped past his man to the left and effectively sent the Cavs ahead to the biggest game of the season as winners with a thunderous right-handed slam.
James scored nine of his game-high 24 points in the final quarter and Cleveland survived the Carmelo Anthony-less New York Knicks, 91-84. Next up, a Christmas Day showdown with the Warriors.
Not that James or his teammates looked especially ready for that one, even though they were finally playing with a full roster for the first time this season.
The Cavs struggled for much of the second half, and were tied with the short-handed Knicks at 82 with 3:40 to go.