WITH TWO MINUTES left in the fourth quarter Friday night, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner to give his team a nine-point lead over the Chicago Bulls. Just about everyone in the building realized it was a dagger that all but assured the Cavs their 14th consecutive win to start the season.
But then, in a sudden surge, the Cavs played some of their most intense basketball of the night, moving at full speed, hoisting 3-pointers early in the shot clock, pressing the accelerator in transition and applying pressure defense.