LeBron James’s near triple-double of 33 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 104-100 win Thursday night against Kevin Durant and the visiting OKC Thunder.
KD finished with 25 points, and Russell Westbrook had 27 points and 10 dimes in the L.
LeBron felt terrible about accidentally crashing into a woman sitting courtside, who ended up in the hospital.
Per the Akron Beacon Journal:
“To play without three significant guards, you gotta have a guy like LeBron in order to beat a team like Oklahoma City,” David Blatt said. “That’s the best way I can put it and he did it once again.”
The Cavs were once again short-handed. Shumpert’s groin injury was expected to keep him out, but Mo Williams joined him on the sideline with a sprained right thumb suffered in Tuesday’s win at Boston. Williams missed nearly two months after having surgery on that same thumb about three years ago. (Kyrie) Irving was also absent, although all signs continue to point to him returning for Sunday’s matinee against the Philadelphia 76ers. For this team, playing short-handed has become a way of life this season.
There is no official update available on Ellie Day, the wife of PGA golfer Jason Day. James crashed into her with five minutes to play while chasing a loose ball out of bounds. Ellie was placed in a neck brace, strapped to a backboard and taken out on a stretcher. She was transported to MetroHealth Medical Center, but no one at the hospital would confirm if she was still there or give an update on her condition. James said after the game he was told she was doing well. […] “For me obviously her health is very important,” James said. “Going for a loose ball just trying to keep a possession going and hate that was the end result of it.”
