LeBron James: ‘We’re Just in a Bad Spot Right Now’

LeBron James said he apologized to Tristan Thompson for showing him up over a blown coverage on Paul George in the closing minute of a game the Cavs actually won in double overtime. It’s rare to see any teammate fire back at LeBron, but it’s clear that Thompson had felt James went too far in ripping him on the court. You so rarely get to see the two best players on the floor guarding one another; and it’s even more rare that that duel decides the entire game. “So I gotta be a lot better about that, keep that in-house, in the locker room, and when we’re watching film”.

Thompson was reluctant to discuss the incident.

“We have a chance to be in the playoffs”, Mirotic said. “We’re family”, he said with a shrug. He told reporters that it was all just miscommunication and they are going to move forward.

On the other hand, this stretch of the regular season is clearly not the Cavs’ favorite time of year, as they’re not always locked in and ready for a fight. But not when playing the Orlando Magic, a team that the Celtics have absolutely crushed in their first two meetings this season. James, who put up 41 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists, adding another triple-double to his resume, appeared to be upset about the defensive coverage on Pacers star Paul George, who finished the game with 43 points. If the Bulls intend to make the playoffs, this is the Rondo the Bulls need every night from here on in. They remain one game out of the postseason picture but hold tiebreakers over the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat.

James entered Thursday 23 points shy of tying O’Neal and matched the former center with a layup with 7:29 remaining in the game.

Smith nailed a 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds left in the first overtime to give the Cavs a 114-113 lead, but George tied it with a free throw with 2.1 seconds to go. Thompson continued to scream at James and vice versa, and Thompson stormed off to the scorer’s table for the rest of the timeout. I take full responsibility for that as the leader of the team.

“The game’s on the line, you want to win”, Lue said.

“We haven’t practiced anything, especially late-game situations”, James said.

The Cavs looked like they had won in the first OT when Smith took a pass from James and hit a left-corner three to put them up 114-113 with 2.8 second left, but things got real insane from there.

Celtics 110, Knicks 94: Isaiah Thomas scored 19 points in just 24 minutes and Boston remained atop the Eastern Conference with its 50th victory, beating NY.

Stephenson scored four points, had three assists, and three rebounds in 18 minutes, dishing out some vintage Lance assists, and getting both of his buckets at the rim.

Pacers: Lance Stephenson scored four points and committed five fouls in 18 minutes of his first game since returning to Indiana.

Lakers 108, Grizzlies 103: D’Angelo Russell scored 28 points and three Lakers had double-doubles in a victory over Memphis. A 37-point third quarter, engineered by Jimmy Butler and Nikola Mirotic, flipped momentum and the Cavs could never recover.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points, and San Antonio rallied from 21 points down in the third quarter to beat Oklahoma City.

KNICKS 98, HEAT 94: Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 points, Courtney Lee added 20 and NY led almost the entire game at Miami.