James Sets Down Suns Scoring 30 in Last 20 Minutes
The NBA's great players know when the time comes to grab a game by the throat - then take it over.
They know when it's time to quit fooling around, when it's time to quit trying to get others involved, when it's time to take the ball and win or lose it.
Michael Jordan knew when it was time. So did Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.
LeBron James does, too.
The time to take over the Cavaliers' 113-106 victory on Sunday over the Phoenix Suns occurred midway in the third quarter.
At 7:49 of the third, the Suns were in complete control, dropping the Cavaliers into a 72-55 hole when Leandro Barbosa rose up to hit a 3-pointer. James had been quiet, scoring 14 points and missing 10 of 16 shots from the field.
"My competitive nature took over," James said.
James provided a national television audience and a sellout crowd at The Q with a performance over 1½ quarters that will be rehashed for years. In the last 19:49, the Cavaliers outscored the stunned Suns, 58-34. James, taking it to the hoop and knocking down 3-pointers, scored 30 of the 58 points - hitting 11 of 17 shots from the field.
A six-second sequence by James midway in the fourth quarter was the principal topic of discussion in both locker rooms afterward.
The Cavaliers led, 95-93, when Barbosa got loose for what appeared to be a sure breakaway layup. James came from nowhere to swat the shot at the rim. He wasn't done. Donyell Marshall recovered the ball, then flipped it to James, who tomahawk dunked it at the other end. What appeared to be a tie game turned into the Cavaliers leading, 97-93.
"I just wanted to make a play," James said. "I wanted to take the life out of them. [Barbosa] didn't see me coming."
Marshall, like Barbosa, was shocked. "At first," Marshall said, "it looked like Barbosa had made a great move. Then, the block. Then, the dunk.
"I told myself, 'That's an MVP play right there.' "
There was no argument from Barbosa, starting in place of injured Raja Bell (calf injury). "I never saw [James] coming," Barbosa said. "I asked coach [Mike D'Antoni], 'How did he do that? He's unbelievable.'
"I was dribbling like crazy and he still caught me."
The victory was the fifth straight for the Cavaliers (25-17). They are 11-1 at home against teams with winning records.
For 2½ quarters, the Cavaliers' biggest mistake was attempting to run with the Suns, who are the NBA's top-scoring team (106.3 points a game). This is a team that jacks up nearly 25 3-pointers a game, a team that spreads the ball around - averaging a league-leading 27.1 assists a game.
"In the first half," said Marshall (14 points, seven rebounds), "we played their game and we can't do that. No one can do that."
Shooting 68 percent (25-of-38) from the field, which is what the Suns did in the first half to take a 60-51 halftime lead, is difficult to maintain. The Cavaliers were able to better control the tempo in the second half, when the Suns were held to 46 points on 37 percent (15-of-41) shooting.
Steve Nash led the Suns (28-16) with 24 points. But after scoring 17 in the first half, he was held under control the rest of way.
One player does not win it alone. James (44 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists) got significant help from Marshall, Sasha Pavlovic (15 points, three rebounds), Damon Jones (11 points, three rounds and two assists) and Anderson Varejao (six points, seven rebounds in a season-high 19 minutes).
But, in the end, it was a young star taking over the game that was the difference.