There is something about the Raptors that brings the best out of LeBron James.
The Cavaliers star scored a game-high 34 points with eight rebounds and seven assists in Monday's thrilling 116-112 win over their new Eastern Conference rivals. The two teams played a dramatic Eastern Conference finals last season, and the Cavs have now won three close games over them already this season.
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The Cavs' three-headed monster consisting of James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love have been nothing short of unstoppable recently, and that continued Monday.
Love poured in 28 points while hauling in 14 rebounds. Irving added 24 points with seven assists.
As for James, he has now led the team in scoring the last two times the Cavs faced off against the Raptors. He may not have the same, consistent explosiveness he showcased a couple years ago, but he's a still an unstoppable force when he gets into the paint.
DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 31 points, and Kyle Lowry added 24 points with nine assists. Toronto has lost all three meetings against the Cavs this year by less than five points.
Studs of the night
Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis scored 28 points with 17 rebounds in a 110-108 double-overtime loss to the Grizzlies. He now has recorded 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds 13 times this season. The only player to accomplish that more often is Russell Westbrook (14).
Speaking of Westbrook, the Thunder star recorded his sixth straight triple-double by scoring 32 points with 13 rebounds and 12 assists in a 102-99 win against the Hawks. More impressively, he reached the feat in the third quarter. Westbrook is now just the fourth player in NBA history to record six straight triple-doubles, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson.
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And speaking of triple-doubles, Marc Gasol recorded one for the Grizzlies by scoring 28 points with 11 rebounds and 11 assists. It was Gasol's second career triple-double, joining his brother Pau as the only players in Grizzlies history with multiple triple-doubles.
Dud of the night
The Pacers, who allowed Klay Thompson to score 60 points on them in a 142-106 loss. Before the game started, Kevin Durant said Paul George was his favorite NBA player, but the All-Star did not have his team ready to play against the Warriors.
Highlight
The "Greek Freak" flies through the lane to stun everyone:
Your nightly Giannis highlight #NBAVine #OwnTheFuture https://t.co/gsTpYfj3yW
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2016
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished the Bucks' 97-96 loss with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
What's next
Bulls (11-9) at Pistons (11-11), 7:30 p.m. ET — Dwyane Wade reached the 5,000 career assist mark Monday in a tough loss against the Trail Blazers, becoming just the 14th player in NBA history with 20,000 points and 5,000 assists. He now gets a resurgent Pistons squad that recently added Reggie Jackson back from injury.