The King was back on his throne Thursday as the NBA returned to action after the All-Star weekend.
LeBron James flirted with a triple-double to help the Cavaliers to a 106-95 win over the hapless Bulls. James scored 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting with nine rebounds and nine assists as the Cavs picked up their fourth straight win.
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Chicago, meanwhile, has lost seven of its past eight games and has fallen to eighth in the Eastern Conference. On a positive note, point guard Derrick Rose looked like his MVP self by scoring a game-high 28 points with seven rebounds. The Bulls will need more performances like that from him if they're going to hang onto a playoff spot.
There were some rumblings this week that Cleveland was trying to trade Kevin Love in an attempt to get Carmelo Anthony. But the All-Star-slighted power forward proved why he's a valuable asset to this team Thursday when he scored 15 points and hauled in 15 boards.
Another player who saw his name floated out on the trade market was Bulls center Pau Gasol. But if it's up to head coach Frank Hoiberg, Gasol will remain in Chicago for the long run.
"Pau obviously is having a great year and he had a very good year last year," coach Fred Hoiberg said, via NBA.com. "I love what Pau brings to this team — he can get Jimmy (Butler) a lot of easy baskets by throwing the lob and his ability to play-make all over the floor. Obviously, all the other (contract) stuff will be handled in the offseason, but I love having him here."
The win gives Cleveland a 3 1/2 game lead over the Raptors in the East. New addition Channing Frye should help them stretch the court and defend opposing teams' other athletic big men.
Highlights:
LeBron James with the high-flying alley-oop:
Waaaaay up! #CHIatCLE https://t.co/DnHfJ8IFaa
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 19, 2016
Gordon Hayward with the block:
Gordon Hayward... Nope. Not having it. #NBAGIF pic.twitter.com/AWBjDJIWKM
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2016
Rose flashes some old form:
Vintage D.Rose slashing through the contact and finishing on TNT! #NBAVine https://t.co/1gbVFINF7G
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2016
Stud of the night:
Hours after the Wizards added power forward Markieff Morris from the Suns, Marcin Gortat reminded Washington fans that they have a pretty good interior presence already on the roster. Gortat finished Thursday night's 103-89 win against the Jazz with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting with 10 rebounds, five blocks and two steals.
Dud of the night:
A game between the Spurs and Clippers, two of the best defensive teams in the league, was never going to produce many offensive outbursts. But San Antonio, playing without All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard, really laid down a dud in Thursday's 105-86 loss against Los Angeles. Fellow All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge was especially disappointing. Aldridge finished with 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting and hauled in just three rebounds.
What's Next:
Pacers (28-25) at Thunder (40-14) 8 p.m. ET — Paul George leads Indiana into Oklahoma City to face off against Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Thunder. The Pacers, who sit sixth in the Eastern Conference, need a big win to gain momentum for the second half of the season.
Warriors (48-4) at Trail Blazers (27-27) 10 p.m. ET — Portland, led by Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, enters this game winners of eight of its past nine contests. The Trail Blazers will try to disrupt Golden State's record run.