LeBron Jamesas he has countless times in this arena on this floor, planted his foot on the court and exploded for a one-handed slam – his signature game in the city where he once brought a championship.
They were his first points of the game – a night where he would be celebrated by Cavaliers fans not only for his return to Northeast Ohio but for coming home with his son, Bronny, as a teammate.
But by the time he left the court, turning the ball over to the referee in frustration after his sixth turnover, the game was over. At least for the oldest James on the roster of the Lakers.
“We want Bronny” chants filled the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse at nearly every stop in the fourth JJ Redick relented and put the rookie guard in the game near his hometown.
It was all that remained to be seen on Wednesday night, the Cavaliers remaining undefeated while handing James his worst loss in Cleveland, the Lakers losing 134-110 in a game they were out of for nearly the entire 48 minutes.
Cleveland attacked the Lakers with size and physicality, neutralizing Anthony Davis and Jacob at the basket. And their shooting, which new Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson warned before the game might be some fool’s gold, hasn’t come close to slowing down.
The Cavs made eight threes in the first quarter in just 13 attempts, making all nine of their two-point shots, a feat in modern basketball where teams try to chase shots at the rim and behind the line.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 26 points and Davis scored 22 with 13 rebounds, but neither impacted the game in significant ways. No Laker did.
Read more: LeBron and Bronny James make history in the Lakers’ season-opening win
And while the Cavs attacked the Lakers from three early, it was their transition and interior defense that ended up being most brutalized. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley combined for 44 points on nearly 60% shooting.
Cleveland led by 19 after the first quarter, and the game was never close after that.
Bronny James rewarded the patience of the Cleveland fans who stayed, hitting a mid-range jumper late in the fourth for his first NBA points.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
