MIAMI: Two out of three certainly isn’t a trend.
But when LeBron James knows he needs to sit out a road game or the second night of a back-to-back, AmericanAirlines Arena may be an easy resting place.
It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to consider that remarks reportedly made by the Miami Heat organization in the wake of James’ 2014 decision to return to Cleveland might also play a part.
Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue sat James and Kyrie Irving against the Heat on Saturday night, the second night of a back-to-back and the last of a three-game road trip. It marked the second time in the last three visits to Miami that James has watched against the Heat, for whom he played for four seasons and won two NBA titles.
The outcome was predictable.
The Cavs looked up to the daunting task at the start, opening an eight-point lead in the first quarter. But the Heat outscored them by 16 points in the second quarter and pulled out an easy 120-92 victory in a game in which Cavs’ air balls were appallingly common.
In the third quarter, Iman Shumpert suffered two chipped teeth and immediately headed to the locker room. He sat out the rest of the way.
The most stunning moment came when injured starter J.R. Smith, sitting on the Cavs’ bench, had to be restrained in the final seconds and when it ended was escorted off the court by Lue and team security and officials.
Channing Frye led the Cavs with 21 points, Kyle Korver added 15 and Deron Williams contributed 10 points, five rebounds and seven assists as the Heat won a franchise-record 12th consecutive game against the Cavs in Miami.
The Cavs are 4-20 since the start of the 2014-15 season when James doesn’t play. They are 0-5 this season and 0-8 since their last victory when James sat, that coming in March 2016 against Dallas.
James also missed a Feb. 25 home loss to the Chicago Bulls with strep throat. Lue said James seems to be coming to the realization that rest is necessary for him to be fresh for the postseason. Lue said a “couple more” nights off for James will be in store before the end of the regular season.
For the record, the Cavs visit the Heat again April 10, also the second night of a back-to-back following a game in Atlanta.
“We’ve just got to see how his body feels, how many minutes he played the game before and if we’re on a back-to-back and what makes the most sense to get the most rest. So tonight was one of those games,” Lue said of James.
As for Irving, Lue said, “He needs the rest also, for what we’re trying to do and where we’re trying to go.”
James played 39 minutes Friday against the Hawks and Irving 35 as the Cavs set the league record for most 3-pointers in a regular-season game with 25.
“He understands the bigger picture of what we’re trying to accomplish,” Lue said of James. “The guy’s played so many minutes over the course of his career. He’s made six straight Finals. He has to take some rest at times.”
The Cavs are also missing Smith and fellow starter Kevin Love following surgeries. Lue said Friday that Smith is targeting a return in 10 days to two weeks after suffering a fractured right thumb.
In Irving’s absence, ex-Maverick Williams made his starting debut as a Cavalier after signing Monday. Essentially the game felt like a practice for Williams, although he couldn’t build any cohesion with the core of the roster. Lue didn’t want Williams to carry too heavy a minutes load after being off the court for 2½ weeks before joining the team, so Lue was forced to turn to DeAndre Liggins for help.
Lue also worried about the burden on Tristan Thompson in a matchup with the Heat’s Hassan Whiteside. A reinforcement for Thompson will arrive Monday as 7-footer Andrew Bogut will see action in a home game against the Heat. Bogut was signed Thursday.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her blog at www.ohio.com/marla. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.