CLEVELAND — LeBron James recorded his first triple-double of the season and guard Kyrie Irving matched his season high with 32 points in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 120-100 victory against the reeling Sacramento Kings on Monday.
James, a forward, had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his 40th career triple-double, while Irving matched a career high with 12 assists.
The stumbling Kings have lost their last four games and eight of their last nine. They conclude the first half of the season Wednesday at Philadelphia, and coach George Karl reportedly could be fired between now and the break.
Forward Rudy Gay had 16 points and seven rebounds after missing one game with a sprained left ankle and center DeMarcus Cousins had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Kings. Guard Rajon Rondo totaled 16 assists.
Cleveland guard J.R. Smith scored 22 points and has now made six 3-pointers in consecutive games and has hit 17 treys over his last three games. The Cavs’ starting backcourt outscored the Kings’ backcourt 54-15.
Karl, who previously coached Smith in Denver when the two dealt with a rocky relationship, praised Smith’s ability to stay out of trouble with the Cavs.
“Wow, is he playing great,” Karl said. “I think he’s done a good job of taking out the bad. It seems like LeBron has calmed him down and brought solid and simple to his game.”
The Cavs controlled the game Monday from the opening tip. They led by 16 at the half and extended it to 24 in the third quarter. James capped the triple-double with his 10th rebound in the final minute of the third.
The best sign for the Cavs may have been the play of Irving, who is still trying to rebuild his leg strength after missing the first two months of the season following knee surgery. Irving began the night shooting less than 26 percent from 3-point range, but ended Monday 5-of-8 from deep and shot 13-of-21 overall.
Coach Tyronn Lue has made it clear in recent days that he is not worried about Irving’s playmaking, he just wants the former All-Star point guard to attack whenever he has the ball.
Irving has been listening, totaling 61 points in the Cavs’ last two games.
The Cavs have won seven of their last nine and improved to 7-3 under Lue.
NOTES: F Rudy Gay returned to the lineup after missing one game with a sprained left ankle. … Embattled Kings coach George Karl on how he planned to defend LeBron James: “Hopefully he gets in foul trouble. Or turns an ankle,” he joked. … G Matthew Dellavedova missed his fourth game with a sore left hamstring. Coach Tyronn Lue reiterated he would like to keep Dellavedova out until after the All-Star break. The Cavs conclude the first half Wednesday by hosting the Los Angeles Lakers. … F LeBron James said he didn’t see Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton’s brief exchange with the media following Super Bowl 50, but said it’s up to athletes to take the bad with the good. “I know it’s very difficult to play in one of the biggest games of your life and come out on the wrong side of it and then have to automatically answer questions,” James said. “And we also know as professionals that’s part of the business. We also know that you guys are part of the reason that help the game be as great as it is, so you gotta, as difficult as it is to answer some of the questions that you know this is the last thing you want to talk about, you have to go up there and take the onus, and take the good with the bad.”
