Dec 1, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) dribbles the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers guard Mo Williams (52) and forward Kevin Love (0) defend during the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
CLEVELAND — Guard John Wall scored a season-high 35 points, and coach Randy Wittman’s seat cooled ever so slightly after the Washington Wizards’ impressive 97-85 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.
It was the Cavs’ first home loss of the season following a 9-0 start at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland had won 29 of its previous 30 home games.
The Wizards (7-8) badly underperformed throughout the early stages of this season, but they belted the best team in the East on its home floor after dropping three of four to the Cavs last season.
Forward LeBron James scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, but he committed nine turnovers. The Cavs (13-5) shot just 33.7 percent and committed 19 turnovers, just shy of their season-high 21 set in a double-overtime loss. They still possess the best record in the East but are now just 5-4 following an eight-game winning streak.
Wittman’s job security came into question during the Wizards’ dismal start. For at least one night, they looked every bit the team that won 46 games last season and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. A lot of the credit for that goes to Wall, who produced the Wizards’ first 30-point game of the season.
He added 10 assists, although he committed five turnovers. His 21 points at the break were more than he scored in all but two of the Wizards’ first 14 games.
The Wizards led by as many as 22 in the third quarter — the Cavs’ largest deficit of the season — but guard Matthew Dellavedova scored 10 points in the third to bring the Cavs back.
His 3-pointer with a minute left pulled Cleveland within 78-67, but guard Bradley Beal consistently made big shots to keep the Cavs at a distance.
Beal scored 18 points, including 13 in the second half, and center Marcin Gortat added 15 points and 11 rebounds.
James has been hard on his teammates both privately and publicly in recent weeks, chastising mistakes and lackadaisical effort when he felt the Cavs were coasting through portions of games and the schedule.
Forward Kevin Love had eight points and eight rebounds, and guard J.R. Smith added 13 points. The two combined to shoot 5-for-24 for the Cavs, who never led after falling in a 10-0 hole just 2 1/2 minutes into the game.
NOTES: Washington G John Wall began the night shooting 30 percent from the field in his last three games (16 of 54). … C Nene missed his second straight game with a strained left calf. … F LeBron James blames himself for never meeting G Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals because James’ Cavs were upset by the Orlando Magic in the conference finals in 2009. “I didn’t hold up my end of the bargain,” James said. “I know the world wanted to see it. I wanted it, he wanted it. He held up his end, I didn’t hold up my end and I hate that. I hate that it didn’t happen.” … David Blatt was selected the Eastern Conference coach of the month for October/November. It’s his second time winning the award with the Cavaliers.
