CLEVELAND – LeBron James doesn’t usually spend a lot of time talking about personal accomplishments, but he made an exception Tuesday night.
James scored 27 points to move into 21st place on the NBA’s career list, and the Cleveland Cavaliers cruised to a 110-79 victory over the Boston Celtics.
James, who has 24,508 career points, moved past former Miami Heat teammate Ray Allen with a layup in the third quarter.
“He’s one of my best friends,” James said. “He’s a guy I competed against and grew up watching, and to be able to team with him the last two years when I was with Miami, I learned so much from him. To know I passed him, it’s very humbling.”
The Cavaliers have been one of several teams rumored to sign Allen, who hasn’t played this season. Asked if passing Allen might give him the incentive to return, James laughed and said, “He’ll make one 3 and then retire? I’m going to call him. I don’t know. It’s pretty cool.”
James was pulled with 4:41 remaining in the period and didn’t return, playing 26 minutes.
In other results, Sacramento routed New York, 124-86; Atlanta beat the James Harden-less Houston, 104-96; depleted Chicago stunned Washington, 97-92; Utah shocked Memphis, 93-82; Denver thumped Milwaukee, 106-95; and the Charlotte Hornets edged the Los Angeles Lakers, 104-103.
Back in Cleveland, Kyrie Irving scored 18 points in his return after missing two games with a shoulder injury, and Kevin Love – who played despite missing the morning shoot-around due to illness – added 12 points.
The Cavaliers, coming off their first back-to-back defeats since early last month, went ahead midway through the first quarter and rolled to their 19th victory in the last 23 games. Cleveland hadn’t lost two in a row since a six-game skid Jan. 4-13. The Cavs have also won 12 straight at home.
Brandon Bass scored 15 points to lead Boston, which lost by its largest margin of the season.
James scored 21 points in the first half.