The crowd did its part for a while, but the excitement level was reduced in a hurry. LeBron James – and the cold-shooting, turnover plagued the Cavaliers – made sure of that. James took his talent back to Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday night, leading his new team, the Miami Heat to an easy 118-90 victory over the Cavaliers, the organization with which he spent his first seven seasons in the NBA. James, who did not even play in the fourth quarter, finished with a season-high 38 points, five rebounds and eight assists despite constant singsong chants of "Akron hates you", "De-lon-te", "Scottie Pippen "and that a certain body part. "I have nothing bad to say about these fans around," said James. "It was seven great years. We have grown from the year before coming here, a season of 17 to win the last years, being the best team in the league in the regular season. "I understand their frustrations. I was frustrated, too. I am with the Miami Heat now. I want this organization and the fans, but nothing better."
There was nothing good for the Cavs tonight, and there was nothing wrong with that for the Heat. When James was born in Akron 25 years old, hit a 3-pointer and then converted a three-point play, Miami, led by a whopping 38 points, 88-50, with 4:26 left in the third period. "It seems that always rises to the occasion when things look darkest," teammate Dwyane Wade said. "He did it again tonight." James, the league twice reigning MVP, scored 24 points in 10 of his 12 shots in the third quarter alone, when taunted the Cavs bench after his final basket. "He does not run from anything," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. Booed loudly when the Heat came out of pregame warmups, and each time it is displayed on the giant screen in the sand, James buried his first shot, a baseline jumper that hit 16 feet rather than with 10:41 remaining network the first period.
There was talk of him quitting on tonight, as he was when he disappeared mysteriously while the Cavs were defeated by Boston last season in the Q in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The forward scored eight quick points to end the first period with 10 points, four rebounds and five assists, giving Miami a 31-23 lead and quieted the crowd considerably. Before shooting the second of two free throws with 3:35 remaining in the quarter, James laughed as fans booed and waved white towels. "I try to keep a clear head about it," he said. "It's nothing personal to myself and the fans. It will not be, ever. "I understand their frustrations. I understand that things could have been a little different this summer for both parties. I keep going."
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