Not only have the Cavs learned how to rally from deficits and put teams away, but the effort does not always have to rest on the shoulders of LeBron James. The team is rising to the occasion just in time for the playoffs.
"We're winning in all type of ways and in all type of ballgames," James said. "We're finding ways to win down the stretch, and that's all that matters. It's playoff time and guys are ready to play. That's great to see."
The Cavs held off the pesky Charlotte Bobcats, just as they did 11 days earlier, as they pulled out a 101-97 victory at Charlotte Bobcats Arena on Sunday.
The Cavs (44-29) tied their season-high winning streak of eight games with the victory over the Bobcats (20-54).
The situation for the Cavs gets even better. Following the win, the Cavs announced Larry Hughes plans to return to action on Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers at The Q. Hughes has not played since Dec. 31 because of a right middle finger fracture that required two surgeries.
"The level that we're playing at and to get Larry back [on Tuesday], wow, that's all I can say about it," James said.
Hughes is primed to play.
"I'm ready to get geared for the playoffs," Hughes said. "I'm ready to finish the season strong and get a little rhythm."
James, who was in foul trouble for much of the second half, did not need his cape for this one. He had 35 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, but help during crunch time came from Flip Murray. He scored 11 of his 16 points during the fourth quarter.
"It's good to see other guys step up and hit big shots for us, especially when things are tight," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "It takes a lot of pressure off the rest of the team, and it takes a lot of pressure off LeBron James because he commands so much attention."
The biggest play came while the Cavs were clinging to a three-point lead with 28 seconds left. That's when Ira Newble forced Gerald Wallace to spin in the lane only to meet the outstretched arms of Anderson Varejao. Wallace's shot was short. Two James free throws gave the Cavs a 99-94 lead with 26 seconds left.
"Ira has been injured, and it's been unfortunate because he never got into the rotation," Brown said. "The one thing that he still knows how to do is innate. . . . He did a heck of a job on Wallace. He turned him into Andy, and Andy has those long arms, and that made it a tough shot."
Raymond Felton, who lit the Cavs up for 30 points during the March 22 game at The Q, nailed a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left, and the Bobcats trailed by three. Donyell Marshall split a pair of free throws, and Felton missed a jumper to seal it.
"We're hitting a stride where we know what we want to do," Hughes said. "We're figuring out what it's going to take to win and how to turn it up a notch during certain times during the game. We're growing as a team, and we're playing well right now. It's coming at the right time."