CLEVELAND (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored a career-high 55 points, breaking the arena record while LeBron James watched from the bench and leading the Cavaliers to their eighth straight win, 99-94 over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
Irving took over with James sidelined with a sprained right wrist sustained in a hard fall at Detroit.
He buried a 3-pointer with 6.4 seconds left to break a 94-94 tie, grabbed a rebound off a missed 3-pointer by Portland’s Damian Lillard, and as many in the crowd chanted “M-V-P” and James danced near the bench, Irving dropped two free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining to seal the win.
Irving broke the previous scoring record at Quicken Loans Arena held by Allen Iverson. His point total was also the highest in the league this season, bettering the 52 scored by Golden State’s Klay Thompson and Minnesota’s Mo Williams.
James is also doubtful for Friday’s game against Sacramento.
He got hurt late in the third quarter on Tuesday when he fell after trying to block a shot by Pistons guard Jodie Meeks. James put out both hands to break his fall as he crashed to the floor. James briefly went to the bench, but finished the game, scoring 32 points as the Cavs won their seventh straight.
Afterward, James acknowledged he was scared when he fell because he broke his left wrist on a similar play during high school.
The four-time MVP recently returned after missing eight games with a strained back and knee. The Cavs went 1-7 without him, but are 7-1 since he came back.