LeBron James not alone . One year after the Cavaliers single shoulder until the end of the post season, beside James that also were Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
The Big 3 of Cleveland healthy again , and seems hard eroded.
Irving scored 31 points in his first playoff game since you have an injury in last year's NBA Finals, and added 28 Love, knocked out in the first round this past season due to injury as well, to bring the Cavaliers 106- 101 win over the young but full of confidence Detroit Pistons in the opener of their first-round playoff series Sunday.
James added 22 points and 11 assists for the top-seeded Cavs. They're favorites in the Eastern Conference, but squeezed the annoying Pistons.
The championship chances of Cleveland last year is lost when dislocate the shoulder of Love at the fourth playoff game in Boston.
Cavs advance to the Finals without him, but Irving was Nabasagan the kneecap in Game 1 against Golden State. Irving was also lost, to a James encountered the Warriors.
As relieved as James flanked by teammates conspired with him to compile 81 points, 24 rebounds and 18 assists.
“For these two young guys, they were just excited to get back to this moment,” said. “These guys have been working hard, Kyrie on his knee, Kevin on his shoulder just to get back to this moment. It was great to be out on the floor with them and for them to put together the performance that they did.”
Two crucial 3-pointers buried in Love's fourth quarter and the Cavs went from a seven-point deficit to outscore the Pistons to 30-18 in the final 10:52.
21 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Marcus Morris 20 but only one after halftime for the Pistons.
Game 2 on Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena.
James touch his 179th playoff game, put his arm around Michael Jordan in 17th on the career list.