There is always LeBron James

The Raptors thought they had a win over the Cavaliers on Wednesday, and they think they have the Cavaliers on the ropes this season, but there is always LeBron James.

On Wednesday, that meant that despite Toronto dropping 79 in the first half and racking up a 15-point lead, LeBron could still lead a comeback charge and get Cleveland its most important win of the season. LeBron finished with 34 points, seven rebounds, 17 assists, and zero turnovers. The Cavs won, 132-129.

James Harden has some of us thinking he might be the best player in the world. But there is always LeBron.

He and Kevin Durant are the two reasons it’s hard to make the case about Harden, who is a month away from having finished in the top two in MVP voting in three of four years. LeBron’s offensive game is a revolution of its own. What right does a player this big and powerful have to dish 17 assists with a nary a turnover against a top-four NBA team?

The Cavaliers look and feel doomed, as they have almost the entire season. But there is always LeBron. As long as that is true — and it’s true at least until July 1 — you can’t count the Cavaliers out.

Uh, the Sixers are now the No. 4 seed.

TOR 129, CLE 132
MEM 105, PHI 119
CHA 111, BKN 105
NYK 98, MIA 119
IND 92, NOP 96
DEN 135, CHI 102
LAC 127, MIL 120
WAS 90, SAS 98

LeBron’s 17 assists, ranked by degree of absurdity.

Paul Flannery on the importance of Paul George to the Thunder and to the Western Conference.

Kelly Olynyk had 10 assists and no turnovers, and one of those assists was a brutal nutmeg of Kyle O’Quinn.

Could the NBA adopt flexible scheduling to avoid lopsided games late in the season?

Whoa, 32 and 30 for Dwight Howard!

Tim Cato brings the data proving that the NBA is having its best offensive season ever.

The Sweet 16 begins on Thursday. Here are each team’s chances to win a championship, ranked.

Surprise! Joel Embiid has Twitter fingers again. Is there anything more endearing than famous athletes who keep receipts?

On the meticulous nature of J.J. Redick.

Very cool idea from Nick DePaula to decode on the scribbles on top players’ sneakers.

Matt Moore has a lengthy pre-death eulogy for the 2017-18 Denver Nuggets.

And finally: the best turnover of the season.

Be excellent to each other.