GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — Cleveland's Lake Erie Monsters surged to a lead that led to their third victory in three nights Saturday, beating the Grand Rapids Griffins 5-2 at the Van Andel Arena. Lake Erie's Sonny Milano had his second two-goal outing in three games, Lukas Sedlak extended his goal streak to five games and goaltender Brad Thiessen stopped...

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan -- Cleveland's Lake Erie Monsters surged to a lead that led to their third victory in three nights Saturday, beating the Grand Rapids Griffins 5-2 at the Van Andel Arena.

Lake Erie's Sonny Milano had his second two-goal outing in three games, Lukas Sedlak extended his goal streak to five games and goaltender Brad Thiessen stopped 36 shots for the win.

It lifted the Monsters to 37-21-5-5, alone in fourth place but percentage points from third in the tightly bunched American Hockey League Central Division.

Lake Erie's Daniel Zaar started the scoring with his team-leading 19th goal, on a power play at 12:03 of the first period, assisted by Steve Eminger and Alex Broadhurst.

A minute later at 13:04, Milano deflected a feed from T.J. Tynan to put the Monsters ahead 2-0, John Ramage getting an assist.

Sedlak fired the 3-0 marker on a rebound only 48 seconds into the second period. Milano shot from the left face-off circle on a power play at 2:05, with Jaime Sifers and Ramage assisting, for his second goal of the game and a 4-0 lead.

That ended the game for one of the AHL's top netminders, Grand Rapids' Jared Coreau, who stopped 8 of 12 shots and took the loss. Tom McCollum in relief saved 14.

Eric Tangradi notched his 25th goal of the season and put the Griffins on the scoreboard on a power play at 15:31 of the second period. Ryan Sproul gave the Griffins their second goal on a 6-on-3 power play at 16:14 of the third period.

Sifers iced it for Lake Erie with an empty net goal at 18:53, Trent Vogelhuber and Justin Falk assisting.

Both teams were 2 for 6 on power play opportunities. The Monsters were charged with 8 penalties totaling 16 minutes. The Griffins had 6 totaling 12 minutes.

Next up, the Monsters visit the Chicago Wolves at 8 p.m. EDT Friday. It's the first of eight remaining regular-season games, five of them on the road.

The four-time MVP drove left of the lane, elevated and went right through his former teammate, Lou Amundson.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James recently shifted into "playoff mode," leading to less social media and more focus.

It's also led to fierce drives and a bevy of impressive dunks.

James had another on Saturday night, causing an uproar inside Madison Square Garden.

The four-time MVP drove left of the lane, elevated and went right through his former teammate, Lou Amundson. James received a technical foul on the play for taunting, but it didn't seem to bother him that much. The highlight reel play helped punctuate another terrific night that finished with James' third triple-double of the season.

LeBron James feels much better in both mind and spirit, as evidenced by the stats he's produced this week and his dunk over Lou Amundson and Kristaps Porzingis.

NEW YORK - In body and in spirit, LeBron James is feeling better these days.

Perhaps the improvement in James' mental health has been more immediate, he's apparently gotten by whatever was bothering him earlier this month and said Saturday he has the Cavs pegged for a championship run.

That 31-year-old frame of his, though, appears to be much more sound than it was a year ago.

Just ask poor Lou Amundson.

Late in the third quarter of the Cavaliers' 107-93 victory, James blew past his old teammate and was headed for an assault on the Madison Square Garden rim.

Give Amundson credit. He's playing out the string of a lost Knicks season, and yet he chose willfully to try and place himself back in harm's way by getting between James and that soon-to-be sad-sack rim.

Kristaps Porzingis, all 7-3 of him, also thought he'd slide over to help poor Amundson.

SEE: LeBron's nasty dunk

James crushed it home over both of them, then glanced Amundson a look as though he was saying: "Don't you know who I am?"

If any of us had forgotten about James, he's made us remember this week.

"I'm just in attack mode and understanding that they had two shot blockers at the rim and just tried to finish strong at the rim," James said. "I have the ability to do that at times and we needed a bucket, and I was able to come through for our team."

Truth be told, the Cavs didn't need a basket when James dunked with about 15 seconds left in the third, turning a 17-point lead into 19 points.

What the Cavs need is a healthy James, a James who can not only dunk over 7-footers, but can stuff stat sheets and steer them through the surely choppy waters that await in the playoffs.

That was essentially the message James received in separate talks with coach Tyronn Lue and David Griffin this week, precipitated by James' various, peculiar behavioral pattern since the beginning of March.

SEE: Cavs leadership addressed LeBron's behavior

On Saturday night, James posted his second triple-double of the week and 42^nd of his career during the regular season with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. For comparison's sake, Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook leads the league with 15 triple-doubles this season.

Asked if Westbrook (Golden State's Draymond Green has 11 triple-doubles) was motivation for James to seek more games like the one he had against the Knicks, he said: "Well of course you notice him. You notice great players and what they're able to do on a nightly basis, but I don't need no inspiration from anybody.

"At this point I understand the moment that I'm in, I understand how important I am to this team and what we're trying to do so I'm just stepping up my play a little bit," James said.

Last season, James missed a career-high 13 games - most of them due to injury. In October, he received a second shot in his back in a 10-month period, and said there was a contingency plan for a third.

Not only has James' back and knees behaved, but the three games he's missed this season have all been at the coach's discretion for rest purposes. He's scheduled to sit out a fourth game Tuesday night at home against Houston, though such plans are always subject to change.

If James does sit against the Rockets at The Q, it's too bad for the locals who paid to watch him. He's been brilliant lately, averaging 29 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.5 assists over his last four games.

Those numbers closely resemble the stats he put up in a historic postseason last year, one that yet fell short in the Finals in a 4-2 series loss to Golden State.

The idea on Lue's part to rest James is to do everything within reason to make sure the James we see now is the one we see when the playoffs start, after just nine more games.

If indeed James sits Tuesday, he'll have had four days off before the Cavs play again, Thursday night at home against Brooklyn.

"I'm a world-class athlete," James said. "I know what it takes all year around to keep my body in shape and ready for the long haul."

He's ready.

Michael Brantley is expected to open the season on the disabled list after suffering a setback with his surgically-repaired right shoulder. Manager Terry Francona says Brantley is still ahead of schedule on his rehab.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - It appears that left fielder Michael Brantley has fallen short of his goal of being ready for opening day at Progressive Field. Manager Terry Francona didn't come out and say it Saturday morning, but he came close.

"I don't think you'll see him playing in a major-league game this week that's for sure," Francona told reporters in Goodyear, Ariz. "How we go about the next three or four days, we'll have a better idea later today."

The Indians break camp on Thursday. They'll play two games against Texas at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 1-2 before returning home to open the regular season April 4 against Boston.

Brantley underwent surgery in November to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. His rehab progressed to the point where he played Cactus League games on March 19 against the Cubs and Monday against the White Sox. After Tuesday's day off, however, Francona told reporters that Brantley was being shut down for a few days because his shoulder wasn't bouncing back as hoped.

Dr. Mark Schickendantz, the Indians' head physician, has been working with Brantley the last two days.

"He had a good day in the training room getting loose, a better day than yesterday," said Francona.

Brantley plays in first game this spring

Francona says Brantley is still ahead of schedule in his rehab. When he first underwent surgery, the Indians felt he might miss part, if not all, of April. Other projections had Brantley's rehab extending in May and longer.

"I think it was healthy for him to shoot for that (opening day)," said Francona. "Anytime you have a goal, it's good. I hope he's not disappointed. I think he understands better than anybody here what he means to this team.

"There's not one ounce of disappointment in me. I'm proud of him. He busted his butt. It might be a week later ... it might be 10 days. But he's going to be just fine. We just have to do it right."

If Brantley opens the season on the DL, the Indians will carry five outfielders. After Joey Butler was optioned to Class AAA Columbus on Saturday, there are eight viable candidates still in camp - Tyler Naquin, Rajai Davis, Lonnie Chisenhall, Marlon Byrd, Collin Cowgill, Shane Robinson, Robbie Grossman and Will Venable.

Naquin, Davis and Chisenhall are on the team. Chisenhall has been sidelined with a sore right forearm, but it does not sound like he'll open on the DL. Cowgill is on the 40-man roster, while Byrd, Robinson, Grossman and Venable are invitees on minor-league deals.

First pitch: Carlos Carrasco will face Tim Melville and the Reds split squad at 4:05 p.m. Saturday at Goodyear Ballpark. Cody Allen, Jeff Manship, Jarrett Grube and Kyle Crockett are in the bullpen.

Carrasco is 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA in four Cactus League starts. He's struck out 14 and hasn't walked a batter in 13 innings. The opposition is hitting .288 against him. Saturday's game will be on WTAM/1100 and Indians.com.

Saturday's lineups: Tribe: CF Rajai Davis, SS Francisco Lindor, 2B Jason Kipnis, 1B Mike Napoli, DH Carlos Santana, C Yan Gomes, LF Byrd, 3B Juan Uribe, RF Cowgill and Carrasco.

Reds lineup: 2B Jose Pereza, DH Zack Cozart, 1B Joey Votto, RF Jay Bruce, 3B Eugenio Suarez, LF Scott Schebler, CF Jake Caves, C Ramon Cabrera, SS Blake Trahan and Melville.

Coming attractions: Cody Anderson is scheduled to start against Milwaukee's Taylor Jungmann on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET. Crockett, Manship and Joba Chamberlain will follow Anderson.

Anderson is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in four games, including three starts. He's struck out eight, walked four and allowed eight earned runs. He's allowed 12 hits in 12 innings and the opposition is hitting .245 against him.

SportsTime Ohio will televise Sunday's game. It will be STO's final game from spring training. Indians.com will carry the webcast.

Danny Salazar will face Jesse Hahn and the Oakland A's on Monday in Mesa at 4:05 p.m. ET. The game can be heard on Indians.com.

Salazar is 1-1 with a 7.63 ERA in five starts. He's allowed 17 hits, including a team-high four homers, and 13 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings. Salazar has 18 strikeouts with eight walks. The opposition is hitting .279.

Zach McAllister and Bryan Shaw are scheduled to follow Salazar.

With Irving sidelined, Kevin Love got a bigger role vs. the Knicks, displaying the talents that made the Cavaliers want him in the summer of 2014.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers have been looking for spots in the schedule to rest their key guys as the regular season winds down. Head coach Tyronn Lue found a night for point guard Kyrie Irving, choosing to sit him against the New York Knicks on Saturday night. 

With Irving sidelined, Kevin Love got a bigger role, showing flashbacks to the first few months of the season when LeBron James declared Love an "All-Star."

Love flourished against New York, finishing with a team-high 28 points on 10-of-19 from the field, including 4-of-9 from three-point range. He also grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds, looking as comfortable as he has in months and helping lead the Cavs to a 107-93 win. 

Here are five observations:

Love's bigger role - Love as the third option continues to be a work in progress.

It's clear the Cavs will need to rectify their on-court chemistry when all three members of the talented trio are out there at the same time. That should be one of the goals prior to the postseason.

But things looked pretty good against the Knicks with Love morphing back into the focal point of the offense. It was the same result when Irving left the game against Oklahoma City with bed bugs.

There's only one basketball and sometimes it becomes a challenge with two ball-dominant players, James and Irving. Take one of those players out of the equation and Love gets more shot attempts.

He can be more of a volume shooter, similar to how he played in Minnesota. That's a role that makes him look more comfortable.

He also gets the ball inside before drifting out to the three-point line.

Love's aggressiveness Saturday is a great sign. It's that kind of play that will be needed in the postseason, when games are played more in the halfcourt and Cleveland will need an interior presence. Love will need to be more involved, getting a handful of shots and making the most of those opportunities. That's when Love has had the greatest impact, something pointed out by Fox Sports Ohio. 

Love is in the Air...when he takes 18 or more shots

STREAM POSTGAME: https://t.co/ZsxiungchC pic.twitter.com/vX7qDJajnL

-- FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) March 27, 2016

How good was Love against the Knicks?

His point total was the highest since that aforementioned game against the Thunder. His shooting percentage, 52.6 percent, was the second highest in the last 17 games. His 10 made shots were the most for him since Nov. 23, 2015.

James running point - With Irving watching, Matthew Dellavedova made the start at point guard. But, really, James took over those duties.

Making sure his team's offensive woes from the fourth quarter in Brooklyn didn't carry over, James dished out six of his team-high 10 assists in the first quarter.

When James wasn't driving and dishing, he was calling for the ball in the post and making the Knicks' undisciplined defense look silly.

The help was slow and oftentimes late, allowing James to snap passes to teammates and carve the defense to shreds. The Cavs finished the first quarter with 32 points on 12-of-25 (48 percent) from the field, including 6-of-13 (46.2 percent) from three-point range. They recorded seven assists on 12 made shots.

James can seemingly get his offense any time he wants. But his best role is being the Cavs' top playmaker, helping create shots for his teammates, which makes Cleveland's offense tougher to defend.

Mo's return - Williams played his first game in a little more than a month. He entered the night with a minutes restriction, as Lue was hoping to keep him around 10-12 minutes. The 33-year-old combo guard made an immediate impact in his return, making two straight three-pointers. His first originally hit the back bracket, bounced to the top of the backboard, bounced once more on the rim and then rattled home.

He finished with eight points on 3-of-6 from the field to go with two assists and two rebounds in 13 productive minutes, leading the second unit in scoring.

Williams will have a hard time finding consistent minutes and likely won't have a spot in the playoff rotation. But like some other veterans, it will be up to him to stay ready in case someone gets in foul trouble or injuries again hit in the postseason.

The original plan wasn't for Williams to be an insurance policy. However, that's his role now, especially given Dellavedova's growth into a two-way player.

A look at the threes - The offense is starting to come into focus and much of it centers on a drive-and-kick attack.

When the Cavs aren't using high pick action, the plan appears to have Irving and James drive into the paint and if the defense collapses then they have the choice to kick it out for an outside shot -- usually a three. Or the Cavs have James go to the post, draw the defense's attention and initiate from there.

Since the calendar flipped to March, the Cavs are averaging 33.6 three-point attempts per game, the second most behind the Warriors.

On Saturday, Cleveland was 14-of-34 (41.2 percent).

It's not always going to be like that. The Cavs' style of play is going to lead to an offense that fluctuates. Just as they will be capable of explosive scoring outbursts, the offense will also be prone to long droughts, something shown on Thursday against Brooklyn or earlier this month against the Utah Jazz.

The other problem with the strategy is the Cavs don't have great shooters. As a team, they rank 9^th in the NBA in percentage, but their best individual bomber has been Dellavedova, shooting 42.9 percent from deep.

Love, Williams, Irving, James and Shumpert are all below 35 percent.

Their style is going to make the offense look unstoppable on a lot of nights, but not having a consistent post presence or not scoring in the paint consistently (They entered the night ranked 21^st in this category averaging 37.9 points) could be something to watch in the playoffs.

Irving predicts big night - The Cavs held their shootaround early Saturday morning, another chance to refocus after Thursday's hard-to-explain loss.

During the session with the media, James showed his support for his teammates, explaining that the Cavs have enough to win the title this season and are ready to make their run.

LeBron James says Cavs are ready for title run

James wasn't the only one who made proclamations Saturday. Apparently, Irving did as well, predicting James would record a triple-double against New York. 

It was close for a while. James was stuck on nine rebounds for a majority of the second half and started the fourth quarter on the bench. The Cavs had built a big lead, but the Knicks trimmed the deficit and James had to come back, getting that elusive rebound and making Irving look like a soothsayer.

For his correct call, Irving received a special keepsake.

(h/t @NBA) 

The Cleveland Browns have taken a chance on Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, signing him this week.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, is a Cleveland Brown after signing a 2-year, $15 million contract.

Browns head coach and quarterback whisperer Hue Jackson will try to rebuild RGIII into the superhero he was before injuries took their toll at the end of his rookie year.

Hopefully, this Heisman Trophy winner from the state of Texas will make Browns fans forget about another recently departed Texan who won the Heisman.

Crowquill, by Plain Dealer artist Ted Crow, appears three times a week on cleveland.com.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam didn't need to sign off in Robert Griffin III's signing, but was all for it when he saw how excited Hue Jackson was about him.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hey Mary Kay!

Hey Mary Kay: Did Jimmy Haslam really tell his people to "go get'' Robert Griffin III? Is it the Johnny Manziel thing all over again?

-- Jeff Stieritz, Columbus, Ohio

Hey Jeff: No, Haslam didn't order his personnel people to go sign Robert Griffin III, but he was all for it when he saw how excited Hue Jackson was about him. Jackson fell hard for the former Redskins quarterback during a workout at the Browns facility last week, a workout that Haslam did not attend. As one team source told NFL Network's Jeff Darlington, when Griffin rolled out to throw a pass, Jackson "felt like the Earth moved beneath my feet.'' Jackson also described Griffin's accuracy in passing drills as "freakish."  But it wasn't just the workout that sold Jackson. He also grilled Griffin and believed that the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year had been humbled by his demotion to third-team offense last year and part-time scout team safety. He found him hungry and ready to reboot. Griffin also agreed to go to Los Angeles to work with quarterback guru Tom House, which will begin this week. During a meeting at the NFL Annual Meeting that included Haslam and co-owner Dee Haslam, Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown and Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta, Haslam saw how much Jackson and the others wanted him and gave his thumbs up. But that wasn't a prerequisite for the signing. Brown has final say on all personnel matters.

Robert Griffin III will work with QB Tom House this week in LA

Hey Mary Kay: What's taking so long with Josh Gordon's reinstatement? And will the Browns try to trade him once he's reinstated?

-- Maria Velten, Fairview Park, Ohio

Hey Maria: The NFL is still gathering information on what Gordon did and didn't do during his year-long banishment. Within 45 days of receipt of the
application, which occurred around Jan. 20th, the player is interviewed by the Medical Director and the Medical Advisor. During that meeting, the medical team  wants to see that Gordon attended counseling sessions and other self-help group meetings. It would have helped Gordon immensely if he had checked into inpatient rehab. That would have shown Commissioner Roger Goodell that he was really serious about getting well and resuming his career. If the NFL isn't satisfied that he's done enough, it will set forth some guidelines and ask him to meet them. Gordon can be reinstated at any time, even during the season, once the league is confident he's taken all the necessary steps to prevent another violation of the policy. Another misstep within the first 24 months back in the league and Gordon will be suspended indefinitely again. Quarterback Robert Griffin III, who played with Gordon at Baylor, has already cast his vote for Gordon to rejoin him, and the Browns will undoubtedly take that into account. But Gordon must convince Jackson that he's a changed man if he wants a spot on the roster.

Hey Mary Kay: What will become of Josh McCown now that Robert Griffin III is on the roster?

--- Scott B., Cleveland, Ohio

Hey Scott: The Browns will either try to trade McCown or consider releasing him. They might be able to get a late-round pick for the 14th-year pro, who played well when healthy last season, finishing 14th in the NFL with a 93.3 rating. McCown has a tradeable contract with base salaries of $4.375 million in 2016 and $3.625 million in 2017, including $2,333,334 million more in guaranteed money. Several teams might be interested in McCown, 36, as a starter, including the Broncos, Jets, Rams and 49ers. Two other teams might like him as a backup: the Bears and Cowboys. McCown, who missed eight games with injuries last season, still has some starting football left in him, and is expendable here now that Griffin is coming in to start.

Hey Mary Kay: Will the Browns still pick a quarterback at No. 2 despite the fact they have Robert Griffin III?

-- Carl Kramer, Sandusky, Ohio

Hey Carl: They are still strongly considering a quarterback at No. 2, but they feel less pressure to draft one there now. If they like another quarterback that they can get at No. 32, this gives them the option of waiting and picking a Joey Bosa or another premier prospect at No. 2. It also gives them more flexibility to trade down out of No. 2 and possibly pick up another first-round pick for next year. If they're convinced that Carson Wentz and/or Jared Goff is a franchise quarterback, they'll draft one of them and let him battle it out with Griffin, who's likely to start the season regardless.

Want to know how athletic the 6-foot-1, 177-pound prospect really is? Take a look at his monster dunk he had during a high school basketball game over the weekend.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The way things are currently shaping up for Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class, it's possible it could be the deepest, most talented class Urban Meyer has ever assembled.

And it's because it features athletes like five-star cornerback Shaun Wade of Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian.

Want to know just how athletic the 6-foot-1, 177-pound prospect really is? Take a look at this monster dunk he had during a high school basketball game over the weekend: 

OSU football commit Shaun Wade (@shaunwade2017) with the NASTY poster today at the Disney Easter Classic! #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/stZknWYWQh

-- HoopDiamonds (@HoopDiamonds) March 26, 2016

Rated the No. 3 cornerback in the 2017 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Wade has been committed to Ohio State since he made that pledge on Jan. 12, 2015, the day of the Buckeyes win over Oregon in the national title game. That's a long time. 

But Wade isn't signed, sealed and delivered just yet. 

He took an unofficial visit to Alabama in late February and had some Buckeyes fans worried when he wore Crimson Tide gym shorts to a 7-on-7 tournament at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG earlier this month. 

Wade has continued to say that he's 100 percent committed to Ohio State -- including to cleveland.com -- but given he's such a high-profile recruitment, Meyer and the Buckeyes know they have a long way to go before signing him. 

Wade is one of the most pursued prospects in the 2017 class. He has more than 30 scholarship offers, including ones from Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, Florida State, Stanford, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Georgia, Miami (Fla.), Michigan and many others. 

LeBron James amassed 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and Kevin Love went for 28 points and 12 rebounds, as the Cavaliers defeated the Knicks, 107-93, Saturday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James and Kevin Love combined for 55 points, 23 rebounds and 12 assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the New York Knicks, 107-93, Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving did not play (rest).

Here is a capsule look at the game, which was televised by Fox Sports Ohio:

Quality rebound: The Cavs (52-21) were coming off a highly problematic loss to the Nets, 104-95, Thursday night in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Nets are terrible, but they did follow the upset of Cleveland with a 120-110 home victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night to improve to 21-51.

Broom service: The Cavs swept the four-game season series against the Knicks. In the previous three meetings, they won by 10, six and seven.

As it should be: LeBron and the Cavs obviously are expected to defeat the Knicks (30-44), but it is worth noting that the Knicks were coming off a home-and-home sweep of the Chicago Bulls. They won, 115-107, in Chicago on Wednesday and 106-94 at MSG on Thursday.

Vegas was not impressed. The Cavs were nine-point favorites Saturday. 

Strange game: The Cavs were superb at both ends in building a 56-32 lead by halftime. The Knicks shot 29 percent from the field; Carmelo Anthony was 2-of-12 for five points in 19 minutes.

The Knicks awakened in the third quarter, outscoring the Cavs, 40-32. The Knicks deserve credit for making shots from seemingly everywhere, but the Cavs factored in the bonanza by repeatedly failing to communicate on coverages.

The Knicks made matters mildly interesting in the fourth, pulling within 99-89 with 4:52 left. The Cavs scored the next eight to effectively secure the outcome.

In the previous three meetings with the Knicks, the Cavs shot a combined 40.2 percent, including 23.4 percent from 3-point range. On Saturday, the respective percentages were 44.6 and 41.2.

The Cavs enjoyed a "Diff'' of +18 from beyond the arc. They shot 14-of-34; the Knicks went 8-of-23. In the Chicago sweep, the Knicks were a combined 27-of-55.

James, speaking with Fox Sports Ohio reporter Allie Clifton on the court afterward, said: "In no way, shape or form are we allowed to ever give up 40 points in a quarter, which we did in the third. But for the most part, through 48 minutes, we played a really good game.''

King absolutely on fire: James amassed 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his third triple-double of the season. He had two blocks, one steal, two turnovers and one bogus technical in 36 minutes. He posted a tidy +20.

James shot 10-of-21, including 3-of-9 outside the paint -- and still dominated. He knew no Knicks could stay in front of him, so he kept taking one or two to the basket and scoring, plus fouls called or uncalled. He made sure his teammates were involved on offense and engaged on defense.

The technical was assessed in the final minute of the third quarter. James supposedly taunted former Cav Lou Amundson after dunking on him (and Kristaps Porzingis). Never mind that it should have been an and-one opportunity because Amundson mugged James.

James had driven on Amundson from the left side after Tristan Thompson cleared out Derrick Williams. On the Cavs' previous possession, James drove and scored with a lefty layup on Robin Lopez, plus the foul, after Thompson cleared out Williams.

Not a fair fight: James vs. Williams with 3:05 left in the fourth.

Williams hung on for dear life as James powered from the top of the 3-point arc to the basket for a layup, plus the foul. The contact had injected a high degree of difficulty into the shot. As he headed to the line, James looked in Williams' direction and said something to the effect of "Get off me.''

Fox Sports Ohio analyst Austin Carr said: "LeBron just took him to the basket like he was a little child.''

Look out: Repeating what he has said recently, James told Clifton that he feels as good as he has in several years. His strength, speed, quickness and agility support the claim.

Beast mode: James didn't do much for the week, other than average 29.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists and shoot 56 percent in four games.

Lovefest: Love rebounded from a rough night in Brooklyn to score 28 on 10-of-19 shooting. He grabbed 12 rebounds and had two assists in 34 minutes. He was a +13.

James and Love worked extremely well together, reading each other's minds to create numerous opportunities for themselves or teammates that frustrated the Knicks.

James told Clifton: "We knew everyone had to step up in the absence of Kyrie, and Kev did that.''

Don't forget about me: Cavs shooting guard J.R. Smith scored 13 and was a +18 in 31 minutes against the franchise that shipped him to Cleveland in January 2015.

In March Madness 2016, I predict that Notre Dame (against North Carolina) and Syracuse (against Virginia) will be competitive in losses of Elite 8 games Sunday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I freely admitted to having minimal knowledge about college basketball from the time the season started until March 1. Then I crammed, college-economics-final-style, for the NCAA Tournament by reading, listening and watching as much as possible.

I learned from others that the field supposedly was wide-open, which figured to make it all the more difficult to pick winners -- let alone winners against the spread.  I have picked every game ATS, with periodic advice from a friend who follows college hoops closely. The reality is what I suspected: Even when the field isn't wide-open, it is extremely difficult to go up against Vegas.

My results have been mixed. I went a combined 19-13 in the first round, 7-9 in the second round and 4-4 in the Sweet 16. I am 2-0 in the Elite 8.

Lines for Sunday's Elite 8 games are from Westgate Superbook as of Saturday night. As always in this space, no matter the sport, the ATS picks are for entertainment purposes only.

SUNDAY, Elite 8

Midwest Region, Chicago, 6:09 p.m., TBS

No. 10 Syracuse +8 over No. 1 Virginia

Skinny: Virginia will have just enough issues with Syracuse's zone to keep its margin of victory at six.

East Region, Philadelphia, 8:49 p.m., TBS

No. 6 Notre Dame +9 1/2 over No. 1 North Carolina

Skinny: I get that the Tar Heels destroyed the Fighting Irish in the ACC Tournament (78-47). The Tar Heels are terrific, no doubt. But the Fighting Irish won when the teams played Feb. 6 in South Bend, Ind (80-76). Bottom line: A spread of 9 1/2 points is too large to give Notre Dame coach Mike Brey. Tar Heels by seven.

Urban Meyer already has 13 verbal commitments in his 2017 recruiting class, but this spring could end up determining whether or not the Buckeyes can assemble his first top-rated class with the Buckeyes.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith is being sued $2.5 million stemming from an alleged altercation with 19-year-old Justin Brown outside of a New York City nightclub last November.

NEW YORK - Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith is being sued for $2.5 million in connection with an alleged altercation with 19-year-old Justin Brown outside a New York City nightclub last November.

ESPN reported the lawsuit was filed last Thursday, the same day the Cavaliers arrived to play the Brooklyn Nets.

According to Brown, he asked Smith for a picture after the guard left celebrity hotspot 1Oak Nightclub in the Chelsea area of Manhattan around 4 a.m. When Smith refused, Brown said he shouted, "that's why you got kicked out of New York" and claims Smith attacked him.

He's suing for physical injuries and emotional distress. In January, the Manhattan District Attorney elected not to file charges against Smith following a two-month investigation.

When asked about the lawsuit after the Cavaliers' 107-93 victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday, Smith said, "I don't have a comment on that. It is what it is." And then moments later he added "I anticipated that more than anything. We'll just see what happens."

Smith played three years for the Knicks. He is being represented by Brafman & Associates, a New York-based law firm.

"If they have the audacity to file a frivolous claim against J.R., we will counterclaim for defamation and defend the suit aggressively," said Smith's attorney, Alex Spiro. "This was a cash grab from the start."

On the court, Smith is having a solid campaign. He's averaging 12.3 points and shooting 39 percent from 3-point range. He has quietly become a positive presence in the locker room according to teammates and coaches.

"He's playing hard. He's competing and that's all we can ask of J.R.," head coach Tyronn Lue said. "It's been good because I've known him since he was 18 years old, just to see the growth and how he's matured over the years."

Cleveland has fully supported Smith since the incident.

"The organization has been great ever since I got here," Smith said. "Whether that or anything else, they've been unbelievable so I'm grateful for that."

Terry Francona has said the Indians plan to carry five outfielders and seven relievers on their Opening Day roster.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Terry Francona has said the Indians plan to carry five outfielders and seven relievers on their Opening Day roster.

The number of candidates for those spots continues to decrease.

On Sunday, the Indians reportedly informed left-hander Ross Detwiler that he has earned a role on the team's Opening Day squad. That leaves one opening, likely for either right-hander Dan Otero or lefty Kyle Crockett. Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw, Zach McAllister, Jeff Manship and Joba Chamberlain have locked up spots.

Francona has admitted that Detwiler still profiles as a starting pitcher, but the 30-year-old has compiled a 3.86 ERA in seven innings of relief this spring. In his big league career, Detwiler has made 173 appearances, 97 out of the bullpen. Detwiler spoke with Tribe pitching coach Mickey Callaway about his mechanics before he signed with the Indians.

The team told outfielder Will Venable that he would not be in the club's Opening Day plans. Venable requested and received his release from his minor league contract. The Indians did the same with reliever Joe Thatcher. They told the veteran southpaw earlier this week that he would not break camp with the big league club. Thatcher could have received a $100,000 retention bonus had he reported to Triple-A.

Francona said the team can't afford to carry a lefty specialist at the start of the year because of the composition of the bullpen. The manager typically prefers an eight-man 'pen. Thatcher is seen as a situational lefty, while Detwiler could log multiple innings and face both lefties and righties.

Venable, a college teammate at Princeton of Tribe general manager Mike Chernoff, tallied four hits in 30 at-bats this spring (.133 average, .404 OPS).

With Michael Brantley likely to begin the season on the sideline, the Indians could carry an extra outfielder to allow Francona to mix and match in the early going. Tyler Naquin, Rajai Davis and Lonnie Chisenhall have spots reserved. Joey Butler was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday. Marlon Byrd and Collin Cowgill are the favorites to land the final two outfield spots.

Tribe likely to start with 5 OFs, 7 RPs

Get scoring updates and participate in a live chat in the comments section as the Indians take on the Brewers at Goodyear Ballpark.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Get scoring updates and participate in a live chat in the comments section as the Indians take on the Brewers at Goodyear Ballpark. 

Broadcast info: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100, MLB.com, Indians Radio Networks

Indians lineup:

2B Jason Kipnis

LF Jose Ramirez

SS Francisco Lindor

1B Carlos Santana

DH Mike Napoli

RF Lonnie Chisenhall

3B Juan Uribe

CF Tyler Naquin

C Roberto Perez

Indians pitchers: Cody Anderson, Kyle Crockett, Jeff Manship, Joba Chamberlain

Not even Steph Curry had as good a season in college as Oklahoma senior guard Buddy Hield. He has put on one of the great long-distance shooting displays of this century.

CLEVELAND, Ohio  --  Known for college football and for its wink-and-nudge observation of the rules, in keeping with a state nickname that salutes cheaters, Oklahoma University -- OU, the "Zero U" of my youth -- is my team in the Final Four.

Several reasons show why this seems to be apostasy.

Bud Wilkinson

The Sooners -- so named for settlers who cheated and got an early start on the 1889 Land Run  -- had won nine out of 10 games in the "Red River Rivalry" with Texas before new coach Darrell Royal began a serious course correction.

In the next few years, having learned how obnoxiously fulfilling victory could be, I could chase my Okie father out on to the back porch, not even to watch the end of the game, as the annual thumping wore into the second half.

Barry Switzer

There was also the roguish skullduggery of former OU football coach Barry Switzer, who drove Royal into retirement, muttering about cheating on That Team Up North, or TTUN. (Just kidding about TTUN. That's Ohio State's property.)

Switzer showed up at his hotel here years ago, dehydrated and hung over for an interview, during his book tour for his autobiography "Bootlegger's Boy." He had had a late night with former Brown Greg Pruitt at a club featuring dueling baby grand pianos.

"I think it was called Howl at the Moon, and, hell, I guess I did," said Switzer.

Billy Tubbs

Billy Tubbs, whose 1988 Oklahoma basketball team was the NCAA runner-up, won games by 68, 52, 51, 50 and 48 points that season. Tubbs sounded like Jack Nicholson and coached as if any sense he had of sportsmanship had flown over the cuckoo's nest.

"If I don't run up the score when I can, why, that's point-shaving, isn't it?" he sweetly inquired.

And now for something completely different

I can, however, give you a reason to root for Oklahoma: 6-4 senior guard Buddy Hield.

To watch him shoot is to return to the thrilling days of yesteryear, specifically to:

• Steph Curry when he was just a lithe Davidson sharpshooter, blessed with a quick release that was evidence of lightning in his neural synapses. After all, he was former Cavalier Dell Curry's son;
• J.J. Redick when he was the top gun in the college game at Duke; 
• Jimmer Fredette, for whom the world was a heat check at Brigham Young and opponents were an open gas tank near a match.

The stats

Buddy Hield is having a better senior season that the best season of any of the great college shooters of this century. That's whether you go by Old School stats or by True Shooting (TS), which is a metric designed to combine 3-point percentage, 2 -point percentage and free throw percentage.

Hield's TS is 68.7 percent.  Curry's in 2008 was 63 percent. Redick in his best season was 63 percent and Fredette's top was 61.5 percent.

Hield's 3-point percentage is 46.5. Curry's best was 43.9. Redick's  best was 42.1. Fredette's  was 44.0. 

Probably  Hield won't be the second coming of Curry in the NBA. So what?

What is clear is that, while some college players have made more threes in a season  than Hield, none has been as efficient.

He was not one-and-done

We are perhaps emerging from the era of wholesale one-and-done players, all of whom are headed quickly for the NBA.

The best thing about Hield is that he was not a prodigy like LeBron James. Hield has improved from 23.8 percent on the arc as a freshman to  close to double that as a senior. Hield was no natural. He was of more common clay. His game was worked and shaped painstakingly on the potter's wheel of practice.

The Final Four

Maybe the hot shooting won't continue.  Hield is 19 for 40, 47.5 percent, on the arc in the NCAA Tournament.

I remember a Kentucky guard named Travis Ford, later a major college coach, who shot up a regional at Charlotte Coliseum in 1993, going 15 for 20 from the field in the two games.

Touted in a column (blush) as the deadliest Kentuckian since Daniel Boone with a long rifle, Ford shot three for 10 in the national semifinals in the Louisiana Superdome and was no factor in a loss to Michigan's Fab Five.

This year's Final Four will be held in the Houston Texans' NFL stadium. The sight lines will be different there than they were in the regional in Anaheim, Calif.,  in an NHL arena.

Here's why Francisco Lindor should hit leadoff for the Indians in the wake of Michael Brantley not being able to open the season because of a setback with his right shoulder.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Who is going to hit leadoff for the Indians now that Michael Brantley won't open the season on time?

With a healthy Brantley, Jason Kipnis would be an easy choice. He filled the slot well last year, hitting .311 (153-for-492) with 42 doubles, six triples, nine homers and 48 RBI. Kipnis scored 81 runs and posted a .861 OPS from the leadoff spot.

Yet without Brantley to hit third, manager Terry Francona could drop Kipnis to the third slot where he's a career .273 (193-for-707) hitter with 99 RBI. The 99 RBI are his most from any position in the lineup.

Francona's next two choices are Rajai Davis and Francisco Lindor. Davis, a right-handed hitter, has a lot of experience at the top of the lineup. In a big league career of almost nine years, he has made more starts in the leadoff spot (338) than any other spot in the lineup. Last year Davis hit .239 (57-for-238) at the top of the Tigers' lineup. Don't be fooled by the average, he scored 36 runs with seven doubles, nine triples, six homers and 19 RBI in 54 games.

Lindor has played only 99 games in the big leagues, all of them coming last season. Does that preclude him from hitting leadoff in 2016? It shouldn't.

He's a switch hitter with speed and some power, if last year is a true barometer. He could easily fill the leadoff spot, along with the second or third spots. Last year Lindor hit .360 (9-for-25) in the leadoff spot, .299 (101-for-338) in the second spot and .458 (11-for-24) in the No.3 spot.

Francona has let almost everyone hit leadoff once this spring, including Carlos Santana. He has enough options with Kipnis, Lindor and Davis that he could adjust according to who is pitching for the opposition.

On Sunday the Indians beat Milwaukee, 10-3, in a Cactus League game at Goodyear Ballpark. Kipnis hit leadoff and went 1-for-3 with an RBI to raise his average to .265 (13-for-49) with three homers and 10 RBI. Lindor batted third and went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer. The 22-year-old shortstop is hitting .333 (16-for-48) with two homers, 13 RBI and looks ready start of the regular season.

After Lindor was promoted on June 14 last year, the trio of Kipnis, Lindor and Brantley - hitting in that order at the top of the lineup -- helped drive the Indians after the All-Star break. With Brantley on the shelf, the only thing that should stop Francona from hitting Lindor leadoff, Davis second and Kipnis third is the thought that Lindor might feel too much pressure. Sometimes it's easier for a young player to come to the big leagues in midseason when his confidence is high because of a good run in the minors than opening the season cold in the big leagues.

Tribe promotes Lindor to big leagues

If last year is any indication, Lindor looked like a player who could handle that. He can bunt, run and steal a base. If it doesn't work, he could always move back to the No.2 spot.

The leadoff question aside, here are five things we learned about the Indians on Sunday as they improved to 12-12-3 in Cactus League play.

No. 1. Hello, Mr. Anderson

If Cody Anderson doesn't break camp in the rotation, just how long the Indians will be able to keep him in the minors is debatable. On Sunday, he struck out seven and didn't walk a batter in six innings against the Brewers. If it wasn't for Scooter Gennett, the Brewers would still be trying to score against him.

Gennett hit a two-run homer in the third and a solo homer in the sixth. Anderson has a problem with the long ball, he's allowed five homers this spring, but he's also struck out 15 and has been throwing 95 mph to 97 mph since early this spring.

The Indians want him to work on his curveball to go along with the fastball and change up. But to waste that kind of pitching at Class AAA Columbus when the Indians are trying to win the AL Central is a problem that needs a solution.

How about this? The Indians put Josh Tomlin in the pen and give the fifth spot to Anderson? Or they give the last two spots in the rotation to Anderson and Tomlin and move Bauer to the pen? Or they make a trade.

Then again, they could always option Anderson to Columbus and wait for a need to arise.

There are seven days between now and Corey Kluber and Boston's David Price meeting at Progressive Field for the season opener on April 4. They could be interesting.

No. 2. Thou shall not steal

Catcher Roberto Perez went 3-for-3 and threw out two runners attempting to steal second base Sunday. On Friday, catcher Yan Gomes threw out two Arizona baserunners attempting to steal second base, erasing the first one with a throw from his knees.

Perez led big league catchers last season by throwing out 39 percent (16-for-41) of the runners who challenged him. To qualify a catcher had to face at least 40 stolen base attempts.

Tribe's Perez ready for life in fast lane

Gomes, who missed six weeks last season because of an injury to his right knee, threw out 31.6 percent (18-for-57). In 2014, Gomes had the second highest percentage among AL catchers by throwing out 29 percent (27-for-93) of the runners attempting to steal against him.

No. 3. Cold shower

Third baseman Juan Uribe played in just his seventh game this spring Sunday, but he went 2-for-3 with a leadoff homer. Uribe is hitting .318 (7-for-22).

When Uribe reached the dugout after his fifth-inning homer, a STO camera caught a teammate dumping a bottle of water over his head. Uribe jumped in delight.

No. 4. Stop the game and give him the ball . . . twice

Right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall singled in the seventh inning Sunday for just his second hit of the spring. Chisenhall, dealing with a sore right forearm, is 2-for-26 in Cactus League play.

In the eighth, Collin Cowgill hit a three-run homer for the Tribe. Cowgill is hitting .143 (6-for-42) with two homers and nine RBI.

Chisenhall spent Friday and Saturday getting about 10 at-bats in the minors. Cowgill's chances of making the 25-man roster improved Sunday when Will Venable asked for and was given his release.

No.5. Life in the pen.

Lefty Kyle Crockett and righty Dan Otero each worked a scoreless inning Sunday as they competed for what could be the last spot in the pen. Long-shot lefty Ross Detwiler was told Sunday that he'd made the bullpen, which means six spots are filled.

Ross Detwiler wins spots in Tribe bullpen

The Indians have talked to Crockett and Otero and told them a decision is coming.

Jones is one of seven quarterbacks who will be featured on ESPN's Gruden's QB Camp. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Count Jon Gruden among the people infatuated with Cardale Jones' deep ball.

Jones, the former Ohio State quarterback is one of seven players who will be featured on Gruden's QB Camp on ESPN. Jones and others will be part of the annual show in which Gruden, the former NFL head coach and current Monday Night Football analyst helps college quarterbacks make the transition to the NFL.

We've already seen some footage of Jones in the film room with Gruden, where Gruden compliments Jones on his mental toughness and reminds him he's not a finished product with only 11 starts at the college level.

Now there's more.

Watch above to see video of Jones going through plays on the field with Gruden. And watch below for a video of Jones diagramming his favorite play for Gruden.

Full episodes of Gruden's QB Camp will begin airing on April 12.

Other quarterbacks scheduled to appear include Christian Hackenberg (Penn State), Jared Goff (California), Carson Wentz (North Dakota State), Connor Cook (Michigan State), Paxton Lynch (Memphis) and Dak Prescott (Mississippi State).

NFL Draft Guide 2016: Quarterbacks

The U.S. men's national soccer team will face Guatemala in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. Last week, Guatemala beat the USA for the first time in World Cup qualifying.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The United States men's national soccer team will be fighting for its life on Tuesday in Columbus when it faces Guatemala in a World Cup qualifier.

The USMNT will play Guatemala  at 7 p.m. in MAPFRE Stadium, home of the Columbus Crew. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

The U.S. lost to Guatemala last week for the first time since 1988. The loss dropped the U.S. to third place in Group C and left it two points behind Guatemala with three matches to go. The top two teams in the group advance to the next round.

A victory over Guatemala puts the U.S. back in second place in Group C. But a loss would be hard to overcome. It could mean the U.S. would depend on St. Vincent and the Grenadines to get points off of Trinidad and Tobago or Guatemala.

That's not a good spot for the U.S. A loss could potentially put USMNT out of the 2018 World Cup. 

What: United States men's national team vs. Guatemala, 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier, semifinal round

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

TV: ESPN2

Tickets: Charge by phone or TicketMaster.

Browns TE Gary Barnidge has a slim lead over Cavaliers forward Channing Frye in the Celebrity Bracketology Challenge.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Browns tight end Gary Barnidge has the lead in the cleveland.com Celebrity Bracketology Challenge after the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

Barnidge has 400 points, just ahead of Cavaliers forward Channing Frye (380). Both have North Carolina winning the tournament. Former Ohio State safety Tyvis Powell (365) still has an outside shot if Oklahoma wins. All three have two Final Four participants alive on their brackets.

Indians first baseman Mike Napoli (345), who picked Oregon to win, is mathematically eliminated.

See all the handwritten brackets in the gallery at the top of this post.

Here's how they stand:

Gary Barnidge

Points: 400.

Teams left: Two.

Final four: Michigan State (out), North Carolina, Oregon (out), Villanova.

Title game: North Carolina vs. Villanova. 

Champion: North Carolina.

Channing Frye

Points: 380.

Teams left: Two.

Final four: Kansas (out), Michigan State (out), North Carolina, Oklahoma.

Title game: North Carolina vs. Oklahoma. 

Champion: North Carolina.

Tyvis Powell

Points: 365.

Teams left: Two.

Final four: Kansas (out), Michigan State (out), North Carolina, Oklahoma.

Title game: Michigan State (out) vs. Oklahoma.

Champion: Oklahoma.

Mike Napoli

Points: 345.

Teams left: One.

Final four: Kansas (out), North Carolina, Oregon (out), Virginia (out).

Title game: North Carolina vs. Oregon (out).

Champion: Oregon (out).

About the Celebrity Bracketology Challenge: This is the 10^th annual contest, which has traditionally pitted athletes from the Browns, Cavaliers, Indians and Ohio State against each other. The winner is invited back to compete the following season. (NOTE: Last year's winner, Ohio State lineman Corey Linsley, could not be reached to defend his title.)

You can check each bracket throughout the tournament at cleveland.com/marchmadness. Standings will be updated weekly.

Scoring

Round 1: 5 points for each correct pick.

Round 2: 10 points.

Round 3: 20 points.

Round 4: 30 points.

Round 5: 50 points.

Round 6: 100 points.

Tiebreaker: Most correct picks.

Prize: Winner will be invited back to defend his Celebrity Bracketology Challenge title next year.

Past winners

2015: Ohio State lineman Corey Linsley: 530 points.

2014: Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon: 390 points.

2013: Former Browns running back Trent Richardson: 450 points.

2012: "Average Joe" Cleveland sports fan Jeff Verdone of Euclid: 535 points.

2011: Former Cavaliers forward/center J.J. Hickson, 315 points.

2010: Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Cribbs, 290 points.

2009: Former Cavaliers guard Mo Williams, 470 points.

2008: Former Ohio State men's basketball guard Mike Conley Jr., 410 points.

2007: Former Browns quarterback Charlie Frye, 585 points.

Michael Reghi, Chris Fedor and Dan Labbe discuss whether the Cleveland Browns are still likely to draft a quarterback with the second-overall pick. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns have about a month to sort through all the potential scenarios they will face before picking second overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. 

Pegged as the team most likely to draft a QB in Round One, the Browns recently signed Robert Griffin III, meaning they could a different direction at No. 2. 

Can the Browns afford to pass on either Carson Wentz or Jared Goff? 

Michael Reghi, Dan Labbe and I play a game of "True or False" about whether the Browns will draft a QB with the second pick. 

Watch the video above. 

NFL Draft Guide 2016: Quarterbacks