CLEVELAND _ During a timeout in the first quarter Wednesday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers played a 90-second video that began with highlights from the team's 2016 championship run. It spent more time on LeBron James' work in the community, ending with footage from the I Promise School, which his foundation helped open and has heavily financed.
The video ended with a black screen and white lettering that read, "THANK YOU LeBRON."
As those letters appeared on the screen, James pointed up at the crowd and walked back onto the court. He beat his chest in acknowledgment a few times before pointing again while Drake's "Forever" played over the PA system.
The song serenaded James with the words: "Last name: Ever, first name: Greatest."
He laughed at something said on the court.
"A hero has come back," Cavaliers coach Larry Drew said before the game.
Until halftime, Cleveland treated him as one. The crowd celebrated the Akron native who left them twice.
James finished with 32 points, 11 in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers defeated the Cavaliers 109-105 in his first game at Quicken Loans Arena since signing with the Lakers last July. He added 14 rebounds and seven assists as the Lakers (10-7) won for the eighth time in 10 games.
James missed two free throws in the game's final two minutes, with the crowd then treating him like any other opponent. But it added only a bit of drama to an inevitable conclusion.
Lonzo Ball had one of his most aggressive offensive games of the season. He scored 15 points after failing to score last Saturday at Orlando and scoring two points Sunday at Miami. He also had seven rebounds and six assists.
Josh Hart had a career-high three blocked shots.
Cleveland was led by second-year forward Cedi Osman, who scored 21 points. Former Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson scored 20.
James was cheered from the outset. The public-address announcer introduced James during pregame introductions with the same flair that he would a member of the home team, drawing out his name as deafening cheers filled the arena, nearly drowning out his voice.
Two fans cut one Lakers jersey and one Cavaliers jersey in half, sewed the mismatched halves together and wore them to the game. When James scored the game's first basket, the fans cheered again.
James scored six of the Lakers' first 10 points, but the Cavaliers (2-14) put up a fight. They committed no turnovers in the first half, becoming the first team this season to make it through a half without a turnover.
Late in the fourth quarter, Cleveland had committed only one turnover while the Lakers had 14, which turned into 15 Cavaliers points.
The Lakers forced Cleveland's second turnover when Ball stole the ball from Larry Nance Jr. with 6:05 to play. He passed ahead to James, whose running dunk cut the Lakers' deficit to five points.
The Lakers' winning run started a few moments later.
James made a three-point shot to tie the score at 99-99. Then he hit two free throws to give the Lakers a two-point lead. Then he drew another foul and shot two more free throws and made one, giving the Lakers a three-point lead and capping an 11-0 run.
Osman hit a three-point shot to break the Lakers' run and tie the score again.
Eight years ago, the first time James made his return to Cleveland after leaving in free agency, Quicken Loans Arena played Darth Vader's theme music when James was introduced to the crowd and fans jeered him all game. They even chanted, "Akron hates you."
Then he returned, won a championship and rode in a convertible through town with what seemed like the whole city there to embrace him.
On Wednesday, James was not a villain, even though his departure has left the Cavaliers to sink to the bottom of the NBA. On Wednesday he got everything he wanted.
