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LeBron James bounced back in a big way following a letdown in his return to Cleveland.
With a penchant for monster performances against the Portland Trail Blazers, James could be set for another huge game Tuesday night.
The Cavaliers beat Chicago 114-108 in overtime to open a four-game trip Friday after losing 95-90 against the Knicks a night earlier. James had 36 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals after finishing with 17 points and eight turnovers Thursday in his first game with Cleveland since 2010.
James scored the Cavaliers' first eight points in the extra period.
"It was an opportunity to go out and redeem ourselves and I was happy with the outcome," he said.
Portland has won six of seven meetings, but the Cavaliers had taken 11 of 13 prior to James' departure. James has averaged 29.4 points against the Trail Blazers -- tied for his third-highest mark versus one team -- on 52.9 percent shooting with 9.4 rebounds per game. He has scored 34 or more in five of his last six at Portland.
Kevin Love, who has 35 points and 30 rebounds this season, is averaging 26.0 points over his last 10 matchups.
The Cavaliers hope Tristan Thompson can continue to be a spark after he grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and scored 16 against the Bulls. Thompson had been a non-factor against the Knicks with two rebounds and six points over 20 minutes before becoming the second Cleveland player in the last eight seasons with 12 offensive boards.
His performance helped the Cavaliers claim a 52-42 rebounding advantage.
"It's a true testament to how hard Tristan works," said Kyrie Irving, who scored 23 points and has averaged 24.5 over four meetings with Portland. "That's something that he gives us. He gives us energy, and that's what we want him to do every single night. I know he's capable of doing it. For us, it just adds another dimension for our team to get more possessions."
The Trail Blazers are in danger of losing three of their first four for the first time since 2008-09 after Sunday's 95-90 home defeat against Golden State. LaMarcus Aldridge had 26 points and 13 rebounds but Portland, which shot 37.2 percent from 3-point range last season to rank 10th in the NBA, fell to 16 for 53 from deep in two losses.
Damian Lillard is off to a slow start, averaging 13.7 points on 11-for-41 shooting after scoring 20.7 points per game and shooting 42.4 percent last season. Lillard, who shot 39.4 percent from beyond the arc to earn his first All-Star selection, is 7 for 22 from long distance.
Lillard has been particularly bad in the first half, going 3 for 18 from the field.
"I think it's just one of those stretches you have to go through, and that you can grow from," he said.
Lillard has averaged 25.3 points while hitting 18 of 34 3-point attempts in four meetings with Cleveland.
The Cavaliers, who never started 2-0 on the road during James' first tenure, are looking to do so for the first time since 2000-01.
