Cavs turn it on in 2nd half to blow out Bucks

The Cleveland Cavaliers looked to be sleepwalking through the first half of their Sunday matinee against the Milwaukee Bucks, dragging their feet on defense and falling behind by as many as 11 points.

A much different story was written in the second half. This LeBron James play in the third quarter served as something of a microcosm of the entire game. 

The Cavs were adrift, until they remembered who they are, and promptly turned the intensity level up several notches. The difference was especially noticeable on defense, where they executed their swarming, hyperactive scheme to near-perfection. 

They ultimately forced the Bucks into 23 turnovers, which they managed to convert into 28 points at the other end. The Cavs, you might have heard, are pretty scary when they move in transition.

James took over down the stretch, bulling his way into the lane at will and either finishing at the rim or finding open teammates on a perimeter vacated by the Bucks' collapsing defense. He had 13 points and three assists in the fourth quarter alone, and finished the game with 28 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and five steals. 

J.R. Smith was a frequent beneficiary of James' drives, and made the most of his open looks, hitting 7-of-9 triples on his way to 23 points. 

The same couldn't be said for Kevin Love, who struggled offensively once again, shooting just 4-of-13 from the field for nine points in 29 minutes. It's the fourth straight game Love has scored 11 or less after having just one such instance all last season. 

Big picture, though: things are clicking in a big way for the Cavs who have now won 27 of their last 33 games to take a comfortable hold on second place in the Eastern Conference. 

The Bucks, on the other hand, are backsliding badly. Injuries appear to have caught up to them, and they've gone just 4-13 since dealing point guard Brandon Knight at the trade deadline. They now sit just a game-and-a-half up on the Miami Heat for sixth in the East, a team they led by eight games at the All-Star break.