The Cleveland Cavaliers haven't been playing well lately, and it looks like the frustration has boiled over - big time.
LeBron James and Tristian Thompson got into a serious shouting match during Sunday's 135-130 win over the Indiana Pacers. Check it out:
James and Thompson had a disagreement over how to guard Paul George, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Fox Sports provided more detail, saying the James - tasked with guarding George most of the game - was frustrated by Thompson's help defense on the Pacers' star.
As the Twitter video shows, James walked away with his hands on his head while Thompson gestured at him on the court. The two continued to jaw at each other on the sidelines — Thompson did not back down — and James was visibly upset, pacing and shaking his head.
After the game, James said he shouldn't have shown up his teammate. "I apologized," James said, "It's cool."
But it may not have been. The Plain Dealer characterized the Cavs locker room as "tense" after the game, and Thompson as still upset.
"We're family," Thompson said. "Little miscommunication in the huddle. Move forward. Move forward. We're family. Got each other's back always. Move forward."
It was a much-needed win for the Cavs, a team expected to run away with the NBA's Eastern Conference. But Cleveland (49-27) sits one-half game back of Boston (50-27) as they battle for the top spot. Cleveland has six games remaining, including a game in Boston at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The last thing the team needs is tension like this.
