CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For LeBron James, there's no such thing as playing out of position.
The Cavs beat the Chicago Bulls 119-112 Tuesday on a night in which every player in Cleveland's lineup started at his particular position for the first time this year.
James played point guard, and recorded season highs with 34 points and 13 assists. According to ESPN's stats shop, James is the only active NBA player with at least 20 points and 10 assists posted from each of four starting positions.
This was James' sixth career game with at least 20 points and 10 assists at point guard in 15 seasons, according to ESPN. He often runs the offense from any position on the court, including his usual spot at small forward.
The only position where he hasn't scored 20 points with 10 assists is center.
"I think the best thing for me personally is ever since I was a kid I've always learned every position on the floor," James said. "When I started playing ball, for some odd reason, I could learn every single position on the floor all at one time. The point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward and center. And know all the plays, what they're doing and what's the reads.
"And to this day, if coach slides me to the 1, I know every set. If he slides me to the 5, I know the 5. I know the 4, I know the 3, I know the 2. I know every single play in every single position so it makes the job a lot easier for me because I know where I should be and what my teammates should do."
James produced 23 points and five assists in a first half where the Cavs trailed by as many as 14 and were down 68-65 at halftime. He shot 13-of-20 for the game and was 4-of-4 from 3-point range in the first half.
James was playing point guard because Cleveland's top two players at the position -- Isaiah Thomas (right hip injury) and Derrick Rose (sprained left ankle) -- are out. Also, coach Tyronn Lue wants a more dynamic lineup with Tristan Thompson, Kevin Love and Jae Crowder out there.
Thompson started for the first time this season and Jose Calderon, who was announced as the starter at point guard Monday, was back to being out of the rotation. J.R. Smith started at shooting guard, and Lue said he planned to keep this lineup together for at least the next two games.
"With D-Rose out and Isaiah out, it's tough," Lue said. "If you don't have a point guard on the floor, it's tough to win games no matter how great LeBron is. It wears him down having to handle the basketball, have to defend and then make every play. But tonight we needed that and going forward just have to see."
James, in discussing if anything's different for him when playing the point, said "I don't know, I'm looking for my guys a little bit more starting at the point, especially in transition.
"I'm being more of a precise, precision passer and I'm not kinda full speed ahead in transition," James said. "I'm kinda looking at what's going on and getting my guys the ball, but for me I just try to stay in attack mode when need be and if I see the hot hand start going for my guys and getting them the ball."
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg was left muttering the same sorts of words all NBA coaches have found themselves saying at some point about James, often while shaking their heads.
No matter James' starting spot.
"When he's hitting threes, you have to give up something with him," Hoiberg said. "We did a decent job contesting his shots. A lot of that has to do with you're playing against the best player on the planet."