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 Anthony Davis had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Brian Roberts scored 15 and Eric Gordon 14 for the Hornets, who snapped a two-game losing streak, including a blowout loss to Miami on Friday. Davis' double-double was his 17th, tops among NBA rookies.
Kryie Irving returned from a shoulder injury and led the Cavaliers with 31 points and six assists. Cleveland, which lost its eighth straight, was 1-7 in Irving's absence. Tristan Thompson, Wayne Ellington and Mareese Speights each scored 12 points for the Cavaliers and Shaun Livingston had 11.
After trailing 49-48 at halftime, the Hornets pulled away by scoring a season-high 36 points in the third quarter to take an 84-73 lead. Vasquez, who had missed two of the previous three games with an ankle injury, scored 16 points in the quarter, making all six of his shots.
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Irving appeared tentative in the first quarter, missing his only attempt and scoring two points on two free throws, although he had three assists.
The Cavaliers' guard took control in the second quarter, scoring 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting in the period. During one stretch, he scored 10 consecutive points to rally the Cavaliers from a 39-35 deficit with 3:49 remaining to a 45-43 lead at the 1:54 mark.
New Orleans overcame a turnover-plagued first half by shooting 54.5 percent from the field. The Hornets committed eight turnovers in the opening period, leading to six Cleveland points, and finished with 12 for the half.
However, Hornets shooters took advantage of a passive Cavaliers defense, making 18 of 33 attempts on repeated open looks. Anderson, the Hornets' 3-point specialist, was 3 for 5 beyond the arc and finished the half with a team-high 15 points.
[Associated
Press]
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