|
 James scored 27 points, and the Cavaliers used an overwhelming
first-half run to crush the Clippers 114-90 Sunday at Staples
Center.
"We're kind of getting into form right now, and coach (Tyronn) Lue
has done a great job of kind of finding out his rhythm, and we know
what he wants out of us and we're responding," said James, who
amassed 16 points in the first half and sat out the entire fourth
quarter. "We have a great rotation going right now, guys are
healthy, and we're just trying to play the right way."
J.R. Smith, who hit five 3-pointers, and Kyrie Irving added 17
points apiece for the Cavaliers, who won their third straight and
sixth in seven games. They also swept the season series. The
Cavaliers (47-18) posted a 115-102 victory over the Clippers on Jan.
21 at Cleveland.
Cleveland's Channing Frye contributed 15 points, all coming via
3-pointers, and Kevin Love chipped in 12 points, all in the first
half, and nine rebounds. Tristan Thompson had 10 points and 11
boards.
"The ball was moving, it had a lot of energy behind it, and guys
were in great rhythm," said James, who also had six rebounds and
five assists. He moved past Kevin Johnson for 19th on the NBA's
all-time assists list with 6,716. "We made extra passes and we were
able to execute with guys feeling great rhythm."
J.J. Redick had 19 points to pace the Clippers, who have lost three
of their past five. Chris Paul collected 17 points, 10 assists and
five rebounds for Los Angeles (42-23). DeAndre Jordan finished with
11 points and 11 rebounds, while Wesley Johnson and Austin Rivers
also scored 11 points each.
"It was tough losing the game, period," Jordan said. "But to lose to
a team like this and the way that we did, it is not our type of
basketball. We started out the game great, then they kind of got
into us a little bit, and we never really got back."
The Clippers slipped to 1 1/2 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder
for the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference race.
Cleveland made 18 of 37 (48.6 percent) from 3-point range compared
to 10 of 32 (31.3 percent) for Los Angeles. The Cavaliers shot 48.8
percent from the floor to 40.5 percent for the Clippers. The Cavs
also commanded the battle on the boards (49-34) and second-chance
points (15-0).
A pivotal 30-6 run between the first and second quarters bolted the
Cavaliers past the Clippers for a 37-23 edge after a 3-pointer by
Irving with 7:31 left before halftime. The Cavs led 58-41 at the
break.
[to top of second column] |
"We did not respond well when they put more pressure on us
defensively," said Redick, who made seven of 11 shots and two of
five 3-pointers. "We are a better team when we get stops and play in
transition and on the fly."
In the third quarter, three Redick foul shots cut the Cavaliers'
lead to 71-59 with 4:12 remaining in the period. However, Cleveland
increased the margin to as much as 25 with another surge.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Frye and Matthew Dellavedova put the
Cavaliers up 88-63 with 1:05 remaining in the third. Overall, the
Cavs closed the quarter with four consecutive 3-pointers -- Smith
and James each hit one -- for a 91-68 advantage heading into the
final quarter.
"We made shots," said Irving, who sank just seven of 17 from the
floor and two of seven 3-pointers. "We made (the Clippers) come into
defensive rotations. We made it uncomfortable for DeAndre to come
out and guard Kevin when we went small and (James) goes to the four,
so it was hard for them to match up with us when we go small like
that."
Clippers rookie forward Branden Dawson was absent after he was
arrested Sunday morning in Playa Vista, Calif., on suspicion of
felony domestic violence. Dawson was recalled from the NBA
Development League's Erie BayHawks on Saturday.
Clippers coach Doc Rivers knew Dawson hadn't shown up for the game,
but he didn't find out Dawson had been jailed until he was heading
to the court for tip-off.
"It's an awful situation as far as I'm concerned," the coach said.
"I have a daughter, so I know first-hand how terrible a situation
this is."
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
