Cavaliers Hold On To Get Past Knicks
The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the New York Knicks, 95-93, at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Monday night.
The Cavaliers (29-19) and the Knicks (23-25) played a game that turned out to be tighter than expected based on each team's record. Cleveland got off to a good start, though, with a 28-23 score in the first quarter, but the Knicks responded with a 27-22 second quarter that made things even at the break. The Cavaliers pulled away for good in the third quarter, though, with a 29-16 score in the third. The Knicks attempted a comeback with a 24-19 score, but that was not enough and Cleveland won.
Darius Garland was the best player for the Cavaliers and delivered another solid performance with 13 points and 12 assists, while Evan Mobley posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 boards, though he also had five assists. Dean Wade had 13 points and five boards, and Isaac Okoro registered 14 points, six boards and two dimes. Kevin Love was the leading scorer for Cleveland and had 20 points while grabbing 11 boards and dishing out three dimes off the bench.
R.J. Barrett led the way for the Knicks with 24 points, five boards and four assists, but his efforts were not enough. Julius Randle was the only other starter who scored in double figures for the Knicks, and he ended with 18 points, seven boards and four assists. Kemba Walker had eight points and Evan Fournier ended with six. Obi Toppin had 13 points and six rebounds off the bench, and Quentin Grimes posted 12 points off the bench as well.
The Cavaliers (29-19) and the Knicks (23-25) played a game that turned out to be tighter than expected based on each team's record. Cleveland got off to a good start, though, with a 28-23 score in the first quarter, but the Knicks responded with a 27-22 second quarter that made things even at the break. The Cavaliers pulled away for good in the third quarter, though, with a 29-16 score in the third. The Knicks attempted a comeback with a 24-19 score, but that was not enough and Cleveland won.
Darius Garland was the best player for the Cavaliers and delivered another solid performance with 13 points and 12 assists, while Evan Mobley posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 boards, though he also had five assists. Dean Wade had 13 points and five boards, and Isaac Okoro registered 14 points, six boards and two dimes. Kevin Love was the leading scorer for Cleveland and had 20 points while grabbing 11 boards and dishing out three dimes off the bench.
R.J. Barrett led the way for the Knicks with 24 points, five boards and four assists, but his efforts were not enough. Julius Randle was the only other starter who scored in double figures for the Knicks, and he ended with 18 points, seven boards and four assists. Kemba Walker had eight points and Evan Fournier ended with six. Obi Toppin had 13 points and six rebounds off the bench, and Quentin Grimes posted 12 points off the bench as well.
Pelicans Earn Second Straight Win
By Dan Bruno
The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the visiting Indiana Pacers, 117-113, at Smoothie King Center on Monday evening.
The contest got out to a high-scoring start as the Pacers led, 32-31, after one quarter. The score stayed tight through the second as each team poured in 30 points, with the visitors maintaining a one-point edge at halftime. The scoring slowed down in the third, while the Pelicans gained some momentum to take a four-point lead heading into the final frame. The Pacers reclaimed a brief edge early in the fourth, but the Pelicans used a, 9-0, run to get back in front, and they stayed strong from there to close out their second straight win.
Devonte' Graham led the Pelicans with 25 points, three rebounds, six assists and a steal, in 35 minutes. Josh Hart followed up with 22 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Jonas Valanciunas tallied 16 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and a block. The Pelicans shot 46 percent from the field, including 6-of-30 from long range.
Meanwhile, Duane Washington Jr. led the Pacers with 21 points, two rebounds and three assists, in 23 minutes off the bench. Caris LeVert totaled 19 points, six rebounds and eight assists, while Chris Duarte added 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. The Pacers shot 44 percent from the field, including 19-of-46 from deep.
The Pacers (17-31) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Hornets on Wednesday. The Pelicans (18-28) take on the 76ers in Philly on Tuesday.
The contest got out to a high-scoring start as the Pacers led, 32-31, after one quarter. The score stayed tight through the second as each team poured in 30 points, with the visitors maintaining a one-point edge at halftime. The scoring slowed down in the third, while the Pelicans gained some momentum to take a four-point lead heading into the final frame. The Pacers reclaimed a brief edge early in the fourth, but the Pelicans used a, 9-0, run to get back in front, and they stayed strong from there to close out their second straight win.
Devonte' Graham led the Pelicans with 25 points, three rebounds, six assists and a steal, in 35 minutes. Josh Hart followed up with 22 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Jonas Valanciunas tallied 16 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and a block. The Pelicans shot 46 percent from the field, including 6-of-30 from long range.
Meanwhile, Duane Washington Jr. led the Pacers with 21 points, two rebounds and three assists, in 23 minutes off the bench. Caris LeVert totaled 19 points, six rebounds and eight assists, while Chris Duarte added 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. The Pacers shot 44 percent from the field, including 19-of-46 from deep.
The Pacers (17-31) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Hornets on Wednesday. The Pelicans (18-28) take on the 76ers in Philly on Tuesday.
Bulls Edge Thunder, 111-110
The Chicago Bulls defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 111-110, at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Monday night.
The Bulls (29-17) came into the contest looking to snap out of an ugly 1-6 funk over the last couple of weeks, and they got off to a good start in that regard by building a 10-point lead over the Thunder (14-33) by halftime. When Chicago added another four points to its advantage during the third quarter, it appeared to have matters well in hand. However, Oklahoma City came to life in the final period and got as close as one point away with 14.8 seconds remaining before a pair of free throws from Zach LaVine, who was making his return from a five-game absence due to a knee injury, and a missed three-point attempt by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sealed the win for the visitors.
Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls with a 26-point, 15-rebound double-double that included four assists, three blocks and one steal. Ayo Dosunmu delivered 24 points, eight assists, five rebounds and one block. LaVine finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block. Troy Brown tallied 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block.
Gilgeous-Alexander paced the Thunder with 31 points, complementing them with 10 assists, three rebounds, three steals and one block. Luguentz Dort supplied 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one block. Mike Muscala registered 14 points, two boards and one block. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl managed 12 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block.
The Bulls return home to host the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, while the Thunder host the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
The Bulls (29-17) came into the contest looking to snap out of an ugly 1-6 funk over the last couple of weeks, and they got off to a good start in that regard by building a 10-point lead over the Thunder (14-33) by halftime. When Chicago added another four points to its advantage during the third quarter, it appeared to have matters well in hand. However, Oklahoma City came to life in the final period and got as close as one point away with 14.8 seconds remaining before a pair of free throws from Zach LaVine, who was making his return from a five-game absence due to a knee injury, and a missed three-point attempt by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sealed the win for the visitors.
Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls with a 26-point, 15-rebound double-double that included four assists, three blocks and one steal. Ayo Dosunmu delivered 24 points, eight assists, five rebounds and one block. LaVine finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block. Troy Brown tallied 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block.
Gilgeous-Alexander paced the Thunder with 31 points, complementing them with 10 assists, three rebounds, three steals and one block. Luguentz Dort supplied 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one block. Mike Muscala registered 14 points, two boards and one block. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl managed 12 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block.
The Bulls return home to host the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, while the Thunder host the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
Suns Defeat Jazz, 115-109
The Phoenix Suns defeated the visiting Utah Jazz, 115-109, at Footprint Center on Monday.
While Utah played this game without their five starters, it came down to the final seconds. In fact, there were 14 lead changes in this game, with all of them happening over the final 30 minutes. With that said, the Suns rode a 30-22 fourth quarter to their victory, getting their lead up to 11 points with 3:23 remaining. Phoenix ended up out-rebounding Utah, 51-38, while out-assisting them, 28-16. In addition, the Suns outscored the Jazz in the paint, 52-44.
The Jazz (30-19) were led by Jordan Clarkson, collecting 22 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals. Trent Forest totaled 17 points, six rebounds and two assists. Danuel House amassed 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Hassan Whiteside accrued 10 points and nine rebounds, while Eric Paschall led the bench with 14 points and four rebounds. Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert, Joe Ingles, Royce O'Neale and Bojan Bogdanovic all sat this game out.
The Suns (37-9) were led by Devin Booker, tallying 33 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks on 14-of-35 from the field. Chris Paul compiled 27 points, nine rebounds and 14 assists. Cameron Johnson finished with 20 points, six rebounds and three steals, while Bismack Biyombo led the bench with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
These two teams will have a rematch on Wednesday for their next outing, but it will be played in Utah.
While Utah played this game without their five starters, it came down to the final seconds. In fact, there were 14 lead changes in this game, with all of them happening over the final 30 minutes. With that said, the Suns rode a 30-22 fourth quarter to their victory, getting their lead up to 11 points with 3:23 remaining. Phoenix ended up out-rebounding Utah, 51-38, while out-assisting them, 28-16. In addition, the Suns outscored the Jazz in the paint, 52-44.
The Jazz (30-19) were led by Jordan Clarkson, collecting 22 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals. Trent Forest totaled 17 points, six rebounds and two assists. Danuel House amassed 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Hassan Whiteside accrued 10 points and nine rebounds, while Eric Paschall led the bench with 14 points and four rebounds. Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert, Joe Ingles, Royce O'Neale and Bojan Bogdanovic all sat this game out.
The Suns (37-9) were led by Devin Booker, tallying 33 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks on 14-of-35 from the field. Chris Paul compiled 27 points, nine rebounds and 14 assists. Cameron Johnson finished with 20 points, six rebounds and three steals, while Bismack Biyombo led the bench with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
These two teams will have a rematch on Wednesday for their next outing, but it will be played in Utah.