With so much still relatively unsettled, the Heat managed to settle into first place in the East. And they’re still just starting to figure out what they have and who they are amid a stretch in which, by Monday, they would have played 14 of their first 19 games at home. The team didn’t arrive to their Miami hotel until almost 5 a.m. on Saturday.
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Davis added 12 rebounds and four steals as the Pelicans snapped a four-game losing streak and recorded their fifth consecutive home victory over the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their 114-108 loss against the Pelicans on Friday. With the Pelicans up 94-81, LeBron James made a decision to take over, storming the Cavaliers back into the lead late.
It will be a showdown of two heavyweights, as the prolific offense of the Cavaliers (third in the league with an offensive efficiency of 105.3) takes the court against the elite defense of the Heat (second in the National Basketball Association with a defensive efficiency of 96.3).
“It would have been great to play against LeBron”, said Wade, who acknowledged disappointment that James got the night off to rest. “Him and his family used to come down and stay at my dad’s San Diego house and we’d hang out with his kids, and now it’s kind of fun to be coaching against him on the other side”. I liked our guys’ approach to it. Obviously, they’re coming off of an overtime loss, getting to the city late, and James wasn’t playing. The fans also got their voices heard with a loud “LeBron is tired” chant during the fourth quarter of play.
If James noticed, he didn’t flinch from his seat on the sideline.
There’s no easy solution to the issue of playing up to competition.
A halftime tongue-lashing from their head coach turned around the Denver Nuggets on both ends of the floor.
“I felt good. I’m blessed”, said Holiday to FOX Sports reporter Jen Hale.
James earlier revealed he was determined to play all 82 games this season.
J.R. Smith scored 12 points, while Matthew Dellavedova had 11 points and five assists for the Cavs. Kevin Love, the person who should be carrying the team without James (resting) and Kyrie Irving (still out with an injury), scored just 5 points on 2-of-11 from the field.
After trailing most of the first two-plus quarters, New Orleans suddenly surged in front with 14-2 run ignited by Gordon, who hit a 21-foot jumper, a tough 7-foot fade in traffic and a 3 during the spurt. The hometown team got off to a slow start, falling behind 27-21 after the first quarter.
“If we left it only up to him, he probably would try to play tonight”, Spoelstra said in advance of Saturday’s game.
Cavaliers: James never before missed a game with rest as the listed reason in November or December….
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Before returning to Cleveland ahead of the 2014-15 season, James played four seasons with Miami and won all two of his championships with the franchise.
