The last time the Cavaliers rolled into this building, they notched the second-biggest road blowout in franchise history, dropping the Wizards by 38 points.
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The Spurs’ 123 points matched their most in a game this season, equaling Monday’s total in a win over Milwaukee by the same score. The Cavs have learned their lesson from last season, and keeping their key players healthy and in form for the post-season wars is the utmost priority.
Irving sure looked like an All-Star on Monday, scoring 25 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out six assists in the Cavs’ 122-100 win over the Toronto Raptors. The Cavs’ starters alone had 99 points Monday, while Cleveland scored 30-plus points in all but one quarter.
“He’s probably the best 1-on-1 player in our game”, Cavs guard J.R. Smith said of Irving afterward.
A jumper by backup center Timofey Mozgov extended the Cavs’ lead to 108-87 with 6:13 left, the first 20-point lead of the game. They tied the game at 69 in the third quarter on a 3-pointer from James Johnson, who was starting at forward in place of the injured DeMarre Carroll (knee). Not only does Irving make those acrobatic shots consistently, he makes them look routine – to the point where you expect him to make each and every one. DeAndre Jordan had 14 points and 14 rebounds.
It wasn’t long ago when John Wall made the statement “it’s a joke” that Kyrie Irving should be selected as an All-Star because of the lack games played this season.
Suns 111, Hornets 102: Mirza Teletovic made five of the Suns’ season-high 19 three-pointers as Phoenix ended a nine-game skid by beating Charlotte.
If there’s one active player who’s tormented the Wizards over the past decade-plus, it’s LeBron James – who led the Cavs past Washington in three straight First Round playoff matchups during his first go-round with the Wine and Gold. The Washington Wizards are averaging 100.7 points on 44.6 percent shooting and allowing 103.8 points on 46.3 percent shooting.
LeBron and Leah Still’s relationship goes back slightly farther than that, as James presented her the Jimmy V. Perseverance Award at the ESPY’s past year.
Raptors: Lowry, who has three straight double-doubles, was called for a technical foul late in the game….
Playing in just his seventh game back after a 6½-month layoff following surgery to fix a fractured left kneecap, Irving’s night was so mesmerizing that James’ 34 points – including a blistering stretch to start the second half, when he hit four 3-pointers in the first three minutes – became an afterthought. The Cavaliers are now 5-1 with Irving in the lineup this season, with the only loss coming to the Warriors.
MINNEAPOLIS – Danilo Gallinari had 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists to help Denver snap a six-game losing streak with a victory over Minnesota.
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NEW YORK – Jonas Valanciunas had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Toronto handed Brooklyn its eighth straight home loss. The Washington Wizards are shooting 35.5 percent from beyond the arc and 75.7 percent from the free throw line. “Overall, not enough stops to win”.
