They are improved to 3-1 under Lue and many even believe they are playing better basketball.
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When Blatt was let go by the team, speculation emerged over whether or not James was consulted by the team about the firing, which led directly to the installment of close friend and assistant head coach Tyronn Lue as the head coach. Lue took over when coach David Blatt was sacked, and Cleveland ended up with only one player (James) picked for the All-Star team. The Cavs finished the first quarter up 37-30, with the 37 points allowed the most that the Spurs have given up in any quarter all season long – which seems incredible considering that they are less than one week removed from acting as sacrificial lambs for the Golden State Warriors. The Spurs had also won 14 of their last 15. “You give up 35 points, and turnovers and lack of focus, human nature letting human nature take over down the stretch is not winning basketball”, (see full recap).
Kawhi Leonard loaded up the stat sheet with 24 points, six rebounds and two assists, while Aldridge scored 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting, but all five members of San Antonio’s starting five posted a negative plus-minus rating. However, tonight the distribution was excellent as Love and Irving both finished with 19 shots, while James finished with 16 shots. The Spurs might hold the edge over the Cavaliers from their last meeting, but it must be remembered that was a Spurs home game.
This could be one of the games of the season.
The Cavs jumped to an eight-point lead before Mike Templin from Cleveland’s equipment staff brought the proper pair of shorts from the locker room for James to change into midway through the first quarter.
Forward Al-Farouq Aminu (17 points, 12 rebounds) and center Mason Plumlee (13 points, 12 boards) each had double-doubles for the Trail Blazers (22-26). When they’re off, however, it only makes it that much tougher for them to win against the league’s elite teams. – Knicks end losing streak – The New York Knicks snapped a four-game losing skid with a 102-84 win over the Phoenix Suns.
F Kevin Love, who was passed over by the Eastern Conference coaches as an All-Star reserve, erupted for 29 points in his second-highest scoring game this season.
Durant scored 27 points, had nine rebounds and five assists.
Rodney Hood scored 22 points, Derrick Favors had 20 in his return to the starting lineup and Utah beat Minnesota to win consecutive games for the first time in almost three weeks. Westbrook earned his sixth triple-double of the season with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists. It was 96-78 after three, and when the Pistons cut the lead to nine in the fourth, Detroit’s Reggie Jackson missed a 3-pointer and Cleveland was able to stay comfortably ahead.
The Pistons came out sluggish against the 76ers on Wednesday night, scoring just 12 points in the first quarter while looking disengaged and uninspired.
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Guard Tony Parker scored 13 points for the Spurs and forward Kyle Anderson had 10 off the bench.
