“So to be able to get it right now, as you’re going into a playoff run, is very important for this team, especially with everything that we’ve been dealing with”. Against the Cavs’ Big Three, George needs his shooting guard Monta Ellis, who averages five assists per game, to be the creator.
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“I was just moving to the open spot in the corner and knocking them down”, Porter said.
Marvin Williams finished with 16 points and Jeremy Lin scored 15 for Charlotte.
All of Porter’s 3-pointers came in the third quarter and he scored 15 points in the period, one less than the Cavaliers.
It’s been a tough few days for the Cavs, who blew a nine-point lead to lose Friday at Toronto and then were blown out Sunday at Washington.
“We’re building some good things from our defensive thinking”. That’s how we played. But after the Cavs’ third loss in four games, the lead is dwindling, and one of their players thinks it’s a major concern. He took the day off in Sunday’s disappointing loss at the Washington Wizards and responded by making his first four shots and scoring 12 points in the first quarter Monday. Avery Bradley also finished with 18 points.
Wall took over for the Wizards in the second quarter.
Thunder center Kevin Durant added 27 points and 10 rebounds.
The Cavaliers held a 10-point lead over the Raptors after the first quarter and four-point edge heading into halftime.
On its own, the Cavaliers’ loss to the Wizards isn’t catastrophic. Nik Vucevic and Victor Oladipo scored 28 points each and Aaron Gordon added a career-high 22 for the Magic.
Australian guard Matthew Dellavedova hit a three-pointer off a James’ assist with 1:13 to go and Thompson gave the Cavaliers the 96-84 lead with 39 seconds to go.
Jamal Crawford scored 26 points, and the Clippers beat the Nets to win their second in a row after alternating wins and losses in their previous six games.
“Doesn’t matter (if) they want to rest guys”, Wizards coach Randy Wittman said.
According to oddsmakers at RealBets, the Cavaliers are favored at home, as they are getting odds of -8.5 points against the Pacers.
Smith said: “We can’t play basketball like this going down the stretch”. James will be motivated to get his team up for this game since they lost two straight. “If we’re going to play with a lack of energy… and come out and play the way we did (Sunday), we shouldn’t be who we are and be in these uniforms”, Smith told reporters.
J.J. Hickson, who the Wizards signed last week after he was waived by the Denver Nuggets, made his debut with the team, contributing 2 points and 2 rebounds in limited playing time.
The Wizards face the Philadelphia 76ers at home on Monday night.
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Pacers vs Cavaliers tonight at 00:05 GMT, and LeBron expected to be back in action.
