The 65th NBA All-Star Game is on February 14 in Toronto.
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Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns, right, fouls Cleveland Cavaliers’ J.R. Smith in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, in Cleveland.
New Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue earned his first victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.
Cleveland secured the 114-107 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Quicken Loans Arena on Australia Day, which featured Aussie tributes in the stands and special attention for Cavs guard Matthew Dellavedova, who is from the land down under. The Los Angeles Lakers won the next four games and Lue earned his second championship ring, although he joked the other day he still gets booed whenever he returns to Philadelphia.
He and the Cleveland Cavaliers staff he inherited Thursday after taking over for fired David Blatt will be in charge, on the league’s biggest stage, of the East’s elite players.
It took a Saturday trip to Cleveland to find them.
It was definitely a big letdown for them and not the way new head coach Tyronn Lue saw things going in his first game. “I came in the locker room, the team presented me with the game ball, LeBron gave a speech and they all gave me a hug and said congratulations”.
The Pelicans played the second half without All-Star forward Anthony Davis, who left late in the second quarter with a concussion after getting elbowed in the head by teammate Tyreke Evans. When you get that first win it’s very special. “You never forget it”. The Cavaliers have spent the last couple of days trying to play at a faster tempo, but F LeBron James said it’s because that’s what Lue wants.
“It’s been kind of hard because you’re putting guys in different positions”, Lue said. “I’m not used to it yet, but I think I’m ready for it. I think after tonight and the Phoenix game (Wednesday), I think things will start to slow down”.
The timing of Lue’s promotion came as a shock considering the Cavaliers have the best record in the Eastern Conference.
It wasn’t one of the best wins you might see from a team, but it was still a win nonetheless.
Minnesota cut a 15-point lead to 94-91 midway through the fourth.
Center Tristan Thompson returned to the starting lineup and had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavs, while guard Kyrie Irving had 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
The Bulls focused on their stronger start, defense that limited the Cavaliers to 37.2 percent shooting and Gasol’s 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Luckily for the Cavs, the struggles weren’t as pronounced as they could’ve been, as the Bulls scored just 21 points themselves in the first frame.
Minnesota trailed by just three points at the end of the first quarter and four at halftime.
Lue wants the Cavaliers to play at a faster tempo with the hope it will open up the floor and result in more opportunities for easy baskets.
“That’s what the coach wants and that’s what we’re doing”, he said.
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“Having a chance to do this, I know my (assistant) coaches are excited, and I know it’s going to be a surreal moment”. LeBron James has already stated that it would take him less than two weeks to get into the shape that it takes to run Lue’s system.
