LeBron James had a typically stellar all-around game Saturday, as his Cleveland Cavaliers easily beat the Atlanta Hawks, 109-97. Two guys who will help the Cavs stay on point are James and Blatt, because they appear to have buried whatever awkwardness that previously existed between them. It’s about playing the game the right way and your approach. “There aren’t hockey subs in basketball, but I do make hockey assists”. “I understand his frustration, but obviously, you shouldn’t do that”, Blatt quickly added.
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After the game, he told the press that he apologized to his teammates and admitted to a lapse of judgement.
“I blew a gasket”. Paul George had 20 points and seven rebounds, and Jordan Hill added a season-high 20 points off the bench for the Pacers.
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer was ejected in the second quarter after making contact with an official. “At the beginning of the season I said I wanted to take baby steps”. “If there was contact, it was 100 percent unintentional”.
On Monday night, the Cavaliers wrap up a short three-game homestand, looking to win their eighth straight to start the season – and 11 straight overall against an Orlando team they’ve dominated over the past four seasons, winning the last 10 games by an average of 14.1 points per. “Andy was one of the main reasons we won the game”. The Cavaliers cruised to victory against a team they swept in the conference finals six months ago. Yet they were unhappy with various parts of the game.
“We were in the bonus for them very early, so that put us behind”, Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. “That’s not what we should be. We got to play tougher and meaner, and that’s on the bigs, first and foremost”. The Cavs are dealing with some injuries to Timofey Mozgov and Mo Williams and this comes as Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert are expected to return to the lineup soon.
None of that mattered. But the Cavs would respond by shooting 61 percent in the second quarter (59 at the half), with Kevin Love leading the way with 12 points during that frame, including two triples.
One of James’ teammates on the current Cleveland team is Richard Jefferson, who was Kidd’s running mate in New Jersey. They’ve outrebounded their opponent just once this season on the offensive glass and once in total rebounds.
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Bucks: O.J. Mayo made his season debut after missing the first 11 games because of a strained right hamstring…. Tiago Splitter left in the first half with a sore right hip. G Dennis Schroder started again at point guard in place of Jeff Teague, who missed three games with an ankle injury. Neither played in the fourth quarter Saturday, finishing with 11 points apiece.
