James Jones and Anderson Varejao added 9 points apiece in limited minutes. After dropping the regular-season opener to the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland ripped off eight straight wins before losing two games in a row.
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However, prior to their 109-97 victory over the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks, the Cavs suffered back-to-back losses against the Detroit Pistons and the Bucks, which sparked Lebron to impose such atmosphere within the team. Mozgoz reportedly will be out for 10-14 days while dealing with a strained right deltoid.
The fact that the Cavs have the record they do while Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert have yet to play a game is impressive. You have to stay ready. “He played the game simply and solidly”.
IN made it five wins from six by routing Milwaukee 123-86, with CJ Miles scoring a season-high 21 points for the Pacers. Mozgov, who has been slowed by a problematic right knee, will be re-evaluated Friday and could have an MRI or X-ray.
With the National Basketball Association coaching landscape experiencing a major shift this week as the Houston Rockets fired Kevin McHale after a 4-7 start, James offered up perhaps his strongest endorsement of Blatt yet.
– Jason Kidd tried to get the bench unit involved early, but they weren’t able to provide much of a boost. He made just 2 of 12 from 3 but averaged 10.7 assists in last season’s three-game sweep of the Magic (6-7).
Oladipo had 25 points, Harris added 24 and Vucevic scored 22 with 15 boards in a 123-108 home loss March 15 in the most recent matchup with Cleveland.
The Bucks trailed 63-42 on a dunk by Tristan Thompson late in the first half. The 76ers had their biggest lead of the season at one point, and still led by 11 midway through the fourth quarter. Antetokounmpo started as a project player, and all he’s done since entering the league is get better every day.
“We’re missing a lot of guys right now, a lot of very, very significant players, but the other guys are stepping up and doing the job”, coach David Blatt said.
The Cavs maintained a 63-48 lead at the half before almost giving it all back.
The Cavaliers didn’t have enough time to get a sub into the game and were whistled for a technical – all while they were ahead by 26 points in the third quarter. “When one of us is out there, we have to support him”.
James asked teammates about the idea last week, and it’s gone over well. Both Blatt and James acknowledged, in their own ways, that it’s hardly time to panic.
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But there are bad habits developing that they want to squash now rather than later. I understand his frustration but obviously he shouldn’t do that.
