But the NBA MVP put together one of his electrifying flurries to end that notion, and Golden State put it away in a hurry with a blistering start to the fourth. This season, the Heat are the ones taking advantage of such absences. LeBron James clearly needs his point guard’s help, because the Cleveland Cavaliers recently dropped an overtime thriller to the New Orleans Pelicans followed by a less exciting loss to the Miami Heat with James on the bench.
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Dante Cunningham walked into the Pelicans’ locker room Friday morning at the Smoothie King Center and filled it with song. LeBron’s time with the Heat was so successful that fans seem not to have begrudged him his choice to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Goran Dragic has been slightly disappointing this season. The Pelicans were actually able to surge into the lead late in the quarter, but had to play without superstar Anthony Davis for a chunk of the quarter. Tyreke Evans added a double-double of 14 points and 10 assists, while Holiday finished with 13.
Longtime Heat star Wade shone in the win over Oklahoma City with 28 points, four rebounds, four assists, and one steal.
So James was exhausted and needed the break, but apparently so did the rest of his teammates, the Cavs looked listless in their 99-84 loss to the Miami Heat.
Despite Hassan Whiteside being called for his second foul with 7:21 left in opening period, the Heat took a 34-22 lead into the second period. There were some people, coming into the season, that felt Mozgov could earn a max contract, or something close to it, this offseason if he showed enough progression but the 29 year old has not performed up to this point.
The Cavaliers have one of the best records in the league, but they have struggled offensively recently and have lost two straight.
James missed his first game of the National Basketball Association season as coach David Blatt chose to rest the 11-time all-star, in a decision allegedly settled upon in advance and against the wishes of James himself. The Cavaliers did not arrive in South Florida until 4:40 a.m.
“I understand that aspect of it, but under the circumstances, I got to think about him first and about the team going forward”. They played the best game that they’ve played all season, and there is no coincidence that it comes not long after they got a few more healthy players on the roster. Starters on January 25, 2010, when Cleveland last prevailed in Miami: James, J.J. Hickson, Shaquille O’Neal, Daniel Gibson and Anthony Parker for the Cavs; Wade, Quentin Richardson, Jermaine O’Neal, Michael Beasley and Rafer Alston for the Heat.
Even with LeBron James playing at maximal level, the Cavaliers just can not manage to win ultimately. But they still overpowered the Cavs. I’ve been on teams that have, and I’ve been on teams that haven’t.
In his 13-year career, it was the earliest in a season that James had sat out a game without an announced injury.
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“Like everyone else, he was a little sore”, Blatt said. That was a tough game, but no physical problem.
