So when they opted to give superstar LeBron James the day off against the Washington Wizards, the team began to unravel.
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LeBron James and Kyrie Irving led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 100-96 comeback win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday and put a temporary stop to the National Basketball Association rumors that Irving is not happy in Cleveland as speculated in some reports over the weekend.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are back at home and hoping to welcome LeBron James back into the lineup for tonight’s Indiana Pacers game on NBA TV and potential foreshadowing of a postseason match up in a couple months.
Washington guard John Wall had 21 points and 13 assists while Otto Porter added 21 points and Bradley Beal had 17 for the hosts. Luol Deng scored 15 points and Johnson finished with 12.
James was quiet through much of the second quarter before scoring 11 in the final three minutes to help the Cavs overcome a six-point deficit and take a 44-43 halftime lead.
“If you lose a game like the other night to a team like Toronto and come out here and play the way we did and you had a lack of energy, maybe we shouldn’t be in this position”, Smith said. “An early game. We just played in Toronto”.
“I just felt that today’s a good game just to give him a break and give him a little rest”, Lue said. The Pacers are led by Monta Ellis, who has 10 points.
Kyrie Irving scored 28 points and Love had 12 points and five rebounds.
IN also is struggling with three losses in four games after falling 111-102 to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
The Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers fell to 41-17 while the Wizards improved to 28-30.
Hawks 87, Hornets 76: The Charlotte Hornets have been better on the road of late, but the Hawks still have their number in Atlanta.
The Cavaliers coach explained that he tried to sit the star forward for a quick stretch as he approached 40 minutes in the team’s loss Friday to the Raptors, but James refused to come out.
“That was a game changer right there”, said Love, who had 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists. That five-game winning streak, that included the stomping of the Thunder, has given way to losing three of four in spectacularly mediocre fashion. The Sixers (8-51) lost their eighth consecutive game.
Marcin Gortat had 18 points and a career-high 20 rebounds for the Wizards, who trailed 74-66 after letting a 14-point lead slip away. “Obviously there’s going to be some misunderstandings; it’s part of being on a team”.
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Dwyane Wade scored 26 points and Johnson made a 3-pointer on his first shot in a Heat uniform during a big game-opening run as Miami beat the New York Knicks 98-81 on Sunday night.
