Missing LeBron, Cavs fall in Miami

In his best falsetto, the New Orleans forward belted out the theme song from late-90s teen TV staple “Dawson’s Creek”.

“What else was I going to do?”

“Perk told me, ‘This is the time where you’ve got to be great, ‘” Davis said.

It was good as he could have hoped – and every bit as dramatic as it was for those kids on the creek.

LeBron James’s decision to leave the Miami Heat in the summer of 2014 stands out as one of the more amicable superstar free-agent breakups in recent National Basketball Association history.

After starting the night just four of 12 from the floor, James scored 23 points in the fourth quarter and finished with a game-best 37.

Davis’ 3-pointer, followed by Dante Cunningham’s long jumper pushed the Pelicans’ lead to 94-81 with 6:52 left – their largest of the night.

“We gave an effort, I don’t know if it was a smart effort or the type of effort we wanted”, Smith said. “We got to make sure that we’re playing at this high level no matter who our opponent is”. “If we’re just moping around all day and it’s a dead spirit in here, nobody really wants to be here”. When the Pelicans needed a bucket, they always seemed to go to Davis and he delivered. He sat the entire fourth quarter with the game out of reach.

Howard produced 22 points, 18 rebounds and exceptional defense against Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, while James Harden added 31 points and nine assists.

James had played on the second night of the Cavaliers’ three previous back-to-back sets.

“It’s totally different”, Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith said of playing without James.

But Gentry said unless General Manager Dell Demps informs him of any trades “all my energies and everything is going to trying to figure out how we can get this whole thing straightened out” with the players on hand.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) drives to the basket as Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) applies pressure during the first half at American Airlines Arena.

Wizards 109, Suns 106: WASHINGTON – Bradley Beal scored 34 points and Ramon Sessions added 18 as Washington rallied to beat Phoenix in a turnover-filled game. As noted on the broadcast last night, it is clear that Kevin Love would not have been able to carry the Cavs the way LeBron did previous year late in the Playoffs and NBA Finals. ABOUT THE PELICANS (4-15 SU, 6-13 ATS, 8-11 O/U): The defensive play has been horrid as New Orleans has allowed 100 or more points in 17 of its 19 games. At certain points this season, they’ve been ranked top 10 in both categories.

“It just shows that when we play like we’re supposed to, we can beat anybody”, Davis said, alluding to an earlier victory over San Antonio. A five-man unit of Dragic, Wade, Winslow, Deng and Whiteside is the Heat’s second most used lineup to date even with Deng having missed four straight games with a hamstring injury. It now looks like Wade is on a personal mission to win one more ring before he leaves the game.