Cavaliers fall totally flat in blowout loss to Trail Blazers

While their rebounding was still an issue, the Pels played defense in a 115-89 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at Smoothie King Center.

Dec 26, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) loses the ball after being fouled by Portland Trail Blazers center Mason Plumlee (24) at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter.

Kevin Love had 13 points to lead the Cavaliers. “Anytime we play a team in the West – all the games are important, but obviously when you’re playing a team in the West, they become very important”. The team was “lacking in energy, lacking in approach and flat as all get out”, said Blatt afterwards neatly summarizing their issues versus Portland.

Portland shot. 461 from the field and. Portland didn’t make a turnover in the entire first half.

Fast-forward to pre-game Saturday when a reporter asked Blazers coach Terry Stotts if he had remembered or noticed James’ teaching lesson in Cleveland’s visit to Portland last season. The Portland Trail Blazers have split their last six home games.

Mavericks 118, Bulls 111: J.J. Barea made a career-high seven 3-pointers and finished with 26 points in Dallas’ win. I just told myself, ‘I’m due for one, man.’ I had two days off, got to relax, got my legs back.

Garbage time: The Blazers outscored the Cavs by two in the third quarter and led, 90-59, through three. Blatt soon removed his starters, and they were not to return. The Portland Trail Blazers are averaging 101 points on 44.3 percent shooting and allowing 103.1 points on 44.8 percent shooting.

Cavaliers: Cleveland’s 12 first-quarter points were a season low for any quarter.

Brandon Knight scored 21 points for the Suns, who lost point guard and leading scorer Eric Bledsoe to a left knee sprain in the second quarter. On top of the weak perimeter game, the Pelicans missed a slew of shots at the rim. “There was no reason for it be like it was tonight”.

The Pelicans improved to 6-6 at home, the first time this season they’ve hit the.

Even though Portland was without their best player (Damian Lillard, who averages 24.6 points per game, was out with a nagging foot injury), it was good to see the Pelicans comfortably secure a victory. The Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers were scheduled to take on the rebuilding Trail Blazers, but were nowhere to be found. So, the game went on as planned and the Trail Blazers played the equivalent of a 5-on-0 scrimmage.In actuality, the Cavaliers were present, but possibly their minds were still wrapped up in that Christmas Day loss to the Golden State Warriors because they didn’t show up to play. The Cavaliers shot a season-worst. In only 21 minutes on the court, Holiday racked up 19 points on 7-13 shooting and dished out 5 assists without a single turnover. “You prepare so much and to go out there and be able to knock down shots when you’re open and teammates find you, it’s a blessing”. “I think we’re heading back in the right direction”. They fumble the ball around and the guy gets a wide-open spot shot.

Pacers 102, Timberwolves 88: MINNEAPOLIS – Monta Ellis had 22 points and six rebounds to help the Pacers snap a three-game skid.