National Basketball Association roundup: Cavaliers beat Wizards, win fifth straight

Leah, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in June of 2014, wore her James jersey to the game, watched James score 34 points and then for the big treat, she visited with James and other Cavaliers, including Kyrie Irving, in the locker room after Cleveland’s 121-115 victory. “We are able to get so many open looks and they put us in great position to make shots and we probably do the same for them”.

LeBron James isn’t sure why the Cleveland Cavaliers have dominated the Orlando Magic. One week into 2016, they are 12th in the East. The next three games are against teams ahead of them in the standings.

The Cavs have inserted traditional power forward Tristan Thompson in the starting lineup at centre instead of Timofy Mozgov.

“I knew she was going to be here tonight”, James said. “But until we turn it on defensively, we’re kidding ourselves”. It also didnt help that several of Orlandos starters were in foul trouble for much of the game. In the first meeting this season the Cavs fell to the Wizards 97-85 in Cleveland on December 1st. Blatt thought this was the first time the Cavs just outscored a team to win, but James and Blatt both liked the defensive effort in the second half after the Cavs’ defense broke down too often in the first half.

“It’s not our opponent”, said Cleveland small forward LeBron James, who had 29 points in 29 minutes despite playing with a cold. And he continues to just show why he’s that.

“I don’t golf and I’ve never played baseball”, he said. He’s much better than that. “We’re preaching it every day in practice”.

Andre Drummond had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Pistons, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 21. “I heard about it but I haven’t listened to it”, James said of the track. “We know what he can do and who he is”.

Washington led going into the second and was up 35-28 when Ramon Sessions hit a three-pointer. “It’s a good sign”.

Skiles had nothing good to say about his team’s performance. “Our overall competition level the last three games is frightening”.

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Since J.R. Smith arrived in Cleveland last January, not only has no player in the Eastern Conference hit more treys than Swish over that span, but the Cavaliers have become one of the top long-range shooting squads in the Association. Matthew Dellavedova has been rock-solid all season – and finished with 11 points on 3-for-4 shooting on Monday night.

Ish Smith had 21 points with 11 assists, and the league-worst Philadelphia 76ers (4-33) won for the third time in the last six games after sending the visiting Timberwolves to a seventh loss in eight outings, 109-99. Kyrie Irving added 13 points and five assists in his fifth game since returning from surgery and Kevin Love chipped in 10 points and 13 rebounds.

Pacers 95, Magic 86: Paul George had 20 points, and Monta Ellis scored nine of his 19 in the fourth quarter to lead in past host Orlando.

Reserves Richaun Holmes and Carl Landry had 17 and 16 points, respectively, for the Sixers.

PHOENIX – Mirza Teletovic made five of the Suns’ season-high 19 3-pointers as Phoenix ended a nine-game skid by beating Charlotte.