Irving, James lead Cavaliers past Pelicans 99-84

The sloppy defeat saw the team shoot just 26.7% from three and 60.0% at the free throw line; just one more free throw would have at least sent the game to overtime.

“I don’t think we’re in great shape”.

Love missed the game with a bruised left thigh, the first game he has missed all season.

“I felt good out there”. I was a little exhausted.

Back on track: The Cavs (36-14 overall, 20-4 at home) snapped a two-game skid.

“It’s not easy”, he said. “We needed it all”.

“They made shots and got stops, and we didn’t. I’m just trying to stay ready and wait for my chance”.

“I’m happy to hear that”. The beloved Cavalier veteran has been out of the rotation for the entire season and has had to deal with not knowing whether he would play or not every single night.

Varejao didn’t do it alone as Cleveland improved to 6-3 under Lue.

Ever since LeBron James left the Miami Heat to play for his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, fans have been speculating if Dwayne Wade would follow or lure him back to play again together.

J.R. Smith was the Cavs leader in plus/minus on the night, as he was a +20 in 33 minutes of action. “He came in and gave us great energy”.

Forward Anthony Davis scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Holiday scored 12 points off the bench, but the Pelicans lost their fourth straight.

In the season series against New Orleans, LeBron had a combined 64 points and 16 assists.

Cleveland’s defense had something to do with that. The Cavs pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Pelicans by 11, and sealed the deal. “It hurts”, James said. “We know if we defend it creates so much for us offensively and we did that tonight”. After allowing 39 points in the fourth quarter February 5, the Cavaliers held the Pelicans to 14 in the final period.

Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving (2) drives past New Orleans… James broke an 0-for-18 skid from 3-point range early in the third quarter and finished 2 of 5 from 3-point range…. 1 points per game more than their opponents tonight, the Eastern Conference leaders.

“I’m very confident”, Lue said. He later added, “Our offensive flow is not good right now, especially on makes (by the opposition)”. For comparison, the Pelicans shot 23 three-pointers for the entire game. 351 if Davis’ 6-for-10 effort was excluded. 391 (34-for-87) as Cleveland got a much-needed win.

Just 24 hours removed from their dramatic loss to the Boston Celtics at the buzzer, no such theatrics were necessary on Saturday Night, as the Cavs took care of the struggling Pelicans.

Pelicans point guard Norris Cole scored a career-high 26 points on the same day Cleveland State retired his No. 30 jersey in an afternoon ceremony.

Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4061 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com. The Cavs shot just 43.3% from the field and they racked up 21 assists on 39 made field goals but a positive is the isolation heavy basketball that plagued Cleveland in their previous two losses wasn’t seen as much. Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-New Orleans 48 (Asik 12), Cleveland 61 (Thompson 15).