Taunts for benched James as Heat dominate Cavaliers

“This will always be kind of a special game when we play Brooklyn”. “We got to make sure that we’re playing at this high level no matter who our opponent is”.

Two teams that reached the playoffs last season, the Cavaliers are comfortably in the race for another spot at the post season as they have a 13-5 record that leads the Central Division and is one of the more impressive standings in the entire league.

The win moved Miami ahead of Cleveland by percentage points in the Eastern Conference.

It’s a song of urgency – “I don’t want to wait for our lives to be over”, goes the chorus, the only words Cunningham knows – but the vibe wasn’t desperate. In Mozgov’s defense, the Cavaliers were likely uninterested in an extension for Mozgov this offseason as they are already way over the cap but waiting for a new contract may end up costing him millions of dollars. “And if not, at least I put in the effort”.

Jrue Holiday’s three pulled New Orleans back into a tie at 105 with eight seconds left before James, who finished with 37 points, missed a 19-footer that could have won the game in regulation.

Blatt is adamant that this has nothing to do with physicality issues and LeBron, but with such an exhausting game just the night before, one has to think that it’s possible that it’s the reason for James sitting.

The Heat shot 66 percent in the first half and led by as many as 20 before the break. The Pelicans point guard took a feed from Tyreke Evans and calmly buried the tying three pointer, sending the game into overtime.

Guard Nicolas Batum scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Charlotte Hornets held on for a 102-96 win over the Chicago Bulls. Johnson came off the bench for 19 points in 30 minutes. 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.

Dirk Nowitzki had a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Mavs. After falling to the Pelicans, LeBron, along with David Blatt called out the fellow Cavaliers for failing to provide adequate support for their star, specifically in the 4th quarter and overtime. “Twenty-one different challenges and we’ve been able to separate each one individually and figure out different ways of winning. He would even admit that this is the most committed and the best he has played defensively”. With the Pelicans up 94-81, LeBron James chose to take over, storming the Cavaliers back into the lead late.

The victory was Cleveland’s third straight home win against Miami.

Arron Afflalo added 18 points for the Knicks (10-10), who dominated lowly Philadelphia and Brooklyn in their last two games after a four-game losing streak.

James has made it clear he wanted to play in all 82 games this season, something he has never done in his career.

It will be interesting how the Cavs fair without 3 of their 4 starters tonight.

New Orleans next hosts Boston on Monday night looking to improve to.