Cavaliers smack Knicks 119-104
BY STONE LEXINGTON
CAVALIERS BEAT WRITER
In The Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the New York Knicks Thursday night in both teams’ first game back on the court since before last weekend’s All-Star festivities. The game also tipped-off hours after the NBA Trade Deadline expired, before which many thought the Cavs and Knicks may have been negotiating trade options.
There was scads of speculation before the deadline that the Cavs may trade Kevin Love for Carmelo Anthony, or attempt to acquire Anthony via other means. Cleveland insisted they had no interest in moving Love to New York or anywhere else, which became fact when Love remained on the team past the deadline, despite currently rehabbing from surgery on his left knee.
Anthony didn’t wind up in a Cavs jersey, but he was in Cleveland Thursday for a meeting with one of his closest friends, LeBron James. When the final horn sounded, James’ Cavs defeated the Knicks 119-104, sweeping New York 4-0 for the second year in a row.
“It was good, missing NBA basketball; I know the fans did,” Kyrie Irving said. “It’s good to be back out there, being locked back in. Another good win on our home floor.”
With the win over New York, the Cavs moved to an NBA-best 8-1 in February this season and lead the Eastern Conference with a 40-16 record. Irving led Cleveland with 23 points and six assists, while James recorded his sixth triple-double of the season and 48th in his career, totaling 18 points, 13 rebounds and 15 assists. But it may have been his spectacular block on Derrick Rose in the fourth quarter that was the highlight of the night.
“We feel like we had a really good rhythm going before the break,” Kyle Korver said. “So you want to come back and try to keep that going; that kind of what we talked about.”
In the previous three meetings this season, the Cavs outscored the Knicks by an average of 22.7 points per game (118.0 to 95.3). Not much changed Thursday, evidenced by the final score. The Knicks hung in with Cleveland into the second quarter, but the gap in talent quickly caught up with them.
When New York point guard Brandon Jennings sank two free throws with 7:41 remaining in the second quarter, the Knicks trailed by a slim 46-43 margin. However, Cleveland closed the half with a 23-8 run to take a commanding 69-51 lead into halftime. In the run, Irving, Derrick Williams, Richard Jefferson, Korver and Iman Shumpert all made three-pointers to help Cleveland take the 18-point halftime lead. It didn’t help the Knicks’ chances when Kristaps Porzingis left the game in the second quarter with a sprained right ankle after scoring eight points in 16 minutes.
It seemed like the Cavs were going to run away with the contest, but New York opened the second half with an 11-3 run to crawl back within 10 points, 72-62. By the time Jennings closed third-quarter scoring with a three-pointer, New York trailed 87-79 heading into the final period. The eight-point deficit, however, was the closest the Knicks came the rest of the way as Cleveland opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 spurt to quickly regain a large lead, 95-79.
“As far as the game is concerned, we got up and then it got too easy for us, and then we started messing around,” Lue said. “These are the games where in the third quarter, you put the team away and we get our rest. Instead, you have to come out and our guys got to play more minutes because we’re not approaching it taking the game serious once we get up and get easy leads.
“A little disappointed about that, but it was a good win for us after the break.”
The Cavs didn’t trade for Anthony, who finished with 20 points, five rebounds and five assists Thursday, but they may not be done making moves. While the trade deadline has come and gone, there is still a market of players that were waived or bought out by their former teams, including guys like Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut and Terrence Jones.
“We’ve talked, but that’s Griff’s expertise,” Lue said. “He’s great at it, and he’s always going to make the best move for us to get better. I like our team right now; I love our team actually.
“Whatever Griff sees fit to do, he going to do it. So, I’m not really concerned about that.
After the Dallas Mavericks waived Deron Williams on Thursday, many reports instantly had Williams eventually signing with the Cavaliers after he clears waivers. If Williams does sign with Cleveland, it will finally give them the backup point guard they’ve been looking for. The Cavs are also in contention for the previously mentioned recently released players.
By the time the Cavs face the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, they may have the roster they’ll take into the playoffs to defend their title.
POSTED 02/24/2017 00:39
Lake County Sentinel
Photo by Greg Goth
