Sports
Cavaliers use late push to beat the Pistons, 121-104
Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Lebron James, Kevin Love, Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, JR Smith, Andre Drummond, Jae Crowder
A huge 26-9 run during the final eight minutes of the game helped the Cleveland Cavaliers hold off the Detroit Pistons by a score of 121-104 at the Q on Sunday evening. Cleveland has now won consecutive games for the first time since a five-game winning streak December 9-17.
Lebron James had 25 points, 14 assists and also grabbed eight rebounds while narrowly missing his second straight triple-double. Kevin Love doubled-up for the fourth time in his last five outings – tallying 20 points and a team-high 11 boards, going 8-for-14 from the floor, including 4-of-6 from long-range in the win.
Four other players finished scoring in double figures for the Cavaliers. J.R. Smith followed up his season-high 23-point performance in Friday’s victory with another solid showing on Sunday – finishing with 15 points, going 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Over his last two games, Swish has gone 11-for-20 from three-point range.
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Isaiah Thomas finished with 14 points and seven assists despite not seeing action in the fourth quarter, and sparked a 10-0 run late in the third quarter that erased a 85-80 deficit. Kyle Korver and Jae Crowder finished the night with 12 points apiece. Channing Frye also had a sold night with seven points and seven rebounds, including an effective performance during the crucial fourth quarter.
On the night, the Cavaliers shot 51 percent from the floor and went 22-of-26 from the stripe – outrunning the Pistons, 20-4, on the fast break and nailing 15 triples in the victory.
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Andre Drummond had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Detroit. Mired in injuries, the Pistons were without their starting backcourt of Reggie Jackson (sprained right ankle), who was out for the 15th straight game and Avery Bradley, who sat after having right hamstring soreness following pregame warm-ups.
”For the most part throughout 48 minutes, this is one of the best games we’ve had obviously as of late,” said James, who was 8 of 15 from the field, 8 of 9 from the foul line. ”Every game is something to build on. I think tonight was another positive note to that.”
COMING UP FOR THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: The Cleveland Cavaliers (29-19) travel to Detroit for a quick rematch with the Pistons on Tuesday night at Little Caesar's Arena for a 8:00 pm tip-off.