Final - The Sixers cut Cleveland's lead to just a point in the fourth, but the Cavaliers used a 16-3 run to blow things open and run away with the 104-93 win on Monday night in Columbus. Kyrie Irving led the Cavaliers with 17 points and 12 assists; Tristan Thompson also doubled-up with 15 points and 16 boards. The Wine and Gold improved to 4-2 in the preseason with the win and will travel to Cincinnati to face the Wizards on Wednesday night. They wrap up the exhibition season on Thursday night in Charlotte.
4:00, 4Q - Starters return and Cavs go on a 16-3 run to open up the affair, lead back up to 14 -- 91-77. Great block by Tristan, picked up by Kyrie who fed ahead to Bennett, who crushed it home. Alonzo Gee follows with 3-pointer on next possession.
8:57, 4Q - Sergey Karasev didn't come out of the locker room at half; suffered a left ankle injury and is still getting looked at.
On the Sixers side, Royce White fouled out, complained about his 6th foul and then got thrown out -- if that makes sense.
Third quarter highlight - C.J. Miles feeds Kyrie Irving with the long outlet pass ...
End 3Q - Philadelphia started picking up Cavs full-court near the end of 3Q and cut into the lead -- Cavs lead cut to 60-59. Kyrie, 17 pts; CJ MIles, Hank Sims, 12 pts each; Tristan leads everyone with 13 boards. Cavs down to 39 percent FG and have 17 TO. Mike Brown said pregame that he'd like to finish with starters if the flow of the game dictated it. Looks like that'll be the case down the stretch.
5:26, 3Q - Cavs going wire-to-wire, still lead, 66-60. Kyrie leads all scorers with 17 points; Miles, 12; H. Sims, 11. Tristan dominating the boards, 13 reb already. Mike Brown beginning to tighten up his rotation - starters have logged heavier minutes tonight.
End 2Q - Cavs lead, 54-50. Kyrie leading Cavs with 12 pts, 6 assists; Henry Sims right behind with 11 points, 4 reb. Tristan, 7 pts, 8 reb to lead Cleveland. Philly shooting just 36 percent (to Cavs' 47) but Sixers have taken 8 more FT and have grabbed 11 more rebounds.
At the end of the half, Royce White threw a full-court pass that Tristan Thompson picked off and, at the buzzer, launched left-handed at the rim -- and he drew iron from 75 feet. (Still glad he switched to righty, though.)
2:55, 2Q - Cavs still up, 49-39. OSU's alum, Evan Turner, leads everyone with 12 pts; for Cleveland, Henry Sims leads with 11. CJ Miles, Kyrie with 8 pts apiece. Cavs still cold from beyond the arc. After going 3-for-21 on Saturday night vs. Indiana, Cavs are just 4-of-14 tonight vs. Philly.
First quarter highlight - Kyrie gets to the cup ...
8:57, 2Q - Cavs 36, Sixers 28 - Sims, leading scorer with 7pts + 3reb
Great pregame quote about Matthew Dellavedova from Sixers coach, Brett Brown, who coached the Australian national team in the 2012 Olympics ...
"Matt Dellavedova, when you start talking about the character and DNA of people, he ticks the right way. He’s a country Victorian, true Aussie that is a headbanger. He plays with reckless abandon. There’s a physicality to him and a toughness you fall in love with. He at times might not be pretty, he’s a little bit Neanderthal in how he goes about his business, but he’s for real. I loved coaching him and I’m so proud of the opportunity he’s taken advantage of with Jarrett Jack out. Matt Dellavedova is a winner."
End 1Q - Strong start for Cavs, lead 31-19. Tristan and Kyrie with 6 points apiece; Kyrie with 5 of Cavs 12 assists. Henry Sims, 5 pts, 2 assists off the bench. With roster spots at a premium and the days dwindling before the the opener, Sims and Jermaine Taylor are scrapping for a spot on the final 15.
Pregame - Still OUT for Monday night’s matchup in Columbus are Andrew Bynum (knee), Tyler Zeller (appendectomy), Carrick Felix (mild sports hernia) and Jarrett Jack (knee). Earl Clark and Dion Waiters out as well, although Coach Brown said pregame that if it was the regular season, both could go. (Both practiced yesterday.) C.J. Miles and Alonzo Gee will get the start … Mike Brown also would like his starters to finish tonight, but “if the flow of the game isn’t right,” he’ll still play with different lineups … Though there’s still no official timetable for Bynum’s return, but watching him shoot around in pregame, it’s obvious he’s spent some serious time in the weight room on his upper body. He continues to work with the entire staff, but most frequently with assistant Vitaly Potapenko, who actually still has the physique to body Bynum up during the workout.