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Cavs Fall in OT Thriller at The Q

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Wrap-Up -- When the postseason rolls around, the Cavaliers and Spurs will be two of the toughest defensive squads in the tournament. But on Saturday night, they went toe-to-toe in an epic overtime shootout.

In one of the most entertaining games of the season, the two heavyweights slugged out it offensively, but missed free throws and late miscues – not to mention 41 points from Kawhi Leonard – sunk the Wine and Gold, 118-115, in a nationally-televised thriller at The Q.

In a game that featured 13 ties and 15 lead-changes, the Cavaliers rallied from six points down in the final 2:46, tying the affair on LeBron James’ 30-foot three-pointer with 34 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Cavaliers had another opportunity to tie the affair in the extra session – trailing by three, 116-113, with 24.2 to play, but a miscommunication caused LeBron misfire on a pass to Kyrie in the corner and the Spurs, as they always seem to, made them pay.

Kawhi Leonard – who missed his final five shots in regulation but was perfect from the floor and the stripe in overtime – scored off a steal and dunk on the other end with 7.2 to play to put San Antonio up five, 118-113.

Irving scored on an uncontested layup with less than two seconds to play and Cleveland immediately fouled LaMarcus Aldridge, who promptly missed both free throws. But Kevin Love’s desperation three from the corner was off-target and the Spurs escaped with the win.

After Thursday’s win over Phoenix and through three quarters on Saturday night, Cavaliers looked like they’d cleaned up the turnover issue that plagued them on the recent West Coast trip. But hey committed five miscues in the final period.

Both teams also sunk 12 free throws on Saturday night. The problem was that San Antonio only attempted 14 – with Aldridge missing the only two at the end of overtime – while the Wine and Gold attempted 22.

The Cavaliers got big performances from their All-Star starters in the marquee matchup.

LeBron finished with 29 points, going 11-for-16 from the floor and 5-of-7 from the stripe – adding seven assists, six boards and a pair of steals. On the negative side of the ledger, he committed seven of Cleveland’s 18 turnovers.

Kyrie added 29 points of his own on 13-for-22 shooting to go with a game-high nine assists and a pair of steals.

LeBron James

LeBron and Kyrie score 29 apiece but it's not enough as the Cavs fall in OT.

Tristan Thompson snapped out of a three-game funk to double-up with 14 points and 12 boards, but took the collar on four free throw attempts.

Kevin Love returned to the lineup after missing the previous game-and-a-half with a sore lower back – notching his team-leading 25th double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points and 11 boards, despite shooting 4-of-15 from the floor, 3-of-11 from long-range.

Other than that late stretch in the fourth quarter, Leonard – the Spurs’ two-way superstar – was a one-man wrecking crew, went 15-for-30 from the floor and 8-of-8 from the line, adding six boards, five assists, a steal and blocked shot.

Aldridge and David Lee – subbing for the injured Pau Gasol – each doubled-up in the win. Aldridge with 16 points and 12 boards; Lee with 14 and 11.

Turning Point -- The Cavaliers were hitting on all cylinders to begin the game on Saturday and although it’s a rarity to fany team to run away from San Antonio, Ty Lue’s team closed the first quarter up 11 – 33-22.

But behind little-known rookie, Dejounte Murray – filling in for an injured Tony Parker – the Spurs proceeded to go on a 19-2 run that saw Cleveland’s double-digit advantage turn into a six-point deficit, with the former Huskie going 4-for-4 in the period.

The Cavaliers would go on to even things up before intermission. But they’d squandered an early chance to give themselves some real separation against the five-time NBA champs.

By the Numbers.600 | .609 … Iman Shumpert’s field goal (21-for-35) and three-point percentage (14-for-23), respectively, in four games since being inserted into the starting lineup – netting double-figures in each outing.

QuotableLeBron James, on not executing the key play at the end of regulation …

”There’s no excuse. It’s a crucial point in the game. We’ve got to be able to execute. Coming out of a timeout, we just sat down. We got our break. As a ball club that’s trying to win a championship, we can’t have (it happening) when you go from a timeout and go onto the court and forget what you’re supposed to do. It’s that simple.”

Up Next -- The Cavaliers hit the road – traveling to the Big Easy to take on Anthony Davis and the Pelicans – on Monday night before returning home for a brief three-game homestand – welcoming the Kings to Cleveland on Wednesday, followed by the Nets on Friday and an afternoon date with Russell Westbrook and the Thunder on Sunday at The Q.

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