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Grizzlies Hold Off Cavs in Columbus

After taking their show on the road in southern Ohio last week, the Cavaliers made their annual stop at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus – dropping a 91-81 decision to Memphis on Monday night. On Tuesday night, they finally christen their home floor this preseason when they welcome the Bucks to The Q.

Without Mo Williams and J.R. Smith in the lineup – (along with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and Iman Shumpert, all rehabbing injuries back in Cleveland) – Coach Blatt used Monday’s contest to mix-and-match lineups, beginning with his starting five, where he inserted both of last year’s starting centers, Timofey Mozgov and Anderson Varejao.

“(The center combo) wasn’t as effective tonight as I’d hoped, but that doesn’t mean anything,” reasoned Coach Blatt after the loss. “They played against two very good players – Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph – one of the better big-man tandems in our game. But that doesn’t mean that we won’t use it moving forward.”

LeBron James

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LBJ tomahawk slam.

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LeBron James did suit up for the Columbus crowd and treated them to a massive breakaway dunk early in the second stanza – part of his team-high 14 points. On the night, the four-time MVP went 6-for-15 from the floor, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc – adding three assists and a game-high three steals.

”It was fun,” said LeBron, on playing in Columbus. “These fans are always great to us. For our league to bring two very good teams into this building was good.”

Richard Jefferson, who got the start in place of J.R. Smith, was the only other Cavalier starter in double-figures – finishing with 11 points, going an even 4-of-8 from the floor and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, adding six boards and a steal.

Cleveland led by three midway through the first quarter, but that was as good as it’d get for a sluggish Cavaliers squad that dropped to 0-3 so far in the preseason. They fell behind by two touchdowns late in the third period before Austin Daye and James Jones began heating up in the fourth.

The Wine and Gold cut Memphis’ lead to three, 82-79, with just under three minutes remaining in regulation, but the Grizzlies went on a quick 5-0 run to put the game on ice.

“I think of the three games, this was not one of the better ones,” lamented Coach Blatt. “And that’s in direct contrast with the way we’ve been working in practice. We came out with less energy and less passion than we did in the two previous games, but it gives us a chance to see some different things and evaluate things and correct things – and that’s what we need to do.”

Once again, Jared Cunningham – one of the Cavs’ non-contract guys – had a strong showing. The combo guard led all bench scorers with 13 points – one game after dropping 31 on the Sixers in Philly. On the night, Cunningham, who continues to make a strong roster push, went 3-of-8 from the floor and 7-for-10 from the stripe in 29 minutes of action.

”I think (Cunningham)’s been great,” praised LeBron James. “He’s been doing everything that the coaches have asked of him. He’s been very aggressive – not only offensively, but more importantly, defensively. And it’s great to have him around so far.”

The Cavs shot just 38 percent from the floor compared to the Grizzlies’ 52 percent. Memphis outrebounded the Wine and Gold and handed out five more assists.

The Cavaliers return to The Q to complete their second back-to-back of the young preseason, taking on the new-look Bucks at The Q. On Thursday night, the Pacers roll in before the Wine and Gold get back on the road for a Sunday evening tilt in Toronto.