featured-image

Game Quotes: Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia 76ers – March 29

(On today’s win): "Never underestimate a win. Tough game for us after (playing) 15 games in 29 days. It was evident that we were physically slow and a little mentally beat down but we found a way to win and that’s good."


(On if he considered today’s game an ugly performance):
"I just think that’s disrespectful to Philadelphia. They came out there and they fought. They made the game hard for us. We had our chances to kind of blow the game open and we didn’t and they made some good runs at us…We didn’t play our best game for sure but they fought and we fought back, and we won the game on defense. I do think fatigue was a big part of us having less than a stellar performance. After the first half, I just thought we let down. We kind of got the lead in the first half and we had a chance to break open the game. We didn’t but we were still leading by eight or 10 (points). Instead of coming out and really, really jumping on them in the second half, we let them back in the game. That gave them the confidence and the belief that sort of set us back."


(On the Sixers’ last possession):
"I don’t think that was the first option that they had on that play. We took away the other things. But if it was, then Tristan (Thompson) played great defense and stayed between him and the basket and contested with a high hand without fouling and then rebounded the basketball. Tristan made a couple of big plays when he came back in right at the end. He got a couple of big rebounds and he made a really nice defensive play on (Nerlens) Noel."

(On tonight’s game): “We pride ourselves on the defensive end and tonight was one of those ugly games offensively. A lot of easy shots weren’t going in for us. A lot of us didn’t have the necessary rhythms in order to get the lead up like we wanted, but that’s the game of basketball. Like I said a couple days ago, sometimes the flow just isn’t there, but we got stops when we needed and fouled the right people - they missed free throws as well, and we came out with this win.”


(On if it was what the 76ers were doing versus what the Cavs weren’t doing):
“It was a combination of both. We just have to give credit where credit is due and they did just a great job of just executing and getting open shots and taking advantage of the times when we weren’t getting back. They were playing with great pace. Coach Brown does a great job of getting that team to play hard despite what they’ve been going through. They just play extremely hard.”

(On an elbow setting his back off): “That’s what happened. Just have to take these next couple days, so we’re kind of fortunate with Shump (Iman Shumpert) and myself that we have these couple days.”


(On expecting to miss time for his back):
“No, no. Like I said, these couple days will be nice. Couple extra hours with the early games, so just get treatment the next couple days and feel good.”


(On being home and having days off):
“We’ve been on the road a lot. It’s nice to be back home and be back home this week. For guys to get a little bit of rest and take this time to themselves – to get in the gym or get treatment, it’s good.”

(On the last four minutes of the game): “Some games, offensively, you just don’t have any type of rhythm, which we didn’t have tonight, but you have to find a way to win and we did that by defending.”


(On if it was what the 76ers were doing versus what the Cavs weren’t doing):
“It’s about competition, that’s all. Every game is different and creates different challenges. We create challenges for them, they create challenges for us. We made one more play than they made.”

(On tonight’s game): “They (his players) played their hearts out. We had an opportunity (to win) in many ways. Ish (Smith) had the open three. We missed two free throws from Robert Covington, who’s one of the best shooters in the league. Jerami (Grant) missed two. Luc (Mbah a Moute) split. We’ve been challenged all year trying to find ways to score, and we were tonight.”


(On what his team did well tonight):
“For me, the story is more about how well we played defensively. I think this was their 16th win here at home, and to hold that team to 34 points in the second half and 87 cumulative – I’m proud of the effort that we played with defensively.”

(On his potential game-winning shot): “I had a pretty good look. I think it went in and out or something. I thought that (the play) resulted in a good look. I just didn’t make the shot.”


(On Philadelphia’s defense tonight):
“I thought we adjusted a lot better with the pick-and-roll on defense by not letting the roller get behind us and throw that lob. I think we had LeBron (James) and Kyrie (Irving) very hesitant attacking the basket.”

(On the lack of scoring late in the game): “We had a bunch of good looks (that were going) just in and out. We played great defense. Coach was drawing up good plays, but unfortunately it wasn’t going in the basket. I missed two free throws. Nerlens (Noel) missed a shot and a couple threes at the end. It’s just part of the game.”


(On Philadelphia’s defense tonight):
“That’s a playoff team and a potential contender for the NBA championship. So to come in and hold them to 87 points, have us shoot the ball like we did as a team and just get stops when we needed them, just shows how much grit we have as a team and how much determination we have to play a whole 48 minutes. It’s just been a good transition. We’ve done a good job developing as a team.”

CAVALIERS NOTES:

  • The Cleveland Cavaliers won their 16th consecutive game at Quicken Loans Arena after defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 87-86 on Sunday afternoon. The Cavs current home winning streak is now tied for the third-longest in franchise history along with a 16-game home winning streak from Feb. 11 – Apr. 12, 2009.
  • During the 16-game home winning streak, the Wine and Gold have averaged 105.9 points per game on .471 shooting from the field and a .402 clip from three-point range, while holding opponents to 91.3 on .402 shooting from the field and .320 shooting from behind the arc.
  • The Wine and Gold are now 22-3 at home (35-6 overall) when limiting its opponents to under 100 points this season. Cleveland’s defense held all five home opponents in March to 92 points or less after limiting the 76ers to 86 points on 34-84 (.405) shooting from the field. Over the Cavs last five home games, opponents are averaging 85.6 points on .398 shooting from the field, including .317 from three-point range. The Wine and Gold have now held 15 of its last 16 home opponents under 100 points and 14 of its last 16 home opponents to under .430 shooting from the field during the Cavs 15-game home winning streak.
  • The Cavs are now 9-2 in their last 11 games and are an NBA-best 29-7 since Jan. 15.
  • LeBron James, Kevin Love and Timofey Mozgov each recorded double-doubles in the win. Tonight marked the seventh time this season that three players have tallied a double-double in a game (at Indiana 2/27/15, vs. L.A. Lakers 2/8/15, vs. Chicago 1/19/15, vs. Detroit 12/28/14, at Toronto 12/5/14 and vs. Indiana 11/29/14).
  • On the glass, the Cavaliers held a 53-45 advantage including 18 offensive rebounds. Cleveland is 10-1 this season when hauling in 50 or more rebounds and 20-3 at home when outrebounding its opponent.
  • LeBron James tallied his 20th double-double of the season after finishing with a game-high 20 points, a game-high tying 11 rebounds, a team-high six assists and one block in 38 minutes. James needs two more points to pass Patrick Ewing (24,815) for 20th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
  • Kevin Love recorded his team-leading 37th double-double of the year after posting 10 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and one block in 31 minutes of play. Love’s 37 double-doubles this season are the most a Cavalier has notched in a single season since Drew Gooden recorded 37 double-doubles in 2004-05.
  • Timofey Mozgov posted his 17th double-double of the season (eighth as a Cavalier) after wrapping up the night with 14 points on 6-9 (.667) shooting from the field and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes. The Wine and Gold have yet to lose a home game in which he has played (16-0).
  • Kyrie Irving finished the night with 17 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes. Since March 10, Irving is averaging 24.5 points on .481 shooting from the field, including .478 from three-point range, 4.9 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 35.6 minutes.
  • Tristan Thompson pulled down nine rebounds, to go along with six points in 20 minutes off the bench. It was Thompson’s third straight game of at least nine boards as a sub.