Wrap-Up – The road-weary Cavaliers were playing their fourth game in five nights, and by the third quarter, it showed. Neither team had much in the tank by the fourth, but the Suns had enough to pull away for the 91-78 win on Tuesday night at The Q.
Anderson Varejao, who never seems to run low on fuel, continued his outstanding start to the 2012-13 season – netting 14 of his 20 points in the third quarter, adding 18 boards in the loss. Dion Waiters chipped in with 16 points and a career-best seven assists and Alonzo Gee rounded out the Cavaliers in double-figures with 12 points.
Turning Point – The game was tied at 59-apiece with just over three minutes to play in the third period when the Suns went on a 12-0 run to close the quarter. The Cavaliers never cut Phoenix’ lead to single digits in the fourth and with 3:14 to play Byron Scott emptied his bench.
Game Ball – Anderson Varejao – The only Cavalier to bring his A-game – as he does every night – Varejao was a beast on both ends of the floor once again. He was 10-of-15 from the floor and six of his 18 boards were off the offensive glass. The Wild Thing also held the Suns’ Marcin Gortat to just six points on 3-for-7 shooting.
By the Numbers – 6 … straight games that Anderson Varejao has grabbed 15 or more rebounds. The last time a member of the Wine and Gold did that was current Cavaliers radio analyst, Jim Chones, who did so in March-April, 1978.
Quotable – Coach Byron Scott, on Anderson Varjao’s play so far this year …
“To me, right now, he’s the best center in the NBA. By far the best center in the Eastern Conference.”
Seen and Heard – A quartet of Cleveland Browns took in the game on Tuesday – quarterback Brandon Weeden, running back Trent Richardson, safety T.J. Ward and cornerback Joe Haden
Up Next – The Cavaliers get right back on the road for the first of a road-home back-to-back on Friday night in Atlanta. Cleveland returns home for a Saturday night matchup against the Blazers at The Q. They’ll have six more back-to-back contests for the rest of the month of December.