Hornets-Cavaliers Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Feb 22 2012 12:51AM

For only the second time this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a chance to win three straight games.

The Cavaliers will accomplish that feat if they can avoid a third consecutive loss to the visiting New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.

It has not been easy, but for the first time since early January, Cleveland (13-17) has won two in a row. After star rookie Kyrie Irving hit a pair of free throws with 0.4 seconds remaining to give the Cavaliers a 93-92 win over Sacramento on Sunday, Cleveland overcame a 17-point deficit to beat Detroit 101-100 on Tuesday.

The Cavaliers have not won three straight contests since Nov. 5-9, 2010.

Antawn Jamison had 32 points with 10 rebounds while Irving scored 17 of his 25 in the fourth quarter as the Cavaliers outscored the Pistons 35-23 in the final period. Third-year reserve Alonzo Gee, who injured his nose early in the contest, added 13 of his 16 points in the fourth.

"This was a big win for us," Irving told the Cavaliers' official website.

Irving, who will compete in the rookie/sophomore game and Skills Challenge during this weekend's All-Star festivities in Orlando, has averaged 21.8 points in four games since missing three with a concussion.

"He was the first overall pick in the draft for a reason," Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said. "He's an outstanding young player."

Jamison, who has totaled 53 points and 18 rebounds in the last two games, has averaged 21.3 and 8.9 boards in 24 career contests against the Hornets' franchise.

Though Cleveland lost both meetings with New Orleans (7-25) last season, this year's Hornets' club has the worst record in the Western Conference with former stars Chris Paul and David West no longer in town.

"It's very important to go get another win," Gee said. "It will help us out and it's always good to win at home. It's pretty important for us."

Trevor Ariza scored 21 points and Jarrett Jack added 19 with 10 assists as New Orleans dropped its second straight contest following a season-high three-game winning streak, 117-108 in overtime at Indiana on Tuesday. The Hornets shot 53.2 percent, but were outscored 17-8 in the extra period to fall to 2-2 during a six-game road stretch that concludes after the All-Star break.

Though the Hornets give up 93.5 points per game, they are 0-21 when allowing at least 90. Tuesday marked just the third time in 2011-12 that New Orleans - averaging 88.1 points per contest - scored at least 100.

"People look at our record and think that we're not competing," Jack said. "It seems like it's been all season long that we come out really competitive, but just can't put a full 48-minute stretch together."

Despite New Orleans' overall struggles this season, Jack is averaging a career-high 15.0 points while missing six games because of a sore knee. The veteran guard has totaled 37 points and 15 assists in the last two games off the bench, but has averaged 8.1 points in 15 career contests against the Hornets.

Kaman scores 21 as Hornets top Cavaliers 89-84

Posted Feb 23 2012 2:33AM

CLEVELAND (AP) Kyrie Irving hasn't looked like a 19-year-old rookie very often this season.

After making several clutch plays in Cleveland's consecutive one-point wins over Sacramento and Detroit this week, he finally looked his age in Wednesday night's 89-84 loss to New Orleans.

Irving was held to six points, tying his career low that occurred in his first NBA game against Toronto on Dec. 26. He recorded a career-high 11 assists, but shot 2 of 13 from the field.

"It was a rough night," Irving admitted. "It happens. It's part of the game."

Chris Kaman scored 21 points and New Orleans, which lost to Indiana in overtime on Tuesday, held off a late Cleveland rally. Antawn Jamison led the Cavaliers with 22 points, but they missed a chance to win three straight games for the first time this season.

Rookie Gustavo Ayon had a career-high 19 rebounds for the Hornets.

Irving struggled throughout the game, as did most of the Cavaliers. His jumper with 2:08 to play cut New Orleans' lead to 76-74, but Kaman's dunk and Marco Belinelli's 3-pointer put the Hornets ahead 81-74 with 1:04 remaining.

Cleveland coach Byron Scott thought Irving, who played the entire fourth quarter Tuesday, might have been tired.

"I remember at one point in the fourth quarter Kyrie said, `I just don't have my legs,"' Scott said. "I don't know if that's fatigue, but we didn't use that as an excuse."

"I wasn't tired," Irving said. "I just wasn't hitting shots. I think I hit one jump shot."

New Orleans, which was playing its third road game in three nights, deserves some credit for shutting down Irving.

"Our team defense is great, man," guard Greivis Vasquez said. "He's a great player, but everyone knew what they have to do on defense."

Belinelli scored 19 points while Jarrett Jack added 16 for New Orleans. Kaman, the subject of trade rumors earlier this month, also grabbed 13 rebounds. The Hornets have won three of five on the road after losing seven straight.

The Hornets came out with more energy in the final game before the All-Star break for both teams. New Orleans led the remainder of the game after taking an 11-9 lead in the first quarter. The Hornets built an 11-point lead late in the period and maintained a comfortable margin until the fourth quarter.

"I don't know that we were the fresher team," Kaman said. "We just fight every night and play hard. We do what we do each game."

"We've got a little bit of momentum going now," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "As a coach, you almost want to keep playing because the last 2 1/2 weeks have been eye-opening for our guys."

Trailing 71-59 early in the final period, Cleveland scored 11 straight points to pull within one. Ramon Sessions scored five points, Alonzo Gee hit a 3-pointer to key the run, and Ryan Hollins' free throw cut the lead to 71-70.

New Orleans went scoreless for more than 4 minutes before Jack's free throw with 6:25 remaining gave the Hornets a three-point lead.

Jack made a jumper and New Orleans hit six free throws in the final minute to secure the win.

The Cavaliers were coming off a pair of dramatic wins that were both sparked by Irving. Cleveland's victory over the Kings on Sunday featured 19 lead changes and was tied 17 times. Irving's two free throws with 0.4 seconds remaining gave Cleveland a 93-92 win. The Cavaliers rallied from a 17-point deficit in the third quarter against the Pistons on Wednesday for a 101-100 win as Irving scored 17 points in the final period.

Irving will compete in the rookie/sophomore game and Skills Challenge during this weekend's All-Star festivities in Orlando.

"It's a dream come true," he said. "I've been watching the All-Star weekend on TV since I was a kid. I'm going to enjoy it."

Scott was assessed a technical foul in the first quarter for protesting that a foul wasn't called on an offensive possession by the Cavaliers.

The Hornets dropped a 101-93 decision to Oklahoma City on Monday and fell 117-108 in overtime to Indiana on Tuesday. New Orleans had a season-high three-game winning streak going into Monday. The Hornets complete a six-game road trip in Chicago on Feb. 2

NOTES: Williams said C Emeka Okafor (left knee) and F Jason Smith (concussion) could return for the first game following the All-Star break on Feb. 28 at Chicago. There is no timetable for the return of G Eric Gordon (right knee surgery) and F Carl Landry (sprained left knee). ... Cavaliers C Anderson Varejao (broken right wrist) has been doing daily cardiovascular work. The team said he would miss four to six weeks when he was injured on Feb. 11. ... Cleveland G Anthony Parker (back) missed his 12th straight game. He could return for the first game after the All-Star break against Boston on Feb. 28.

Notebook: Hornets 89, Cavaliers 84

Posted Wednesday February 22, 2012 11:55PM

By Brian Dulik, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Center Chris Kaman scored 21 points and power forward Gustavo Ayon grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds, leading the New Orleans Hornets to an 89-84 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kaman also had 13 rebounds for New Orleans, which never trailed in completing its five-game road trip with a 3-2 record. Hornets shooting guard Marco Belinelli chipped in 19 points and point guard Jarrett Jack added 16 off the bench. Power forward Antawn Jamison had team highs of 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, while point guard Kyrie Irving dished out a career-best 11 assists but was held to six points.

QUOTABLE: "We know people were calling us the worst team in the West. We've kept that in the back of our heads. We're growing, man, and someday soon everyone will keep talking about us (positively). Right now, we just have to go through what we have to go through."
-- Hornets guard Greivis Vasquez

THE STAT: The Cavaliers' starting backcourt of Irving and shooting guard Daniel Gibson combined to go 3-for-22 from the floor, including 1-for-11 on 3-pointers. Top overall draft pick Irving missed 11 of his first 12 attempts and finished 2-for-13, while Gibson drew iron on his first seven shots and wound up 1-for-9. "It was a tough night," said Irving, who equaled his lowest-scoring game in 28 NBA contests. "It happens, it's part of the game. I wasn't tired, I just wasn't hitting shots." New Orleans starting guards Vasquez and Belinelli outscored their Cleveland counterparts 32-13.

TURNING POINT: The Cavaliers scored 11 straight points early in the fourth quarter to trim New Orleans' lead to 71-70, but center Ryan Hollins missed a free throw that could have tied the contest. The Hornets immediately turned up the pressure and held Cleveland scoreless over the next 4:59 -- on 0-for-12 shooting with three turnovers. "We turn the ball over way too much to say we have great chemistry, but we do have defensive togetherness that helps us," New Orleans coach Monty Williams said. "We had 11 consecutive stops in a row in the fourth quarter. That's just hard work."

QUOTABLE II: "We've got a little bit of momentum going now. As a coach, you almost want to keep playing because the last 2 1/2 weeks have been eye-opening for our guys, seeing what they can do together."
-- Hornets coach Monty Williams

HOT: Ayon is averaging 9.7 rebounds over his last six games, increasing his season average to 5.0. The third Mexican-born player in NBA history, he is tied for third place in the league in rebounding among rookies. ... Vasquez had 13 points and a team-high five assists in a game-best 38 minutes. The second-year pro is one of three Venezuelan citizens ever to play in the NBA. ... Williams is 3-0 against the Cavaliers as a head coach. ... Cleveland rookie power forward Tristan Thompson had his second double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in just 16 minutes off the bench. ... Jamison's 12 boards matched his season high. ... The Cavaliers' 22 offensive rebounds were their most since March 8, 2008.

NOT: Hornets small forward Trevor Ariza missed all six of his shots. ... Vasquez made a game-high six turnovers, while Kaman was next in line with four. ... Cavaliers starting center Semih Erden was benched after playing eight minutes in favor of Hollins. "I just didn't think he was giving a great effort," Cleveland coach Byron Scott said. "I really didn't, so I just decided at halftime to make a change." ... Cavaliers power forward Luke Harangody missed all five of his field goal attempts, all of which were came under the basket. ... Gibson made three turnovers and was 0-for-3 on 3-pointers in the first quarter. ... Irving rifled a pass out of bounds, directly to Jack, who was standing in front of the Hornets bench.

QUOTABLE III: "Bottom line is we just couldn't throw it in the ocean tonight. We had great shots and we have a bunch of guys in that locker room that can make shots. Tonight just wasn't one of those nights."
-- Cavaliers coach Byron Scott

GOOD MOVE: The Hornets attacked Cleveland's porous interior defense early and often, scoring 50 of their 89 points in the paint while winning the rebounding battle 56-48. Kaman and Ayon combined for 30 points and 30 rebounds on a whopping 32 field goal attempts. They also grabbed 12 of New Orleans' 20 offensive boards. "My goal is always to dominate people. Goose (Ayon) does the same thing," Kaman said. "We just fight every night and play hard. We do what we do each game."

BAD MOVE: Cavaliers post player Samardo Samuels earned his third straight "Did Not Play -- Coach's Decision" from Scott, but Harangody got on the court for the fourth time in six games. Erden, Thompson and Harangody each had two layup/dunk attempts blocked by New Orleans, while Samuels and his talented offensive skills remained on the bench in his warm-ups. "When you shoot 32 percent, you're not giving yourself much of a chance," Scott said.

NOTABLE: The teams combined for 42 offensive rebounds, equaling the Quicken Loans Arena record. ... The Cavaliers are 4-4 during their franchise-record nine-game homestand. Cleveland had won its two previous games by one point, edging Sacramento and Detroit. ... New Orleans was playing its third game in three nights, having lost on the road to Oklahoma City and Indiana. ... Irving and Thompson will both play in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend. Irving also was chosen to compete in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge.

UP NEXT: For the Hornets, Tuesday @ Chicago, Feb. 29 vs. Toronto, March 2 vs. Dallas. For the Cavaliers, Tuesday vs. Boston, Feb. 29 @ New York, March 2 vs. Chicago.

• Hornets: Gordon, Landry
• Cavaliers: Parker, Varejao

• Hornets: --
• Cavaliers: Scott

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
• Officials: #41 Ken Mauer, #38 Michael Smith, #69 Ben Taylor
• Attendance: 13529
• Duration: 2:19