Cavaliers (36-14), Pelicans (18-32)
CLEVELAND – In a game reminiscent of New Orleans’ trip to San Antonio three days earlier, the Pelicans were locked in a closely-contested game Saturday for three quarters against one of the NBA’s premier teams, but didn’t have enough in the final period to post an upset road win. Cleveland led just 74-70 entering the final 12 minutes, before the Cavaliers gradually took control, handing the Pelicans their fourth straight defeat. The hosts won the final stanza by a 25-14 count. New Orleans has three games remaining prior to the All-Star break, starting Monday at Minnesota.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Cleveland guard Kyrie Irving did what he normally does against New Orleans and played an outstanding game, capped by a series of baskets in the fourth quarter. Irving’s spurt turned a tight game into a double-digit advantage for the Cavaliers midway through the final period, building a 91-79 edge with 5:32 left.
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
It was already a day Norris Cole won’t forget in a long time, after his college uniform No. 30 was retired by Cleveland State in an afternoon ceremony. A few hours later, Cole turned in the highest-scoring game of his NBA career at nearby Quicken Loans Arena, highlighted by a perimeter shooting barrage in the third quarter. The point guard finished with 26 points on 10/19 shooting from the field, including 2/4 three-point accuracy. He also handed out five assists.
PELICANS UNSUNG CONTRIBUTOR
Omer Asik continued a stretch in which he’s often gathered double-digit rebounds, this time totaling 12 boards (four on the offensive end), to go with six points and a pair of assists. Asik’s minutes have been on the rise as well; he logged 29 of them Saturday.
QUOTES TO NOTE
“When we move the ball, we’re a much better team. When we’re moving the ball, cutting and getting into space, now guys are shooting shots in rhythm. We’re a much better team than when we isolate. All you have to do is look at the stat sheet. We ended up with 18 assists – that’s not very good.” – Alvin Gentry on one factor that greatly affects the Pelicans’ performance from game to game
“I felt good out there. I always feel good when I come to Cleveland. After I got that first quarter out of my system, I was able to settle in and play some basketball. I wish we would’ve come out with the win.” – Cole on his career-best 26-point game, including 24 points in the final three periods. He had 14 in the third alone
BY THE NUMBERS
5/23: New Orleans three-point shooting. Cleveland wasn’t great either (14/41), but by shooting a modest percentage at high volume, was able to score 27 more points than the Pelicans from beyond the arc.
7/7: Cleveland foul shooting. New Orleans did an excellent job keeping the Cavaliers off the charity stripe and held them under 100 points, but the Pelicans only shot 39.1 percent from the field.
21: Cavaliers second-chance points, an area Gentry pinpointed after the game as a key factor. It’s difficult enough to slow down Cleveland’s offense without giving it multiple opportunities on possessions.