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Game 41 | Cavs (20-20) @ Clippers (26-13) | January 16, 2015 | 10:30pm EST
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Article from Clippers - LA Times
Clippers can't get the duo dynamic right in 126-121 loss to Cavaliers
By Broderick Turner contact the reporter
Clippers make NBA history when Doc Rivers coaches son Austin in regular-season game, but Cavaliers get the win
Kyrie Irving, LeBron James combine for 69 points for Cleveland, which shoots 55% against defenseless Clippers
When it was over, after LeBron James and Kyrie Irving had run roughshod over the Clippers, Coach Doc Rivers lamented not having the right answers to slow down Cleveland's dynamic duo.
The determination and purpose displayed by James and Irving was the driving force as Cleveland pulled out a 126-121 victory over the Clippers on Friday night at Staples Center.
They combined to score 69 points and hand out 12 assists. They combined to shoot 23 for 41 from the field.
And though the Clippers had six players score in double figures, it was the play of James and Irving that helped the Cavaliers get over the hump and complete a sweep of back-to-back games against the Clippers and Lakers.
James finished with 32 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Irving scored 37 points on 12-for-18 shooting, making five of seven three-point attempts, and had five assists.
“Once Kyrie and LeBron got it going at the same time, we have to have a better answer,” Rivers said. “And that's on us.”
Throw in Tristan Thompson's 24 points and 12 rebounds in place of injured power forward Kevin Love (back), and the Cavaliers' 55.4% shooting from the field, it was a tough night for the Clippers' defense.
“They made a lot of shots,” Rivers said. “But we can be a better defensive team than that. . . . I'm sure they think they can too.”
Blake Griffin had 34 points and 10 rebounds and DeAndre Jordan had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who made history Friday when Rivers became the first man to coach his son in an NBA game.
But neither Doc nor Austin Rivers could prevent the Clippers from falling into a 10-point hole in the fourth quarter after James drilled a three-pointer.
“They have a good team,” Griffin said. “A lot of guys made shots. A lot of guys did what they were supposed to do. I just think we've got to be better for 48 minutes. We were . . . good in stretches, but we've got to be better.”
The Clippers pulled to within four points and twice had an opportunity to get to within two, but Jamal Crawford and Matt Barnes missed shots.
When Chris Paul (15 points, 14 assists) scored to bring L.A. to within 119-115, the door remained open for the Clippers.
That was until James threw an inbounds pass to Thompson, who scored down low while being fouled by J.J. Redick. Thompson made the free throw to complete the three-point play for a 122-115 Cavaliers lead with 46.4 seconds left.
The Clippers kept fighting, but Matthew Dellavedova made three of four free throws in the final few seconds to seal the game for Cleveland.
“I didn't think we played very well offensively, as crazy as that sounds,” Rivers said. “With 121 points, I don't think I've ever thought I would ever make that comment. But it was a tough game.”
Clippers can't get the duo dynamic right in 126-121 loss to Cavaliers
By Broderick Turner contact the reporter
Clippers make NBA history when Doc Rivers coaches son Austin in regular-season game, but Cavaliers get the win
Kyrie Irving, LeBron James combine for 69 points for Cleveland, which shoots 55% against defenseless Clippers
When it was over, after LeBron James and Kyrie Irving had run roughshod over the Clippers, Coach Doc Rivers lamented not having the right answers to slow down Cleveland's dynamic duo.
The determination and purpose displayed by James and Irving was the driving force as Cleveland pulled out a 126-121 victory over the Clippers on Friday night at Staples Center.
They combined to score 69 points and hand out 12 assists. They combined to shoot 23 for 41 from the field.
And though the Clippers had six players score in double figures, it was the play of James and Irving that helped the Cavaliers get over the hump and complete a sweep of back-to-back games against the Clippers and Lakers.
James finished with 32 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Irving scored 37 points on 12-for-18 shooting, making five of seven three-point attempts, and had five assists.
“Once Kyrie and LeBron got it going at the same time, we have to have a better answer,” Rivers said. “And that's on us.”
Throw in Tristan Thompson's 24 points and 12 rebounds in place of injured power forward Kevin Love (back), and the Cavaliers' 55.4% shooting from the field, it was a tough night for the Clippers' defense.
“They made a lot of shots,” Rivers said. “But we can be a better defensive team than that. . . . I'm sure they think they can too.”
Blake Griffin had 34 points and 10 rebounds and DeAndre Jordan had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who made history Friday when Rivers became the first man to coach his son in an NBA game.
But neither Doc nor Austin Rivers could prevent the Clippers from falling into a 10-point hole in the fourth quarter after James drilled a three-pointer.
“They have a good team,” Griffin said. “A lot of guys made shots. A lot of guys did what they were supposed to do. I just think we've got to be better for 48 minutes. We were . . . good in stretches, but we've got to be better.”
The Clippers pulled to within four points and twice had an opportunity to get to within two, but Jamal Crawford and Matt Barnes missed shots.
When Chris Paul (15 points, 14 assists) scored to bring L.A. to within 119-115, the door remained open for the Clippers.
That was until James threw an inbounds pass to Thompson, who scored down low while being fouled by J.J. Redick. Thompson made the free throw to complete the three-point play for a 122-115 Cavaliers lead with 46.4 seconds left.
The Clippers kept fighting, but Matthew Dellavedova made three of four free throws in the final few seconds to seal the game for Cleveland.
“I didn't think we played very well offensively, as crazy as that sounds,” Rivers said. “With 121 points, I don't think I've ever thought I would ever make that comment. But it was a tough game.”
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Inconsistencies or not, they are always in the top half of the Western Conference, and they were 17-6 at home coming in to last night's game. Can't count them out for a second.
One of the three biggest wins of the season - the others being the win on the road against the Bulls and the win a couple nights ago against the Lakers that stopped the bleeding from a six game losing streak and may have instead started the Cavs down the path towards something special.
KilgoreTrout
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I like you, Birdy. You tell it like it is.
oracio
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KilgoreTrout
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“I didn't think we played very well offensively, as crazy as that sounds,” Rivers said. “With 121 points, I don't think I've ever thought I would ever make that comment. But it was a tough game.”
He may be right, since all the Clips usually had to do was hit the open shots and make the put-backs that we were just GIVING them. And they DID that, for about 3 quarters.
That said: sometimes it is good to know that you can just OUTSCORE the other team, if you have to.
He may be right, since all the Clips usually had to do was hit the open shots and make the put-backs that we were just GIVING them. And they DID that, for about 3 quarters.
That said: sometimes it is good to know that you can just OUTSCORE the other team, if you have to.
