Cavaliers and Warriors ousted as early season struggles continue

LOS ANGELES: NBA champion Golden State Warriors and beaten Finalists Cleveland tumbled as early season struggles continued for the league’s powerhouse teams.

Tim Hardaway Jr and Kristaps Porzingis combined for 66 points to lead the New York Knicks to a 11495 victory over the Cavs in Cleveland on Sunday.

In Oakland, California, the Warriors coughed up 25 turnovers in a 115-107 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

The Knicks notched their first win over the Cavs since Oct 30, 2014, ending a 10-game losing streak against the Cavs, tipped before the season to be headed to the Finals for a fourth time.

Hardaway scored 34 points and Porzingis added 32 with 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who handed LeBron James and the Cavaliers a fourth defeat in eight days.

“Tonight’s loss and the last couple are unacceptable, and the only way we’re going to be able to get out of it is to put the work in – as players, as coaches,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. “And we’re going to do that.”

A day after falling to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Cavaliers looked lethargic as they trailed by 18 points in the third quarter.

They trimmed the deficit to 94-88 on a James lay-up with 8:20 to play before the Knicks regained control.

Kevin Love again led Cleveland with 22 points and 11 rebounds. James added 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists and said it’s too early in the season to worry.

While the Cavs have struggled with slow starts, the Warriors have been finding it hard to hold onto leads.

Golden State squandered a 14-point third-quarter advantage over Detroit, who shot just 46.2% from the field but benefited from the Warriors’ sloppy play.

The Warriors connected on a blistering 61.4% of their shots over the first three periods, but trailed 10188 at 6:25 of the fourth quarter.

The Warriors were down 108-105 with 1:55 to play when they got a steal from Stephen Curry. But he missed the contested layup and then a three-point attempt.

Tobias Harris added a three-pointer for Detroit, before Curry lost the ball to Avery Bradley, whose lay-up sealed it for the Pistons. — AFP