LETDOWN: LEBRON, CAVS STUNNED BY HARDAWAY, HAWKS 114-100
Atlanta rides on momentum of win vs. Boston and annihilates defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers behind the heroics of Tim Hardaway
With the playoffs just days away, the NBA champions are lost again. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 15 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter as the Atlanta Hawks, despite resting center Dwight Howard and sitting three other key starters, stunned LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-100 on Friday night. Coming off a win over Boston on Thursday night, the Hawks outworked and outgunned the Cavs, who blew a chance to move closer to securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference with the kind of flat, uninspired performance that has become the norm in a disjointed season. “The energy level was just real bad,” a disillusioned James said afterward. “I don’t know why.”
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 15 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and the Atlanta Hawks, despite resting center Dwight Howard and missing three other key starters, stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-100 on Friday night.
The Hawks, who beat Boston on Thursday night, outworked and outgunned the defending NBA champions. The Cavaliers blew a chance to move closer to securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Mike Dunleavy added 20 points for Atlanta and got a little revenge against the Cavs, who tossed him in as part of a trade for Kyle Korver in February. The Hawks had 39 assists.
It was a shocking letdown by the Cavs, who were so impressive in a win over the Celtics on Wednesday night. But they lacked energy from the outset and the Hawks took advantage.
LeBron James scored 27 points, and Kyrie Irving had 18 for Cleveland.
In Toronto, DeMar DeRozan scored 38 points as Toronto beat Miami, 96-94, in the Raptors' final home game of the regular season.
DeRozan broke Vince Carter's franchise record with his 31st 30-point game of the season, shooting 14 of 32 from the floor. Carter set the mark in 2000-01.
Cory Joseph added 14 points, and Kyle Lowry had 12 in his second game back form an injury.
James Johnson had 22 points for Miami against his former team. The Heat remained ninth in the Eastern Conference with three games to play.
In Memphis, Mike Conley scored 31 points to help Memphis wrap up the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference with a victory over short-handed New York. 101-88.
The Grizzlies will face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.