Leaders seeking to soothe tensions with refs in games
Short-handed Cavs end Raptors’ streak
NEW YORK — As Monty McCutchen visits NBA teams on behalf of referees, he’s hearing plenty of what he calls constructive criticism, delivered in a professional way.
“That’s exactly what we’re hoping to attain on the floor, is that no one is asking everyone to agree, no one is asking for there not to be constructive criticism,” McCutchen said. “What we are trying to achieve is the sense of how to disagree respectively, how to disagree with an empathy and understanding.”
McCutchen left his job on the floor during this season to become the league’s vice president and head of referee development and training. With some high tensions with both players and coaches, he and head of referee operations Michelle Johnson have been conducting respect-for-thegame sessions with each team in hopes of creating a stronger working relationship.
He believes the meetings are going well, that players are seeing the commitment of the officials to have better communication.
Wednesday night
CAVALIERS 132, RAPTORS
129: In Cleveland, LeBron James scored 35 points and added 17 assists, his last setting up a late a 3-pointer by Kevin Love, as undermanned Cleveland ended Toronto’s nine-game road winning streak with a victory over the Eastern Conferenceleading Raptors.
The Cavs were missing five rotational players and coach Tyronn Lue, who missed his second straight game because of health reasons.
But they had James, who earlier in the day said, “I’ll be available, so we got a chance.” 76ERS 119, GRIZZLIES 105: In Philadelphia, Robert Covington, J.J. Redick and Dario Saric each had 15 points to pace all five Philadelphia starters in double-figures as the 76ers continued their push for homecourt advantage in the playoffs with a victory over Memphis.
Joel Embiid added 14 points and Ben Simmons had 13 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the 76ers (40-30), who won their fourth straight to improve to a season-best 10 games over .500. None of the starters played in the fourth quarter.
HEAT 119, KNICKS 98: In Miami, Kelly Olynyk scored 22 points and handed out a careerhigh 10 assists, and Tyler Johnson added 22 points for Miami, which had little trouble on the way to beating New York.
Wayne Ellington scored 16, Justise Winslow added 15, Goran Dragic had 14 and Josh Richardson finished with 12 for the Heat, which remained in seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff race. NUGGETS 135, BULLS 102: In Chicago, Nikola Jokic had 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists on “Serbian Heritage Night” as Denver routed the Bulls.
Denver shot 61.4 percent (51for-83) from the field and had seven players score in double figures. Paul Millsap had 22 points and eight rebounds in 27 minutes, and Wilson Chandler made five of the Nuggets’ 20 3-pointers on his way to 19 points. CLIPPERS 127, BUCKS 120: In Milwaukee, DeAndre Jordan had 25 points and 22 rebounds to lead Lost Angeles past Milwaukee.
Austin Rivers added 22 points and Lou Williams scored 19 for Los Angeles, which bounced back after a deflating loss to Minnesota on Tuesday night. HORNETS 111, NETS 105: In New York, Dwight Howard had 32 points and 30 rebounds, becoming the first player with a 30-30 game against the Nets since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1978 as Charlotte beat Brooklyn.
Kemba Walker scored 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter for the Hornets, who trailed by as many 23 points in the second half to win in front of an announced crowd of 10,231 at Barclay Center while a heavy snowfall outside blanketed the New York City area.
PELICANS 96, PACERS 92: In New Orleans, Anthony Davis capped a 28-point, 13-rebound, five-block performance with a 15-foot baseline fade, a put-back and two free throws in the final minute as New Orleans outlasted Indiana.
E’Twaun Moore scored 23 for New Orleans, which had to overcome a strong defensive effort by Indiana to win its third straight. SPURS 98, WIZARDS 90: In San Antonio, Texas, LaMarcus Aldridge had 27 points and nine rebounds as San Antonio won its fifth straight with a victory over Washington.
San Antonio remained in sixth place in the Western Conference, one-half game behind fourth-place Oklahoma City. The Spurs close out a six-game homestand Friday against Utah, which is 1½ games behind San Antonio in eighth place.