Bogut breaks leg in debut, Cavs lose
CLEVELAND >> LeBron James didn’t need to speak with Andrew Bogut or see the X-rays on the center’s leg.
“I heard it break,” he said. “I heard it crack.”
In an ugly instant, Cleveland lost much more than a game Monday night.
Bogut broke his left leg less than one minute into his debut and the Cavaliers never recovered while being outgunned 106-98 by the surging and not-to-be-overlooked Miami Heat, who beat the NBA champions twice in three nights.
Dion Waiters scored 29 points, Goran Dragic added 21 and the Heat held off a late rally by the Cavs, who trimmed a 20-point deficit to 103-98 in the final minute. It could have gotten tighter but James missed a long 3-pointer before Waiters banked one in with 12.2 seconds left.
However, Miami’s latest impressive win was overshadowed by the injury to Bogut, who only signed with Cleveland last week and had been welcomed to the team earlier in the day by being given jersey No. 6.5 — a joke that made the big Australian smile.
Now, though, the Cavs don’t know when or if Bogut will be able to help defend their title.
“It’s very deflating,” James said. “It’s a tough moment. We all were excited about the acquisition, you know, bring him in here. It’s a tough one, not only obviously for him, first of all, but then for our ballclub.”
Kyrie Irving scored 32 and James had 30 points and 17 rebounds for Cleveland, which was beaten by 22 on Saturday in Miami while James and Irving got some rest.
The Heat have won 19 of 23, including victories over Golden State, Houston and two over the Cavs, who may have to find another rim protector.
The 32-year-old Bogut was on the court for just 58 seconds before going down with the injury, a devastating blow to the former No. 1 overall pick who spent the past four seasons with Golden State was hoping to meet with the Warriors again.
Bogut was on the perimeter guarding Miami’s Okaro White, whose knee connected with the center’s lower leg. Bogut crumpled to the floor in obvious pain and as he sat up near the scorer’s table, TV cameras caught him telling his teammates his leg was broken. James knew it already. “As soon as the collision happened I heard it break,” James said. “I went over to him and I knew it.” HORNETS 100, PACERS 88 >> Kemba Walker scored 28 points, Nicolas Batum added 21 and Charlotte beat Indiana.
Returning home after their victory Saturday in Denver, the Hornets notched consecutive wins for the first time since Jan. 20-21. PISTONS 109, BULLS 95 >> Reggie Jackson scored 24 of his 26 points in the second half, and Detroit pulled away down the stretch for a victory over Chicago. WARRIORS 119, HAWKS 111 >> Andre Iguodala scored a season-high 24 points on a subpar shooting night for the Splash Brothers, carrying Golden State s to a victory over Atlanta, whose chances were ruined by a dispute on the court that led to the benching of Dennis Schroder. KNICKS 113, MAGIC 105 >> Courtney Lee scored 18 points, Lance Thomas added 17 and New York used a big fourth quarter to rally past Orlandot.
Willy Hernangomez had 14 points and eight rebounds, while Kristaps Porzingis scored 14 points for the Knicks, who stopped a twogame losing streak.