Cavs not planning changes in slump
INDEPENDENCE, OHIO » As LeBron James and some teammates practiced free throws at a nearby basket, coach Tyronn Lue addressed questions about the troubling state of the Cavaliers while sitting in a highbacked, cushioned chair.
While he was cool, Lue’s seat has warmed up.
With the Cavs mired in a bewildering midseason slump and less than 24 hours after a historically embarrassing loss to Oklahoma City, Lue said he has no immediate plans to change his starting lineup or rotations. Cleveland fans may be panicking, Lue’s not nervous. At least not publicly. The Cavs are just 4-10 since Dec. 19, and in the past two weeks they’ve lost by 28 at Minnesota, 34 at Toronto and 24 to the Thunder, who scored 148 points and tied a record for the most points allowed by Cleveland in a regulation game — a mark that went unmatched since 1972.
It’s a mess, and it’s a mystery the way James and the Cavs have collapsed. They’ve slipped in the past, but this slide more ominous than in the previous three years when Cleveland stumbled but still reached the Finals.
“This is kind of just my experience with this team, to be honest,” said forward Kyle Korver, acquired last January in a trade. “The year that I’ve been here, we’ve been really good and we’ve been really bad. It seems to come in waves, so, hopefully there’s a good wave coming soon.”
With all that’s wrong, changes would seem to be in order. Lue, though, believes the Cavs can solve their problems without any major alterations.
In Sunday’s action
MAGIC 103, CELTICS 95 » Elfrid Payton had 22 points and the Magic won for just the third time in their last 20 games, overcoming Kyrie Irving’s 40 points to beat Boston.
Orlando snapped a 14game losing streak at Boston. The Magic had lost 10 in a row on the road overall since early December.
Irving sat out Boston’s previous game to rest a sore left shoulder. Despite his efforts, the Celtics dropped their season-worst third straight home game.
Evan Fournier added 19 and Aaron Gordon had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic. LAKERS 127, KNICKS 107 » Jordan Clarkson had 29 points and 10 assists, Julius Randle added 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Los Angeles beat New York for its sixth win in eight games.
Kyle Kuzma added 15 points for the Lakers (17-29), who continued their midseason surge of solid play. Rookie point guard Alex Caruso set career highs with nine points and eight assists, making the most of extensive playing time in the absence of injured Lonzo Ball. NETS 101, PISTONS 100 » Spencer Dinwiddie’s jumper with 0.9 seconds left lifted Brooklyn over Detroit, the Pistons’ fifth straight loss.
After a basket by Andre Drummond put the Pistons ahead with 4.7 seconds left, Dinwiddie took the inbounds pass, drove to 14 feet and drained a jumper against his former teammates.