Larry Legend: Nance in top form, lifts Cavaliers
Proud father sees Junior at his best in beating Pistons
CLEVELAND — As Larry Nance Sr. waited in the hallway following the best game of his son’s career, the former All-star was approached by a young Cavaliers fan.
“I’m not Larry Nance Sr.,” he said, reaching down to shake hands with the youngster. “I’m Larry Nance Jr.’s father.”
And a proud papa. His kid put on quite a show.
Nance posted career highs with 22 points and 15 rebounds in his first start for Cleveland, and the Cavaliers closed a disappointing five-game homestand on a positive note with a 112-90 win Monday over the Detroit Pistons, who haven’t won on the road in nearly two months.
Lebron James scored 31 points before taking a seat on the bench after the Cavs outscored the Pistons 36-21 in the third quarter to blow it open. Nance, though, was the story. With Cleveland missing three big men — All-star Kevin Love, Findlay Prep product Tristan Thompson and Jeff Green — because of injuries, the Cavs needed someone to step up, and Nance came through. Wearing the same No. 22 his father had retired by Cleveland, the 25-year-old Nance had the best game of his young career.
“It just kind of felt easy,”
Nance said. “The guys were giving me all the opportunity in the world to make my shots, and I just happened to be making them.”
Cleveland’s latest look was encouraging. The Cavs have been in a funk lately as they try to integrate four new players, but they got a win before embarking on a two-week, six-game trip.
Cavs coach Tyronn Lue will stick with Nance as a starter while Thompson recovers from a sprained right ankle that will keep him out at least two weeks. And beyond that, it’s possible Lue could keep Nance in his first five.
Since joining Cleveland in a trade last month, Nance has shown he consistently can make a mid-range jumper that he rarely tried with the Lakers.
“I didn’t know he could shoot it,” Lue said. “He never shot it in L.A. But coming here, just watching him shoot, he has 3-point range also, which I didn’t know. If he can continue to make that shot, it helps our offense out tremendously.”
At Los Angeles, Damian Lillard scored 19 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter for Portland, which won its seventh straight overall and 15th in a row over Los Angeles while halting the Lakers’ five-game win streak.
At San Antonio, Tony Parker scored 23 points for San Antonio,
Trail Blazers 108, Lakers 103 — Spurs 100, Grizzlies 98 —
which snapped a four-game home losing streak, moved up a spot to fifth in the West and dealt Memphis its 14th straight loss.
At Indianapolis, Bojan Bogdanovic tied his season high with 29 points for Indiana and grabbed a key jump ball in the final 10 seconds, leading to his outcome-icing two free throws.
At Chicago, Jaylen Brown scored 21 points for Boston, which led by as many as 37 in its fifth win in six games. All-star Kyrie Irving (sore left knee) sat out for the Celtics.
At Miami, Hassan Whiteside had 24 points on 10-for-13 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead seven double-figure scorers for Miami, which moved into the No. 7 spot in the East.
At Salt Lake City, Rudy Gobert had 21 points on 9-for-10 shooting and added 17 rebounds for Utah, which won its third
Pacers 92, Bucks 89 — Celtics 105, Bulls 89 — Heat 125, Suns 103 — Jazz 94, Magic 80 —