Cavs routed again, drop 6th in past 8
LeBron James isn’t enjoying the view lately, watching the end of blowout losses from the Cleveland Cavaliers’ bench.
James and his struggling Cavaliers absorbed their most lopsided rout of the season Thursday, overwhelmed by the host Toronto Raptors 133-99.
The Cavaliers have dropped six of eight dating to a Christmas Day defeat to the Warriors in Oakland.
“I don’t know where it kind of went wrong or what happened,” James said. “We’ve got to try to pick it back up and find it.”
After losing at Minnesota 127-99 on Monday, the Cavaliers fell by an even bigger margin in Toronto. The Raptors’ 133 points were the most by any Cavs opponent this season and marked the third straight game that Cleveland has allowed at least 127.
So, what has been James’ biggest beef with Cleveland’s past two losses?
“That I haven’t played in the fourth quarter,” he said, adding his team is getting “tore up.”
Fred Van Vleet scored 22 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and 18 rebounds and the Raptors overcame the absences of Kyle Lowry (bruised tailbone) and forward Serge Ibaka (suspension).
Van Vleet made six of eight three-point attempts as the Raptors connected on 18 shots from beyond the arc.
It was the Raptors’ first meeting with Cleveland since the Cavaliers swept the Raptors out of the second round of the playoffs last May. The Cavs play at Indiana on Friday before the Warriors come to Cleveland on Monday.
Celitcs 114, 76ers 103: Kyrie Irving had 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds and Boston overcame a 22-point deficit to beat Philadelphia in London. Jaylen Brown added 21 points, and Marcus Morris had 19 points and eight rebounds to help the Eastern Conference-leading Celtics extend their winning streak to seven games. JJ Redick had 22 points for Philadelphia, but the 76ers were unable to take advantage of their fast start as the Celtics’ NBA-best defense tightened at O2 Arena, in the eighth NBA game played in England.
Lakers scored and host 26 93, Los points, Spurs Angeles Lonzo 81: got Brandon Ball its first added Ingram 18 three-game winning streak of the season despite blowing an early 19-point lead. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 20 points for San Antonio, but only five in the second half. San Antonio committed 21 turnovers while playing without injured starters Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker and Danny Green.
Clippers 121, Kings 115: Tyrone Wallace intercepted a pass at midcourt and drove in for a dunk with 10.9 seconds left, moments after what looked like a costly turnover by Lou Williams, as visiting Los Angeles held on after blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Ready to go: Hornets head coach Steve Clifford has been medically cleared to return to the team on a full-time basis starting with practice Tuesday. Clifford has been away from the team since Dec. 6 with an unknown health issue.