Thunder rain on Cavs’ parade
CLEVELAND—Dennis Schroder scored a season-high 28 points in replacing injured star Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 95-86 on Wednesday night.
Westbrook sprained his left ankle Monday, but the Thunder withstood Cleveland’s fourth-quarter run without the two-time MVP to win its sixth straight game after starting the season 0-4.
Cleveland (1-10) rallied from an 11-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to go ahead. Oklahoma City led 78-67 before the Cavaliers went on a 13-0 run. J.R. Smith and Kyle Korver each hit two 3-pointers and the Cavaliers led 80-78 with 7:02 remaining.
Alex Abrines’ 3-points shot from the corner gave the Thunder to break 84-all tie 4:31 to play, putting Oklahoma City on top for good.
Schroder, starting in Westbrook’s place, was 11 for 19 from the field. Paul George scored 18 points and Jermai Grant had 12.
Cleveland added two more players to its ever-growing injury list. Rookie point guard Collin Sexton made his first career start after George Hill was a late scratch because of a sore right shoulder.
Sexton, taken with the eighth pick in the draft, scored a teamhigh 15 points in a career-high 42 minutes.
Cedi Osman started in Kevin Love’s spot, but left with back spasms in the first quarter and didn’t return. Cleveland is also playing without forward Kevin Love, who had surgery on his left foot last week and is expected to be out for several weeks.
Smith scored 13 points and Rodney Hood and Jordan Clarkson each had 11 for Cleveland.
Oklahoma City scored 17 straight points over a period of 4:36 in the second and third quarters to take a 56-40 lead.
The Thunder scored the last nine points of a lackluster first half to take a 48-40 lead. George made a basket and a free throw before ending the second quarter with a 29-foot 3-pointer as the buzzer.
Schroder had a three-point play and a jumper and Grant hit a 3-pointer to help build the
16-point lead.
Westbrook traveled with the team, but no timetable has been given for his return and he’s unlikely to play Thursday against Houston. He’s averaging 24.1 points, 8.9 assists and 8.3 rebounds in seven games.
Pistons 103, Magic 96
ORLANDO, Fla.—Andre Drummond had 23 points and 19 rebounds and the Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 103-96 on Wednesday night to snap a fivegame losing streak.
Blake Griffin added 20 points, Reggie Jackson had 15, and Stanley Johnson 13.
Evan Fournier led Orlando with 27 points, and D.J. Augustin had 16.
Fournier hit three straight shots and Aaron Gordon added a dunk to pull Orlando to 94-93 with 2:58 left. Griffin made a pair of free throws to start a 9-0 run that Jackson finished with a 3-pointer and a layup.
The Magic opened the third period with three straight 3-pointers and a 27-9 run to take a 78-67 lead,
Detroit, as it did the first two periods, rallied in the final minute to get control. Griffin hit a 3-pointer and a layup and Ish Smith had a block and breakaway layup at the buzzer that made it 80-78.