James no factor, Thomas tossed in Cavs’ loss
MINNEAPOLIS — The best you could say for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night was no one was seriously injured.
The Minnesota Timberwolves beat Cleveland 127-99 in a game in which the Cavs tied the most points they’ve allowed this season and had their largest losing margin of the season.
Cleveland’s sixgame winning streak against the Wolves was snapped, shattered, thrown in a raging dumpster fire.
The Cavs, who trailed by as many as 41 in this one, have lost five of the last seven overall with two games left on this five-game trip.
Cleveland has allowed 127 points in each of the past two games.
Isaiah Thomas was ejected. LeBron James was present, and little more. Thomas, J.R. Smith, and Kevin Love combined to miss all 18 of their shots in the first half. Smith never connected.
“I just couldn’t make nothing,” Thomas said. “As a team we had just no rhythm on both ends. There’s going to be nights like this. I know that, I’ve been in the league seven years. But we’ve just got to have better energy.”
Cleveland’s top three scorers were bench players. Jeff Green scored 22 points, Kyle Korver added 19.
James finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in 27 minutes. He was removed for good with 4:09 left in the third quarter and the Cavs trailing by 39.
Thomas missed his first seven shots and finished with nine points on 3-of-11 shooting. He committed three turnovers and was booted from the game when he clocked Andrew Wiggins in the jaw on Wiggins’ way to the hoop with 6:47 left in the third.
The referees thought enough of Thomas’ belting to issue him a flagrant-two foul and early trip to the showers. He said he was going for a steal by swiping up at the ball, but the play looked bad live and on replay.
Eric Gordon and Chris Paul each had 24 points and nine assists, Gerald Green scored 22 and Houston beat host Chicago. Trevor Ariza hit six three-pointers and scored 18 to go with nine rebounds for Houston, which won despite blowing a 21-point lead.
DeMarcus Cousins scored 16 of his 20 points after Anthony Davis left with an ankle injury in the third quarter, and host New Orleans held off Detroit. Rajon Rondo capped a 12-point, 15-assist performance with two transition layups in the last 1:21 to help secure the victory. Davis dominated before he left with 4:41 remaining in the third, scoring 30 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 27 minutes.