The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Cavs rally in fourth but falter again
Oklahoma City’s big fourthquarter lead was gone and Russell Westbrook was unavailable.
The Thunder didn’t panic and regrouped in the closing minutes to defeat the Cavaliers, 95-86, on Nov. 7.
Cleveland (1-10) rallied from an 11-point deficit early in the fourth 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-point shot from the corner with 4:31 left broke an 84-84 tie and put Oklahoma City on top for good.
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. He was told about 30 minutes before tipoff that he would be starting.
“I was ready, no surprise,” he said. “I didn’t have any butterflies. You always have to be prepared that your chance is going to come.”
Cedi Osman started in forward Kevin Love’s spot, but left with back spasms in the first quarter and didn’t return. Love had surgery on his left foot and is expected to be out for several weeks.
Smith scored 13 and Rodney Hood and Jordan Clarkson each had 11.
“Thank God we were able to make a few more shots and get some late stops,” Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan said. “I give our guys credit. We persevered and stayed with it. To get a win on the road is a good thing.”
Dennis Schroder scored a season-high 28 points in replacing the injured Westbrook, who sprained his left ankle Nov. 6. Oklahoma City won its sixth straight game without the two-time MVP after starting the season 0-4.
Schroder, starting in Westbrook’s place, was 11 for 19 from the field. Paul George scored 18 points and Jermai Grant had 12.
“We understand the NBA,” George said. “Runs are a part of the game. Every game is not going to be perfect.”
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 threepoint 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 Nov. 8 against Houston. He’s averaging 24.1 points, 8.9 assists and 8.3 rebounds in seven games.
Injury updates
Cavaliers coach Larry Drew didn’t learn of Osman’s injury until the second-year player left the game. Hill hurt his shoulder late in Monday’s loss in Orlando and couldn’t get loose enough to play.
“They took Cedi in the back and came back and said he was done for the night,” Drew said. “I don’t know the extent of the injury, we’ll have to wait and see how he is. George was hurting this morning. He tried to participate in shoot-around. He didn’t look good, he didn’t look good at all. We elected to just sit him out tonight.”
Hill had his best game of the season Monday with 22.
Tip-ins
THUNDER >> Donovan was hit with a technical as the first quarter ended. George complained about not getting a foul called when he drove to the basket earlier in the period and gave the officials a disgusted wave . ...