The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Cavs drop seventh in a row
The new year did not bring a new type of result for the Cavaliers.
The Cavs dropped their seasonworst seventh in a row, 117-92, to the Heat on Jan. 2 at Quicken Loans Arena.
Cleveland dropped to 8-30 — the worst record in the NBA.
Cavaliers coach Larry Drew believes his team must show more toughness physically and mentally.
“We’ve got to be grimy as far as our style of play,” he said. “We can’t play cute. We can’t play pretty. We’ve got to get on the floor for loose balls. We’ve got to get our body on people when they go in (the lane). We’ve got to do all the little things, which add up to be big things.”
Tristan Thompson and Rodney Hood returned from injuries and started for the Cavaliers, but it mattered little in their ninth loss in 10 games. Thompson had 14 points, and Hood added 13.
Dwyane Wade’s absence was no problem for the Heat.
With Wade sitting out because of an illness, Josh Richardson led seven players in double figures with 24 points.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra wasn’t surprised so many players made key contributions without their third-leading scorer.
“One of our biggest strengths is our depth and versatility,” he said. “We should be a team with 7-8 guys in double figures every night. It shows we have a lot of guys that can hurt you.”
Miami hit 16 of 31 3-pointers.
Tyler Johnson added 16 points, and Derrick Jones Jr. had 13. The Heat have won seven of nine to reach the .500 mark at 18-18.
“Everyone was just kind of in a groove,” Richardson said. “I was taking what the defense was giving me, but yeah, I was feeling it.”
The Heat grabbed control in the second quarter, turning a one-point deficit into a 17-point lead. Jones scored 11 points in the period while Dion Waiters, playing in his first game in over a year, had seven
points in six minutes.
“I was just really excited to get back,” Waiters said. It was nice — all the hard work you put in — to have those shots fall, it felt good. I had fun.”
Miami outrebounded Cleveland, 25-9, in the first half. Heat center Hassan Whiteside had nine boards, matching the Cavaliers’ total for the first two quarters.
Cleveland led, 30-29, early in the second when Miami took over. The Heat hit six 3-pointers in the quarter, including three
by Jones. Waiters added a 30-footer while Richardson and Tyler Johnson also hit from beyond the arc.
Miami led 58-43 at halftime and continued to pad the margin. Whiteside scored on an alley-oop from James Johnson, who added a pair of 3-pointers. Richardson’s 3-pointer at the buzzer pushed the lead to 93-73.
The Heat can move over .500 for the first time since they were 3-2 with a win over Washington at home Jan. 4.