Cavs keep it rolling against Raptors
CLEVELAND — Here’s more bad news for opponents of the Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving is back.
Playing his sixth game since returning from a broken left kneecap, Irving scored a seasonhigh 25 points and Cleveland defeated the Toronto Raptors 122-100 on Monday night.
The performance was a big moment for Irving, who faced nearly seven months of rehab after being injured in Game 1 of last season’s NBA Finals.
“It’s about getting better every game,” said Irving, who returned to the lineup Dec. 20. “It was so fun to be out there.”
Irving was 10 of 16 from the field with eight assists and six rebounds. The three-time all-star scored 14 points in the second half when Cleveland pulled away enough that LeBron James sat out the fourth quarter.
“He’s much better than an all-star,” said James, who had 20 points and seven assists in 31 minutes. “If he continues to play the way he’s been playing, but also progress in his game over the years, he can do something that’s very special. I know in my head what he can become and tonight he showed it.”
Irving exchanged hugs with James and Cavaliers coach David Blatt on the court after the game.
“Honestly, I just told him, ‘Man, it’s good to have you back and looking at full strength,’ ” Blatt said. “It felt like he was himself tonight. It just looked like the old Kyrie.”
J.R. Smith scored 24 points on eight 3-pointers, and all five Cleveland starters finished in double figures. Tristan Thompson added 14 points with 11 rebounds, and Kevin Love scored 14 as Cleveland improved to 15-1 at home.
The Cavaliers used a 21-9 run late in the third quarter to finally open up some distance on the Raptors, who were led by Kyle Lowry’s 23 points.
Smith’s three-pointer midway through the third broke a 69-69 tie.
Two dunks and a three-pointer by James, Irving’s layup and Matthew Dellavedova’s threepointer keyed the spurt for Cleveland, which led 90-78 going into the fourth. Smith’s eight 3s were a season high.
“That won the game for them right there,” Lowry said. “They’re a real good team and they’re the Eastern Conference champs for a reason, so they’re the team to beat.” Dellavedova added 11 points. DeMar DeRozan scored 19 for Toronto. PHILADELPHIA — From anguish to flourish, the Philadelphia 76ers are suddenly a better team with Ish Smith.
Chalk up another win to Smith’s double-double.
Credit Philadelphia’s hot streak — by the franchise’s feeble standards, not the rest of the NBA’s — to Jerry Colangelo’s first shrewd deal.
Smith had 21 points and 11 assists and Richaun Holmes scored 17 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to 109-99 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night.
Still the worst team in the NBA at 4-33, the Sixers have won three of six games and have a new confidence since they named Colangelo chairman of basketball operations last month.