Cavaliers drop ninth straight game
Jrue Holiday and Julius Randle both scored 22 points, and the New Orleans Pelicans handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their ninth straight loss with a 133-98 rout on Saturday night in Cleveland.
The defeat came a night after Cavaliers coach Larry Drew and his players held a lengthy meeting following a 26-point loss to Utah, but the results were no different as Cleveland went on to its most lopsided of the season.
Cleveland not only has the worst record in the league, but hasn’t played competitive basketball during most of the losing streak. The Cavaliers have lost six straight at home by a total of 141 points.
Anthony Davis had 20 points and 10 rebounds. Randle had 12 rebounds and six Pelicans scored in double figures.
Jordan Clarkson led Cleveland with 23 points. Rookie Collin Sexton and Jalen Jones both had 15.
New Orleans began the third quarter with a 15-0 run to take a 76-52 lead. Drew benched four starters, leaving only Larry Nance Jr. on the floor. The margin grew throughout the second half and reached 39 points — 132-93 — in the last two minutes.
Davis set a franchise record with 26 rebounds and scored a game-high 34 points in Wednesday’s loss to Brooklyn. Nance and Tristan Thompson each picked up two fouls in the first eight minutes trying to defend the AllStar forward. Channing Frye, who had played in only 18 games, came off the bench and also fouled Davis.
New Orleans broke away from a 28-all tie with Davis getting a rest. Holiday had nine points in the quarter and Randle added seven, helping the Pelicans build a 61-52 halftime lead.
Cleveland’s injury problems have been a major factor in its season-long struggles. All-star forward Kevin Love has started some basketball activities after surgery on his left foot in November, but there’s no timetable for his return.
Rodney Hood (sore left Achilles) and Matthew Dellavedova (sprained left foot) were out Saturday. Hood played the last two games after missing three in a row. Dellavedova didn’t play Friday. NUGGETS 123, HORNETS 110: Nikola Jokic scored a season-high 39 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, reserve Paul Millsap added 18 and Denver knocked off Charlotte.
76ERS 106, MAVERICKS 100: Joel Embiid had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Ben Simmons added 20 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists to help Philadelphia beat Dallas. Embiid hit two key free throws late for Philadelphia, which was without Jimmy Butler for the second straight game due to an upper respiratory infection.
JAZZ 110, PISTONS 105: Donovan Mitchell scored 24 of his 26 points in the second half, and Utah rallied from an 18-point, second-quarter deficit to beat Detroit.
SPURS 108, GRIZZLIES 88: Derrick White scored 19 points, Lamarcus Aldridge added 18 and San Antonio overcame a sluggish start to beat Memphis.