BOSTON CELTICS (10-10) 93, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (8-12) 90
at Quicken Loans Arena
Tuesday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs know they can come back on the Celtics no matter how large the lead is. They built a 22-point bulge on the Cavs on Tuesday, but they stormed back and cut the deficit to two points.

The Cavs couldn't get over the hump, however.

Coach Byron Scott told the team he was proud of it afterward. They really did play their hearts out. This team is lacking in the talent department. Since we're on the subject, it could use a 6-10 power forward who can score and rebound, a shooting guard who can actually make shots and a slick small forward. Besides that, it's pretty good (just kidding).

The Celtics were without guard Rajon Rondo (sprained right wrist), who has missed the last seven games after taking a hard fall in the Toronto game on Jan. 18. He adds a different dimension to the Celtics' attack - offensively and defensively.

His replacement, second-year guard Avery Bradley, is an outstanding on-the-ball defender. He's in the same class as Rondo on the defensive end, which is saying something.

Regardless of who the Celtics throw at Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving, they might be at a disadvantage. Irving is playing as well as any point guard in the league right now. His confidence is sky-high.

Irving finished with 21 points and six assists on Tuesday. He had just two turnovers in a career-high 37 minutes. Coach Byron Scott said he had no choice but to play Irving big minutes on Tuesday. His backcourt is depleted by injury.

The Cavs played without shooting guards Anthony Parker (back spasms) and Daniel Gibson (neck infection). Scott started undrafted free agent Mychel Thompson (eight points, 2 of 4 from the 3-point line), which tells you what you need to know about Christian Eyenga. He remains glued to the bench.

Scott has been trying to send him a message about practicing harder. What's happening is that they are starting to lose Eyenga. His head is probably spinning right now wondering what's going on. That's also the case for backup center Semih Erden, who is out of the rotation altogether. He's probably wondering why he's been saddled with DNP-CD in the previous four games. 

UP NEXT: The Cavs will travel to Orlando at 7 p.m. Friday at Amway Center.

STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Paul Pierce (6-7, 235)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Kevin Garnett (6-11, 253)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Jermaine O'Neal (6-11, 255)
SG Mychel Thompson (6-6, 211) vs. Ray Allen (6-5, 205)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Avery Bradley (6-2, 205)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – F Luke Harangody, G Daniel Gibson 
Celtics - G Keyon Dooling, G Rajon Rondo 
OFFICIALS

Joe Crawford,  Bennie Adams,  Karl Lane

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (8-11) 88, BOSTON CELTICS (9-10) 87
at TD Garden
Sunday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: This was one of the signature wins by the Cavs this season. It was the first time they've won against a team .500 or better this year.

The Cavs had lost five of the last six coming into Sunday's game. The Celtics had won five of six.

The Celtics led, 87-76 late in the game before the Cavs closed the game with 12 unanswered points. Kyrie Irving closed off that run with a layup in traffic with 2.6 seconds remaining. Celtics forward Paul Pierce, who has averaged 26 points in the previous three games, missed a last-second 17-footer at the buzzer.

Irving had a game-high 23 points, six assists, four rebounds and one steal. He made 10 of 14 attempts from the field.

He's now shooting 51.6 percent from the field - outstanding for a point guard. He's also shooting 40.1 percent from the 3-point line and 80.6 percent from the foul line. On the season, he's averaging 17.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists. He's got Rookie of the Year written all over him.

Talk of the Celtics being over the hill might be a bit premature. Sure, they are one of the oldest teams in the league. But they can still play, and play hard.

No team will want to face them in the first round of the playoffs. I guarantee that. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has some tough decisions ahead of him. Do they stick with "The Big Three" or break them up at the deadline?

If they think they have one more run in them, they might keep the veteran group together. If not, they could start trading off some of the pieces and trying to acquire younger players.

Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen (ankle) returned to the lineup on Sunday and had a team-high 22 points. He made 4 of 6 from behind the arc.

Point guard Rajon Rondo (wrist) and center Jermaine O’Neal (left knee) weren't as fortunate. Rondo hopes to play on Tuesday in Cleveland. He's missed the last seven games.

The Cavs played without shooting guard Daniel Gibson, who missed the game with a stiff neck. Shooting guard Anthony Parker missed most of the second half with tightness in his lower back. It's been bothering him for most of the season.

With those two sidelined, Coach Byron Scott turned to little-used shooting guard Mychel Thompson. He had four points, two rebounds and a steal. He played the entire fourth quarter. His play will warrant some playing time for the rookie.

The Cavs' athleticism caused problems for the Celtics. Center Anderson Varejao also was too much to handle for the Celtics' big men, as he finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and two steals. He is playing like an All-Star.

I scoffed at the thought of him making the All-Star team. I'm starting to believe that it could happen. I think he's deserving and playing as well as any center in the Eastern Conference, with the exception of Orlando's Dwight Howard.

And, as far as trading him? The Cavs would be totally nuts. 

UP NEXT: The Cavs will host Boston at 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Q.

STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Paul Pierce (6-7, 235)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Kevin Garnett (6-11, 253)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Brandon Bass (6-8, 250)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Ray Allen (6-5, 205)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Avery Bradley (6-2,180)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – F Luke Harangody, G Daniel Gibson 
Celtics - G Keyon Dooling, G Rajon Rondo 
OFFICIALS

Marc Davis,

Eric Lewis,

Scott Wall

NEW JERSEY NETS (7-13) 99, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (7-11) 96
at Quicken Loans Arena
Friday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: Many fans expected a cakewalk on Friday against the Nets. Perhaps some of the players thought the same thing.

Well, it was a harsh reality when the Nets knocked them sideways. The final margin wasn't indicative of how lopsided this game was for most of the night. The Nets led by 17 in the fourth quarter before the Cavs awoke from their slumber.

The banged-up Nets have won two in a row on the road, including Wednesday's 97-90 overtime win over Philadelphia.

Point guard Deron Williams has been fantastic in the last two games, averaging 30.5 points and 10.5 assists. He scored at will on the Cavs on Friday with 27 points. He made 5 of 9 from the 3-point line.

Once the game was completely out of hand, the Cavs caught fire. Rookie guard Kyrie Irving erupted for a career-high 32 points, 21 in the fourth quarter. The last NBA rookie to score at least 21 in the fourth quarter was New Jersey's Marcus Williams on Nov. 24, 2006. Dallas guard Roddy Beaubois had 21 points in the second quarter against Golden State on March 27, 2010.

Seventeen points came in the last 2:58 of the game. His fourth-quarter outburst deflected some of the attention off the Cavs' lackluster play in the first three quarters.

Irving has now scored 20 or more points eight times this season.

The Cavs beat the Nets, 98-82, on Jan. 1. Coach Byron Scott tried to drill into his team's head that this wasn't going to be a pushover. It just didn't sink in.

The Cavs welcomed back rookie power forward Tristan Thompson, who missed the previous two games with a sprained left ankle. He had five points and three rebounds in 16 minutes.

Second-year forward Luke Harangody was sent to the D-League. The Cavs should leave him there for a while. He's not going to get any playing time on the parent club. 

The Nets were without high-scoring guard MarShon Brooks (sore left Achilles), center Brook Lopez (foot) and center Mehmet Okur (back spasms).

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Boston at 6 p.m. Sunday at TD Garden.

STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. DeShawn Stevenson (6-5, 218)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Kris Humphries (6-9, 235)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Sheldon Williams (6-9, 250)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Anthony Morrow (6-5, 210)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Deron Williams (6-3, 209)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – F Luke Harangody, G Mychel Thompson
Nets - F Damion James, C Brook Lopez 
OFFICIALS
Dick Bavetta, Kevin Cutler, Zach Zarba

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (7-10) 91, NEW YORK KNICKS (7-11) 81
at Quicken Loans Arena
Wednesday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: Whenever someone complains about the Cavs, it could be worse. They could be the Knicks.

That team is a dysfunctional mess. Their two star players - Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony - don't work well together. Getting back guard Baron Davis might help, but don't hold your breath. The Cavs could actually finish ahead of them in the standings.

And, while we're on the subject, don't expect Coach Mike D'Antoni to make it the entire year. He could be a coaching casualty this season.

The Cavs have now won nine in a row over the Knicks at The Q. They accomplished it with stellar defense and scrappy play.


The Cavs are now 1-4 on the tail end of a back-to-back set this season. They were in control of this game for almost the entire second half.

The Knicks were a half game ahead of the Cavs in the playoff race heading into last night's game. The difference is: if the Knicks don't make the playoffs, heads will roll. If the Cavs don't, fans will rejoice that they're getting a better draft pick.

The Knicks have lost seven of their last eight games. Their only win in that stretch was a victory over hapless Charlotte on Tuesday. Anthony had a season-low one point on 0 of 7 from the field against the Bobcats. How can that even happen?

They are banking on Baron Davis returning and leading them into the playoffs. Good luck with that. The 32-year-old guard just can't stay healthy in this stage of his career. If he's in shape and his back is feeling well, he could make a big impact on the team.

Davis will be able to get the ball where it's supposed to go. It would help their offense be more efficient, and that is needed in the worst way. They function now almost without a point guard. They need an infusion of talent in their backcourt. Rookie guard Iman Shumpert is functioning as their "point guard" right now, but he's more of a combo guy.

Enough about the Knicks. The Cavs' guard play is just fine. Cavs guard Kyrie Irving tied his career high with seven assists. He was just 1 of 7 from the field for seven points.


UP NEXT: The Cavs host New Jersey at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Quicken Loans Arena.

STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Carmelo Anthony (6-8, 230)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Amar'e Stoudemire (6-11, 260)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Tyson Chandler (7-1, 240)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Landry Fields (6-7, 215)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Iman Shumpert (6-5, 220)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – F/C Tristan Thompson, G Mychel Thompson
Knicks - G Baron Davis, C Josh Harrellson
OFFICIALS

Bill Kennedy,

Kane Fitzgerald,

Scott Twardoski

MIAMI HEAT (12-5) 92, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (6-10) 85
at AmericanAirlines Arena
Tuesday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio/NBA TV

WHAT HAPPENED: I made the comment that the Cavs could play well on Tuesday and still lose by 10 or more points. I was wrong. They lost by seven.

Coach Byron Scott had to be happy with how hard the Cavs played. That's got to be a constant. Every night they've got to play with fire. None of this going-through-the-motions stuff we saw against Chicago and Atlanta.

Sure, they were good teams and were favored to beat the Cavs. But the Cavs need to come out and battle, fight and scrap. That intensity returned on Tuesday against LeBron James and the Heat.

Anthony Parker and Alonzo Gee played well defensively against James, who finished with 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and five turnovers. He was 8 of 21 from the field.

He wasn't the reason the Heat prevailed. Chris Bosh destroyed everyone in front of him to the tune of a season-high 35 points. He was 10 of 16 from the field and perfect on 14 free throws.

The rest test will come on Wednesday when the Cavs return home to face New York. This is a winnable game, but the Cavs have yet to win this year on the second night of a back-to-back set. They are 0-4 heading into Wednesday's game.

The Heat played without guard Dwyane Wade on Tuesday. He has a sprained left ankle. The Heat are 7-1 with him out of the lineup.

James is second in the NBA in scoring at 29.7 points per game. He's also averaging 8.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 2.07 steals.The former Cavs forward could be headed to another Most Valuable Player award. He's playing at an extremely high level.

Wade has appeared in just nine games this season. His absence hasn't prevented the Heat from winning four of their last five games.
 
Heat guard Norris Cole is averaging 8.8 points and 2.8 assists. The former Cleveland State standout has played in all 17 games. He had 10 points and three rebounds on Tuesday.

The Cavs placed rookie power forward Tristan Thompson on the inactive list with a sprained left ankle. Samardo Samuels stepped in and had 15 points and five rebounds.  He had five dunks on the night. His performance will warrant more playing time, and it's about time.


UP NEXT: The Cavs host New York at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena.

STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. LeBron James (6-8, 260)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Chris Bosh (6-11, 235)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Joel Anthony (6-9, 245)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Shane Battier (6-8, 225)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Mario Chalmers (6-2, 190)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – F/C Tristan Thompson, G Mychel Thompson
Heat - G Dwyane Wade, C Mickell Gladness 
OFFICIALS

Tony Brothers,

Kevin Fehr,

Michael Smith

ATLANTA HAWKS (12-5) 121, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (6-9) 94
at Philips Arena
Saturday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs have now lost their last two games by 66 points. That is not a good thing.

It's like they've forgotten how to play hard and defend. Granted, their schedule has gotten much tougher, with Chicago and Atlanta in the last two games. But they have to show up and be ready to play against good teams and bad.

Another blowout is waiting for them in Miami on Tuesday. That Omri Casspi-LeBron James matchup could be ugly.

The Cavs allowed the Hawks to shoot 55 percent from the field. They also allowed a season-high 121 points. They allowed the Hawks to do whatever they wanted on the court.

If you remember, they were respectable last year, too, early on in the season. Then things totally fell apart. Could that be happening again? The Cavs hope not. But the signs are there.

Promising power forward Tristan Thompson sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter, but remained in the game. X-rays were negative. The Cavs say his status will be updated on Monday. I'll update his injury right now: "He's day-to-day." Don't be surprised if he misses some games.

The Cavs played without Daniel Gibson in tonight's game. He wasn't on the trip because of personal reasons. That altered Coach Byron Scott's rotation. He played Alonzo Gee at shooting guard and Luke Harangody at small forward. Both played out of position. Gee can't handle the ball well enough to play the "2," while Harangody isn't quick enough to play the "3."

Haragody got knocked to the floor by Hawks veteran Tracy McGrady. There wasn't even a foul called.

The Hawks are 8-1 at home. The Cavs weren't able to slow down the Hawks' running game. They outscored the Cavs in fastbreak points, 30-13.

The Cavs have lost five in a row to the Hawks, including an 0-3 record last season. They haven't won on the road in the series since Dec. 29, 2009.

Both teams are on the second leg of a back-to-back set, and both teams were routed on Friday. The Hawks were beat up in Philadelphia. The Cavs suffered their worst defeat at home in franchise history, 114-75, to Chicago.

The Cavs are now 0-4 on the second game of a back-to-back.

Hawks coach Larry Drew was an assistant on Cavs coach Byron Scott's staff in New Jersey. They were also teammates with the Los Angeles Lakers during their playing days.

One of Drew's assistant coaches, Tyrone Hill, played for the Cavs from 1999-2003.

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Miami at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Marvin Williams (6-9, 245)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Josh Smith (6-9, 225)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Zaza Pachulia (6-11, 260)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Joe Johnson (6-7, 240)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Jeff Teague (6-2, 181)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, G Mychel Thompson
Hawks - G Kirk Hinrich, F/C Al Horford
OFFICIALS
Scott Foster, Mark Ayotte, Brent Barnaky

CHICAGO BULLS (14-3) 114, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 75 (6-8)
at Quicken Loans Arena
Friday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs could have caught a huge break. Instead, they went belly up like a furry puppy.

All-Star point guard Derrick Rose was held out of Friday's game. He's suffering from turf toe. He might not play on Saturday against Charlotte, either.

Rose, the reigning Most Valuable Player, is the Bulls' leading scorer at 20.8 points per game. He's also one of the league leaders in assists at 8.7.

But the Cavs were slapped around by the Bulls, who didn't miss Rose in the least. The two point guards who played - C.J. Miles and John Lucas III - played very well and combined for 24 points and eight assists.

If the Cavs play anything like they did tonight on Saturday in Atlanta, they'll get totally blown away again. They are 0-3 this year on the second leg of a back-to-back set. So, another loss could be waiting for them in Georgia.

Cavs coach Byron Scott couldn't figure out why his team was so inept against the Bulls. They shot just 30 percent from the field, got outrebonded, 54-38, and allowed the Bulls to shoot 55 percent from the field.

The only positive aspect was that the Cavs didn't have a ton of turnovers. They had 15 turnovers - 10 fewer than their last game against Golden State.

The loss on Friday was their worst in franchise history at home. That's not a good thing.

No one played very well, even though everyone played.


The Cavs have lost seven in a row to the Bulls, including all four games last season.


They don't have the best record in the NBA for nothing. The Bulls are very deep and talented.


UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Atlanta at 7 p.m. Saturday at Philips Arena.


STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Luol Deng (6-9, 220)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Carlos Boozer (6-9, 266)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Joakim Noah (6-11, 232)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Richard Hamilton (6-7, 193)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. C.J. Watson (6-2, 175)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, G Mychel Thompson
Bulls - G Derrick Rose
OFFICIALS

Derrick  Stafford,  Curtis Blair, Violet Palmer

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (5-8) 105, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (6-7) 95
at Quicken Loans Arena
Tuesday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs had major difficulty defending Warriors power forward David Lee, who led all scorers with 29 points and nine rebounds.

He wasn't the player that the Cavs feared coming into the game. It was guard Monta Ellis who came into the game sixth in the NBA in scoring at 26.7 per game. He was limited to just 10 points on 2 of 12 shooting.

If you had said he was only going to score 10 points and that Stephen Curry wouldn't play, one would like the Cavs' chances. But the Warriors forced 25 turnovers and jacked up 94 shots from the field.

They cause problems offensively for any team. They run-and-gun, and even though the Cavs are playing transition basketball, they are not ready for what the Warriors throw at teams.

They signed free agent Nate Robinson recently, and he fits in perfectly with the Warriors. He had 17 points and 10 assists for the Warriors.

If the Cavs had protected the ball, and just cut their turnovers in half, they'd probably won the game going away. This is the Cavs' fifth game of 20 or more turnovers.

Center Anderson Varejao finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds. He became the first Cavs player to grab 10 or more rebounds in eight consecutive games since Tyrone Hill from Feb. 1, 1997, to Feb. 23, 1997.


The Cavs played without shooting guard Anthony Parker, who sat out the second half of the win over Charlotte on Monday with a sore back. It will mark the first change to the starting lineup this season.

Daniel Gibson started at shooting guard. He defended well against Ellis, but the Cavs could have used more than six points from him on the night.

Forward Omri Casspi had 11 points, the third consecutive game in double figures in scoring.


UP NEXT: The Cavs host Chicago at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Quicken Loans Arena. 

STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Dorell Wright (6-9, 205)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. David Lee (6-9, 240)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Andris Biedrins (7-0, 240)
SG Daniel Gibson (6-2, 200) vs. Monta Ellis (6-3, 185)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Charles Jenkins (6-3, 220)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, G Anthony Parker 
Warriors - C Kwame Brown, G Stephen Curry 
OFFICIALS

Tom Washington,

Nick Buchert,

Leroy Richardson

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (6-6) 102, CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (3-11) 94
at Time Warner Cable Arena
Monday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs outscored the Bobcats, 56-37, in the second half to win the game going away. At halftime, though, the Cavs looked dead in the water. They trailed at the intermission, 57-46.

They finished 3-4 on their grueling road trip. They also evened their record at 6-6.

Point guard Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 24 points, seven assists, four rebounds, one steal and one block. He was 9 of 16 from the field, 1 of 1 from the 3-point arc and 6 of 8 from the foul line.

He's scoring a team-high 17.7 points per game, tops among NBA rookies.

He's just coming on as a player. What wasn't expected was forward Omri Casspi's season-high 14 points and seven rebounds. He still can't make a jump shot, but he used his 6-9 frame to get to the basket and had three three-point plays in the third quarter when the Cavs made up a 14-point deficit.

All I can say is: "It's about time." Casspi is a better player than he's shown thus far with the Cavs.

The Cavs continue to get outstanding point guard play from Irving and Ramon Sessions (four points, three rebounds and a game-high nine assists).

Center Anderson Varejao had 12 rebounds. He had 10 or more rebounds in all seven games on the road trip. He's averaging 11.3 rebounds per game, including 4.7 offensive rebounds.

Daniel Gibson was forced to start the second half after Anthony Parker's back tightened up. Gibson's defense was outstanding on Bobcats guards D.J. Augustin (team-high 24 points, eight assists) and Kemba Walker.

The Cavs snapped a four-game losing streak in Charlotte. They hadn't won on the road in this series since Dec. 6, 2008. 

UP NEXT: The Cavs host Golden State at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Quicken Loans Arena. 

STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Gerald Henderson (6-5, 215)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Tyrus Thomas (6-10, 225)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Byron Mullens (7-0, 275)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Kemba Walker (6-1, 184)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. D.J. Augustin (6-0, 180)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, G Mychel Thompson
Bobcats - F Eduardo Najera, G Reggie Williams 
OFFICIALS

Monty McCutchen,

Leon Wood,

Haywoode Workman

The Cavs wrap up their seven-game road trip at 2 p.m. Monday in Charlotte. The last game of a long road trip is usually a recipe for disaster. But just like they started the trip, the Cavs end the long trek with a back-to-back.

They return to Quicken Loans Arena at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Golden State. The Warriors are expected to have guard Stephen Curry available for that game.

If the Cavs are able to win in Charlotte, they'd finish 3-4 on the road trip. They went toe-to-toe with two very good squads from the Western Conference in Utah and the Los Angeles Lakers and lost tight ball games.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS (9-4) 97, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (5-6) 92

at Staples Center
Friday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Lakers have won five in a row, largely because of the play of All-Star Kobe Bryant. He's averaging 43.3 points in his last three games.

Bryant, playing like the league's Most Valuable Player, had 42 against the Cavs on Friday. He made 15 of 21 from the field, 4 of 7 from the 3-point line and 8 of 10 from the foul line. He added five rebounds, three assists, three steals and six turnovers.

Cavs swingmen Anthony Parker and Alonzo Gee took turns getting scorched, er, defending Bryant, who is on one of his patented rolls.

The Cavs were a whisker away from pulling the biggest upset of the NBA season. Once they cut it to four points in the fourth quarter, they fell apart. They turned the ball over, took terrible shots and made some bonehead plays. Their upset bid fell short.

Two numbers stood out in the final box score. They shot 37.6 percent from the field (32 of 85). They missed 53 shots on the night. Also, they had 20 turnovers. If they had improved in both areas, they could have emerged with a win and ruined Jack Nicholson's night.

Guard Kyrie Irving paced the Cavs with 21 points, four assists and two steals. He turned the ball over four times.

He also took over the team lead in scoring at 17 per game. Forward Antawn Jamison is now second on the team in scoring at 16.5. He could not buy a shot on the night and made just 4 of 16. For whatever reason, when he struggles, the Cavs lose.


Bryant is leading the league in scoring (31.2), 20th in assists (5.7) and 15th in minutes (36.8). He's fun to watch. His will to win is crazy.


The Cavs were hammered by the Lakers the last time they visited Staples Center, 112-57. The 55-point loss on Jan. 11, 2011, was the worst in franchise history. That was anything but the case on Friday. The Cavs responded much better in the back-to-back games than they did last week when they laid an egg in Toronto - their first back-to-back of the season.

The Cavs are 2-4 on the 7-game road trip. They will return home and are scheduled to practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts on Sunday afternoon before flying to North Carolina.

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Charlotte at 2 p.m. Monday.

STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Matt Barnes (6-7, 225)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Pau Gasol (7-0, 250)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Andrew Bynum (7-0, 285)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Kobe Bryant (6-6, 205)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Derek Fisher (6-1, 210)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, G Mychel Thompson
Lakers - F Derrick Caracter, G Steve Blake

OFFICIALS

Scott Foster,

Dick Bavetta,

Karl Lane

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (5-5) 101, PHOENIX SUNS (4-6) 90

at U.S. Airways Center
Thursday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: Suns point guard Steve Nash has led the NBA in assists in five of the previous seven seasons. He's currently third at 9.6 per game. He finished with 16 points and 15 assists on Thursday, but he didn't dictate the tempo of the game.

That's because Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving picked the perfect time to have his best game as a pro. He had a game-high 26 points, dished out six assists, pulled down three rebounds and had two steals. He had six of the Cavs' 13 turnovers.

Irving made 11 of 17 from the field, 2 of 4 from the 3-point line and 2 of 2 from the foul line. One could make a case that the rookie outplayed the future Hall of Famer.

Cavs center Anderson Varejao was outstanding on the boards. He pulled down a season-high 17 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass. He's had 10 or more rebounds in five consecutive games and is now seventh in the NBA with 10.6 per game.

In their previous two games, both losses, the Cavs made just 7 of 44 from the 3-point arc (15.9 percent). They responded in a big way on Thursday by making 10 of 19 from long range. Both forward Antawn Jamison and Daniel Gibson each connected on 3 of 5 from behind the arc.

They were the only other players to reach double figures in scoring. Jamison added 23 points and Gibson 10.


The Cavs are 2-3 on the 7-game road trip.

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to the Los Angeles Lakers at 10:30 p.m. Friday.

STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Grant Hill (6-8, 225)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Channing Frye (6-11, 245)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Marcin Gortat (6-11, 240)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Jared Dudley (6-7, 225)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Steve Nash (6-3, 178)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, G Mychel Thompson
Suns - none
OFFICIALS
Joe Crawford, Tommy Nunez Jr., Gary Zielinski

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (4-3) 98, MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (2-5) 87
at Target Center
Friday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs avenged their 34-point loss at the Target Center last year.

They played with energy and enthusiasm the entire night. Center Anderson Varejao had one of those "Andy nights" with 13 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks.

Forward Antawn Jamison fueled six double-figure scorers with 22 points. Guard Kyrie Irving had 14 points, five rebounds and five assists. However, he had a career-high seven turnovers. At least two of them should have been credited to Jamison, but that's another story.

In my humble opinion, Irving is the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year.

Fellow rookie point guard Ricky Rubio had 10 points and five assists. But the next member of the media who compares him to Pete Maravich should have his Pro Basketball Writers Association card revoked. He could be good in time, but he's no "Pistol Pete."

As expected, Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love toyed with the Cavs with 29 points and 14 rebounds, both game highs. The Cavs found out first-hand why he is fifth in the NBA in scoring at 25.7 points per game and second in rebounding at 15.0.

Cavs forward/center Samardo Samuels was back with the team after sitting out the Toronto game because of visa/passport problems. He looked like he had been away for a month. He had five personal fouls in eight minutes.

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Portland at 9 p.m. Sunday.

STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Michael Beasley (6-9, 235)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Kevin Love (6-10, 250)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Darko Milicic (7-0, 275)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Wes Johnson (6-7, 215)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Luke Ridnour (6-3, 175)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, C Semih Erden
Timberwolves - C Brad Miller, G Martell Webster
OFFICIALS
Bill Spooner, Derrick Collins, Scott Wall Mike Callahan, Rodney Mott, Tommy Nunez Jr.

TORONTO RAPTORS (3-3) 92, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (3-3) 77
at Air Canada Centre in Toronto
Wednesday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Raptors aren't known as a good defensive team, but they put the clamps on the Cavs on Wednesday. They held the Cavs to a season-low 29.6 percent from the field. They made just 24 of 81 attempts, meaning they missed 57 shots on the night.

It was their first back-to-back set of the season. They didn't respond very well.

As I've been writing as of late, it all starts with point guard Kyrie Irving. Well, he was quite average on Wednesday. Once again Jose Calderon ran roughshod over him. He made just 3 of 13 shots from the field and had 12 points, four assists and three rebounds. He turned the ball over two times.

Calderon has averaged 14 points and 11 assists in the two games against the Cavs. At least the Raptors didn't have 35 assists like they did in the season opener on Dec. 26.

Raptors power forward Andrea Bargnani, a nimble-footed, quick-shooting 7-footer, is a tough matchup for anyone. He chewed up Antawn Jamison, and anyone else the Cavs put in front of him, to the tune of 31 points. Bargnani made 11 of 16 from the field, 3 of 7 from the 3-point line. He's seventh in the NBA in scoring at 24 points per game.

This was the first game of a seven-game, 13-day road trip. It was one of the most winnable games of the road trip. It could get ugly.

The Cavs played with forward/center Samardo Samuels, who didn't make the trip to Toronto because he lost his passport. Ryan Hollins has taken over the role of backup center for the time being.

Rookie guard Mychel Thompson made his NBA debut.

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Minnesota at 8 p.m. Friday.

STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Rasual Butler (6-7, 215)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Andrea Bargnani (7-0, 256)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Amir Johnson (6-11, 215)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. DeMar DeRozan (6-7, 216)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Jose Calderon (6-3, 211)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – F/C Samardo Samuels, C Semih Erden
Raptors - C Aaron Gray, F Linas Kleiza
OFFICIALS
Ron Garretson, Eric Dalen, Eric Lewis

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (3-2) 115, CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (1-4) 101
at Quicken Loans Arena
Tuesday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Bobcats have to be the only team in NBA history to have two players named D.J. in their starting lineup. For those of you keeping score at home, DJ White doesn't use periods, a la CC Sabathia.

Now, onto the game. The Cavs continue to play inspired basketball. It's starting with point guard Kyrie Irving, who matched his season high with 20 points. He didn't have a turnover in 22 minutes, which is impressive.

In fact, the Cavs had just nine miscues on the night.

Couple that with good defense and uncanny 3-point shooting and one can see why they moved over the .500 mark for the first time in more than a year. The last time they were over .500 was Nov. 9, 2010.

They shot 50 percent from the field and 47.6 percent from the 3-point line. They've made 26 of 47 from the 3-point line in the last two games.

Center Ryan Hollins made an appearance, his first since the season opener. Coach Byron Scott just isn't getting what he wants out of backup center Samardo Samuels.

"I'm not happy with how Samardo is playing," Scott said.

Once Semih Erden is healthy enough to play, he'll become the backup center. They really want to take a look at what he can do.

Bobcats coach Paul Silas returned to The Q where he coached the Cavs from 2003-05. DeSagana Diop, the Bobcats' backup center, played under Silas in Cleveland. However, he looks a bit heavy and has yet to make a field goal this year. He was 0-for the preseason. He's 0 of 7 from the field in 41 minutes during the regular season. He was the Cavs' first-round pick in 2001 and is almost playing himself out of the league.

KYRIE ON DIME COVER: Cavs guard Kyrie Irving is on the cover of Dime Magazine's latest issue.

UP NEXT: The Cavs start a seven-game road trip at Toronto at 7 p.m. Wednesday. They'll be away from The Q for 13 days.

STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Corey Maggette (6-6, 225)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. DJ White (6-9, 235)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Boris Diaw (6-8, 235)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Gerald Henderson (6-5, 215)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. D.J. Augustin (6-0, 180)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G Mychel Thompson, C Semih Erden
Bobcats - F Eduardo Najera, G Reggie Williams
OFFICIALS
Dan Crawford, Kevin Cutler, Gary Zielinski

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (2-2) 98, NEW JERSEY NETS (1-4) 82
at Quicken Loans Arena
Sunday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs blasted the Nets, using a tenacious defense and a dazzling 3-point shooting attack.

They made 16 of 26 from the 3-point line, 10 of 12 in the second half.

Here's some expert analysis for you: If you make 16 3s, you usually win. I'm just kidding, but the Cavs' outside shooting was fantastic. Boobie Gibson made 5 of 7, Antawn Jamison 3 of 3, Alonzo Gee 3 of 5 and Kyrie Irving 3 of 4.

I can't remember a player being as much improved as Gee this year. Honestly, I thought he was a dog last year. Not someone to keep around. He came back a new player with an outside shot. That doesn't happen much in the NBA.

The Cavs are so happy with his development.

Ramon Sessions is also a better player from last year. He had just five points on Sunday, but dished out a game-high eight assists. He also hit Deron Williams with an elbow in the chin.

Andy Varejao had just one field goal in the game, but he pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds. In fact, on the season, he's averaging 4.5 offensive rebounds per game.

The Cavs are 2-2, but probably should be 3-1.

UP NEXT: Cavs host Charlotte at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Quicken Loans Arena.

STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Damion James (6-7, 225)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Kris Humphries (6-9, 235)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Mehmet Okur (6-11, 260)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Deron Williams (6-3, 209)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Sundiata Gaines (6-1, 200)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G Mychel Thompson, C Semih Erden
Nets - C Brook Lopez, F Jordan Williams
OFFICIALS
David Jones, Mark Lindsay, Derek Richardson