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Cleveland guard Dion Waiters is expected to return from a sprained left ankle for the Cavaliers’ game Tuesday night against Toronto.
Waiters, the former Syracuse player taken with the No. 4 pick in the draft, hasn’t played since being injured against Portland on Dec. 1. He has missed seven straight games and won’t play Saturday when Cleveland visits New York. Waiters is second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.2 points.
— Reported by the Associated Press
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There had to be a low point. The Los Angeles Lakers can only hope they’ve reached it.
This chaotic season has gotten worse.
Kyrie Irving scored 28 points in his return after missing 11 games with a broken finger, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 100-94 win over Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, who look nothing like a team projected to win an NBA title – or anything else.
”This is one of the most challenging stretches of my 17 years, and the most baffling, too,” a puzzled Bryant said after the Lakers lost for the eighth time in 11 games. ”We have the talent and personnel to do it, but we’re not, and it’s baffling. It’s extremely frustrating.
”It doesn’t make any sense. We’re still finding ways to lose games.”
Irving added 11 assists in 39 minutes and showed off his dizzying array of moves as the Cavs, who came in with just four wins, ended a five-game losing streak.
Bryant scored 42 points and Dwight Howard had 19 points and 20 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Lakers, who were still missing Pau Gasol and Steve Nash, from opening a four-game road trip with a with a loss that could sting for a while…
C.J. Miles scored 28 in his first start this season, Anderson Varejao had 20 and Alonzo Gee 17 for the Cavs…
”I’m very upset,” Bryant said. ”When things get hard, you should get more determined, not shake your heads. It just seems when it rains it pours. It’s like this cloud is following us around at all times. I’m one of the fastest guys on the team – and I’m like 50. What does that tell you?”
— Reported by Tom Withers of the Associated Press
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Cavaliers star point guard Kyrie Irving has been cleared to practice after missing 10 games with a broken finger.
Irving has been sidelined since breaking his left index finger in a Nov. 18 game against Philadelphia. He played in Cleveland’s following game before medical tests revealed a non-displaced fracture. Irving is practicing Monday and the Cavs expect him to play Tuesday night, when Cleveland hosts the Los Angeles Lakers. Irving had been expected to miss four weeks with the injury.
The Cavs went just 2-9 without Irving, the NBA’s reigning rookie of the year.
— Reported by Tom Withers of the Associated Press
Cleveland Cavaliers’ head coach Byron Scott has been fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.
Scott’s comments were made after to the Cavalier’s 91-73 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, Dec. 7.
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Brandon Knight made sure the Detroit Pistons got a needed road win.
Knight scored a career-high 30 points and the Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time in six days with a 104-97 win on Saturday night.
The Pistons, who won for just the second time in 12 road games this season, took control with a run that began late in the third quarter and carried into the fourth period…
Tayshaun Prince scored 14 points while Jason Maxiell added 11 for the Pistons, who defeated the Cavaliers 89-79 on Monday in Auburn Hills, Mich.
Jeremy Pargo scored 24 points for Cleveland, which has lost five straight, nine of 10 and 15 of 17…
Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao, who scored 16 points and had 13 rebounds, went to the locker room late in the second quarter with a bruised left elbow. X-rays were negative and he returned to begin the third quarter with the elbow wrapped.
Cleveland again played without leading scorers Kyrie Irving (broken left index finger) and Dion Waiters (sprained left ankle).
— Reported by the Associated Press
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Kevin Love’s shooting stroke returned, and Andrei Kirilenko also was back for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for the reeling Cleveland Cavaliers.
Love had 36 points and 13 rebounds and Kirilenko delivered another solid all-around performance in the Timberwolves’ 91-73 victory over the Cavaliers on Friday night.
Love missed most of the first month of the season with a broken right hand, and he’s been struggling to regain his shooting touch since returning nine games ago. The release looked much more fluid against the Cavs, and the trajectory was better as well. He made 10 of 19 shots and 14 of 18 free throws and is cautiously optimistic that it’s all coming back to him now.
”Hopefully it’s not fool’s gold,” Love said. ”It’s a step in the right direction. I’ve been putting in work, but it’s just one game.”
Kirilenko had eight points, seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks after missing four games with back spasms and Luke Ridnour added 12 points, seven assists and five rebounds for the Timberwolves, who improved to 9-9 in their best start since the 2006-07 season.
— Reported by Jon Krawcznski of the Associated Press
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have assigned forward Jon Leuer to the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today.
Leuer has played in five games this season for the Cavs, averaging 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game.
He will be available for the Charge’s next game, Saturday, December 8th at Springfield against the Armor.
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Nicolas Batum’s first attempt at making the game-winning shot didn’t count. He got it right the second time.
Batum’s 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds left in the second overtime gave the Portland Trail Blazers a 118-117 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night.
An apparent game-winning basket by Batum in the first overtime was disallowed because it came after time expired. The basket was first ruled good, but the call was changed after a video review. Batum, who celebrated after making that shot, got a chance to do it again and this time it was the winner…
Lillard led Portland with 24 points while Batum added 22. Alonzo Gee paced the Cavaliers with 22 points, but missed a free throw that would have given them a three-point lead before Batum’s shot.
Anderson Varejao had 19 points and 17 rebounds for his eighth straight double-double.
Portland put five players in double figures and improved to 1-4 on its seven-game eastern road trip. The Trail Blazers, who lost to Washington during the trip for the Wizards’ only win of the season, have been in search for something positive…
Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters left the game in the second overtime with an ankle injury. Varejao, the NBA’s leading rebounder, dislocated his right ring finger in the first quarter. X-rays were negative and he returned midway through the second period.
— Reported by Steve Herrick of the Associated Press
Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving received an MRI and CT Scan of his contused left index finger (3rd quarter of Saturday night’s game at The Q vs. Dallas) today at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health. The results of the MRI and CT Scan revealed a hairline/non-displaced fracture in the finger. The injury will be treated with taping and a splint. He is currently projected to be Out for the next four weeks while the fracture heals, and is scheduled to be re-evaluated in two weeks. His status will be updated as appropriate at that point.
Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson has a contused right elbow experienced in Saturday’s game at The Q vs. Dallas. He continued to play and be available for play during that game. He traveled with the team to Philadelphia, and continued to receive treatment immediately prior to the Sunday game vs. the Sixers and during the first quarter in the locker room. He returned to the bench for the remainder of the game, but did not play. Gibson underwent an x-ray and MRI today at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health, both of which were negative. He is cleared to play.
Cavaliers forward/center Tristan Thompson experienced a nasal contusion during the second quarter of the game in Philadelphia last night. An x-ray at the Cleveland Clinic today revealed a nasal fracture. He will have a protective mask fitted and is projected to be ready to play in Wednesday’s game at The Q also vs. the Sixers.
Here is the latest Cleveland Cavaliers injury report:
Cavaliers forward/center Tyler Zeller has been cleared to resume play with a protective mask. (fractured left orbital bone and concussion)
Cavaliers forward Luke Harangody had a successful arthroscopic procedure on his right knee this morning at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health after experiencing a continued period of soreness and swelling. Harangody is expected to be OUT for approximately six weeks. His status will be updated as appropriate.