Hornets at Cavaliers
THE STORY: Even without one of their best players, the Cavaliers continue to find ways to win. The same can’t be said of the New Orleans Hornets, who travel to Cleveland on Wednesday. The Cavaliers have won each of their last two games in the final seconds and on the shoulders of rookie Kyrie Irving. The Hornets are playing their third consecutive road game in as many nights, dropping the first two at Oklahoma City and Indiana. The Hornets are 2-2 on this five-game road trip that will take them to the All-Star break.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Comcast, Fox Sports Ohio
ABOUT THE HORNETS (7-25): Star guard Eric Gordon is expected to be sidelined at least another five weeks after revealing Tuesday he had arthroscopic surgery last week to repair cartilage damage and remove debris from the knee. Gordon has not played since Jan. 4 and admitted Tuesday he first felt pain in the knee while a member of the Los Angeles Clippers, before the blockbuster trade that sent him to New Orleans.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (13-17): Irving is quickly gaining a reputation as a clutch closer with a calm demeanor. The top overall pick in last summer’s draft sank a pair of free throws with less than a second remaining to beat Sacramento on Sunday, then came back to score 17 points without a turnover in the fourth quarter Tuesday to rally the Cavaliers from a 17-point deficit to beat the Pistons.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Irving and Alonzo Gee combined to score 30 of the Cavaliers’ 35 points in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s win over the Pistons.
2. The Hornets actually have more wins on the road (four) than at home (three) this season.
3. The Cavaliers have rallied from a double-digit deficit to win a game five times this season.