Cavaliers at Mavericks
The Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be snapping out of a puzzling slump and will go after their third consecutive victory Monday night when they visit the improving Dallas Mavericks. The Cavaliers remained in control at the top of the Eastern Conference despite losing six of eight games earlier this month, but knocked off Oklahoma City 107-91 on Sunday with a solid effort on both ends of the floor.
“We just want to play good basketball,” Cleveland All-Star LeBron James told reporters. “(Sunday) we did that. It started with the defensive end. Early on, we couldn’t make many shots, but we were still defending. We do that, we have a good chance to win every night.” Cavaliers’ third-leading scorer Kevin Love suffered back spasms, did not play in the second half against the Thunder and coach Tyronn Lue told reporters he won’t make the trip to Dallas. The Mavericks, who started the season 4-17, have won six of their last nine contests after holding on for a 105-101 victory at San Antonio on Sunday. Guard Seth Curry scored a career-high 24 points in Dallas’ win and matched his career best with a seventh straight double-figure effort, averaging 16.7 in that span.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cleveland), FSN Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (32-14): James told reporters Cleveland must give the same amount of energy and effort in Dallas after it held Oklahoma City to 37 percent from the field overall, taking over with a 37-21 second-quarter advantage. James finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists while Kyrie Irving came up with another huge effort, scoring 29 and dishing out 10 assists. The Cavaliers have gotten a big boost from center Tristan Thompson, who notched his second straight double-double Sunday (19 points, 12 boards) and third in the last five contests.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (17-30): Leading scorer Harrison Barnes scored 19 and Wesley Matthews added 17 on Sunday in his first game back since missing two straight with a hip injury. Veteran forward Dirk Nowitzki also came back after resting last time out against Oklahoma City in a loss and registered 15 points to go along with 10 rebounds – his second double-double of the season. Dallas signed point guard Yogi Ferrell to a 10-day contract on Saturday and he got the start against the Spurs - recording nine points, seven assists, two steals and no turnovers in 36 minutes.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Cavaliers beat the Mavericks 128-90 on Nov. 25 for their fourth straight win in the series, but needed overtime for a 110-107 win at Dallas last season.
2. Dallas PG Deron Williams, who is averaging 13.5 points and 7.1 assists, missed the last two games with a toe injury and is questionable.
3. Cleveland G Iman Shumpert held Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook to 7-of-26 shooting Sunday and drained five 3-pointers for the second time in six games.