Irving scores 49 but Cavs fall to Pelicans
NEW ORLEANS -- Forward Terrence Jones, subbing for the injured Anthony Davis, tied his career high with 36 points and guard Jrue Holiday added a season-high 33 points and 10 assists to overcome a 49-point effort by Kyrie Irving and spark the New Orleans Pelicans to a 124-122 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday night at the Smoothie King Center.
The Pelicans (18-27) led by 20 points at halftime and by 17 two minutes into the fourth quarter, but they had to hold on for the victory as Irving led the Cavaliers (30-13) back with 35 second-half points.
The loss was the sixth for the Cavaliers in their last 10 games. The Cavaliers also got 26 points from LeBron James and 22 points and 16 rebounds from Kevin Love.
Irving took control for Cleveland in the third quarter, scoring 19 points as the Cavaliers outscored the Pelicans 36-24 to cut their 20-point deficit to 94-86.
But Langston Galloway, Donatas Motiejunas and Tyreke Evans hit 3-pointers in the first two minutes of the fourth period as New Orleans rebuilt a 103-86 lead.
Despite Davis' absence, the Pelicans had one of their most explosive first halves of the season and pulled out to a 70-50 lead.
Jones and Holiday had 22 points each, and they did it in different ways. Jones, who started for Davis, was perfect from the floor, hitting all eight field-goal attempts, including an uncharacteristic pair of 3-pointers. Holiday was 9 of 11 from the floor, and he made 3-of-4 from long in addition to dishing out seven assists.
James was held to just two points in the first quarter, but he got down to business with 10 second-quarter points as he used his power to muscle up against the Pelicans' rotating defensive crew of smaller guards.
Perhaps sensing his team needed a fire, Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue picked up his first technical foul of the season while arguing that a foul was not called on a James shot attempt. The Cavs trailed by 15 points at the time, but New Orleans went on to build a 22-point lead.
NOTES: Anthony Davis' right thigh bruise turned out to be more serious than originally thought and the Pelicans All-Star forward sat out the game. It was the third game that Davis missed because of injury this season, but he has had a series of bumps and bruises limiting his play. He missed practice the last two days. ... Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue considered resting F LeBron James or G Kyrie Irving, who played 40-plus minutes in a 118-115 overtime loss to San Antonio on Saturday, but both played. ... James said he was not concerned with the Cavaliers' recent struggles. "It doesn't even feel like we've lost four out of six, to be honest," James said. "I mean, we're still first place in our conference, we're still one of the best teams in the league, so it's not a big issue."