David West leads New Orleans Hornets to 96-81 win over the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers
David West led the New Orleans Hornets to 96-81 win over the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night at Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland. West posted a game - high 23 points with seven rebounds and kept the hopes alive for
the Hornets to play in the upcoming playoffs.
Hornets’ Marco Belinelli scored 18 points while Emeka Okafor and Willie Green scored 10 points apiece in Hornets’ second straight victory in as many days. They had overpowered Memphis Grizzlies with 98-91decission on Friday night.
Hornets’ points guard the four times NBA All Star Chris Paul added 13 points and 11 assists before he was carted off from the court due to a head collision with Cavaliers guard Ramon Sessions. Jarrett Jack came as replacement of
Chris Paul and scored 14 points too.
Hornets’ Coach Monty Williams told the media about Chris’ current condition,” I talked to people in the room with him on the phone, and he is in good spirits, talking and cracking jokes in the background, He was upset that they
had to wait for the CT results. He was ready to get out of the hospital, as most of us hate being in hospitals. We'll see what the doctors say”.
After stunning the New York Knicks in the last game with his extravagant performance, Baron Davis again scored 17 points, five rebounds with six assists in front of 18,754 home crowd. This time though, his effort was neutralized
by a tenacious defence from the Hornets.
Cavaliers J.J. Hickson and Ramon Sessions scored 15 points each while Samardo Samuels posted 11 points and eight rebounds in Cavaliers lost.
As the game started off, the Cavaliers’ Samardo Samuels scored the first two points while Hornets’ David West equalled the score at 2-2. The two teams soon picked the pace and took the score to 27-24 at the end of first quarter,
advantage Hornets.
Leading at the end of the first quarter by three points, Hornets went into the second quarter with even more confidence and snatched the first half of the game with three points’ lead, 51-48.
The Hornets were down 61-60 early in the third, but they rallied back with a 13-2 run, finishing the third quarter at 73-66 The Hornets brought their momentum into the fourth quarter and build a solid 80-60 lead. They never looked
back after that, cruising away with 96-81 victory over the Cavaliers.
Cavaliers head coach however was still optimistic about his team’s commitment when he spoke after the match, I don't think our guys let the bright lights get to them tonight, our guys never quit -- we just kept fighting”.
Cleveland is currently at the bottom in the Eastern Conference with only 12 wins in this season.
Tags: