Kyrie Irving delivers in the clutch again as Cleveland Cavaliers edge Detroit Pistons 101-100: NBA Recap
Courtesy of rookie Kyrie Irving’s stupendous showing at the death - 17 in the last quarter - the Cleveland Cavaliers were able to surpass visiting Detroit Pistons, 101-100 after an amazing match on Tuesday.
Cleveland claimed their 13th victory of this shortened season and also halted the Piston’s 3 games winning streak. They also won their second in a row, with 3 players hitting the double figure index.
Antawn Jamison led the Cavs with game high 32 points and 10 rebounds. Kyrie Irving netted 25 and dished out 8 assists while recording another double-double with 16 points and 11 boards Alonzo Gee was also in the mix.
For the Pistons, rookie Brandon Knight was the top scorer with 24 points while Greg Monroe had a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Rodney Stuckey chipped in 16 points and Ben Gordon had the same number coming
off the bench.
Detroit connected on 38.9% from the floor while Cavaliers netted 43.6%. Pistons though shot better from the charity stripe 79.2% while Cleveland had less success as they hit 75.0%.
The game ebbed and flowed throughout the night as there were 15 lead changing moments and the score was tied 5 times during the 2:22 minutes of play time.
Pistons opened the game with a 10-5 run as they looked to get an advantage early on. The Cavs pulled off a 6-0 run to claw off the deficit and placed themselves ahead of the guests with 11 – 10 lead. The scores remained close through
the period afterwards and it ended 30 – 29 to Cleveland.
The first quarter was a highly physical affair; Gee and Cavaliers centre Semih Erden were both taken to the locker room after they sustained facial injuries. Both did however return before halftime.
The second period started in the same vein as neither side managed to get a significant advantage. Midway through the frame, Jamison’s freebie tied the score at 35 apiece; however Detroit left them the Cavs trailing in their wake
with a 16-3 spurt, taking a comfortable lead of 51-38 with less than 2 minutes to play in the 2nd stanza.
They ended the quarter with a double digit lead, the score at halftime 55-44.
Cavs, who were yearning to reduce the gap, looked more threatening after the interval and came up with a 7-3 run in the 3rd quarter that mitigated the deficit to 8 points, 60-52.
Detroit though were not in the mood to fold and regained their double digit lead with an 8 – 0 burst, taking the score to 72-55 late in the 3rd stanza.
Cleveland made amends with an 11-5 sprint to finish the period, Pistons still ahead at 77-66.
Cavs carried the momentum into the final 12 minutes and used a 10-3 run to reduce the deficit to just 4 points 80-76.
Finally with 5:53 to go, Cavaliers managed to take the lead, 86-85, as Jamison netted a 3-pointer only for the Pistons to strike back and make it 87-86 in their favour.
Cleveland though were determined to bank the game and came up with 7 unanswered points to take a 93-87 lead, with 3:09 left on the clock.
Detroit tied the things again, at 95 each, as they went for an 8-2 run.
Cavs would go ahead again, 99-95 with less than 12 seconds to go, but the Pistons still had some fight left in them and Gordon sent the crowd into frenzy by hitting one from down town, bringing the scores close at 99-97 with Cavaliers
ahead.
Daniel Gibson then hit two successive free throws and banked the decisive 101th point for Cavs. Even though Gordon hit another 3-pointer beating the clock, he couldn’t stop the Cavs, who embraced a sensational 101-100 win.
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