The Cleveland Cavaliers completed their first winless full month in team history and extended their franchise-record losing streak to 21 games with Monday's 117-90 road loss to the Miami Heat and old friend LeBron James.
The Cavaliers are two losses shy of the NBA single-season record shared by the 1995-96 Vancouver Grizzlies and 1997-98 Denver Nuggets. Cleveland has lost 31 of its last 32 games, with its only win a home overtime triumph over New York.
James spent his first seven years with the Cavaliers, lifting them from the depths of the NBA to a trip to the Finals in 2007 before departing for Miami last summer. He said before the game that the Cavs’ woes don’t make him feel vindicated for leaving, then collected 24 points and eight assists in improving to 3-0 against his old team.
Dwyane Wade totaled 34 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Chris Bosh had 12 points and 14 rebounds and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had a season-high 14 rebounds for the Heat, who have won three of their last four.
Antawn Jamison had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Manny Harris scored 20 points for the Cavs, who went 0-16 in January.
Cleveland cut a 19-point first-half deficit to 70-67 early in the third quarter but managed just two field goals the rest of the period as Miami rebuilt the lead to 17 entering the fourth quarter.
The Cavs played without second-leading scorer Daniel Gibson, who missed the game with a strained left quad muscle.
Cleveland | Miami | |
Antawn Jamison 21 | Scoring | Dwyane Wade 34 |
Ramon Sessions 7 | Assists | LeBron James 8 |
J.J. Hickson 10 | Rebounds | Zydrunas Ilgauskas 14 |
Manny Harris 7 | Free Throws Made | LeBron James 10 |
Christian Eyenga 3 | Steals | Dwyane Wade 3 |
Christian Eyenga 2 | Blocks | Chris Bosh 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Cleveland | 90 | 39.0 | 4-13 | 22-27 | 14 | 41 | 4 | 8 | 15 |
Miami | 117 | 48.9 | 8-18 | 23-28 | 19 | 50 | 6 | 7 | 13 |