Cavaliers 105, Hornets 100: Kyrie Irving scored 20 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter to help host Cleveland pull away and snap a three-game losing streak.
Dion Waiters added 16 points for the Cavaliers, who have won nine of the last 12 meetings against the Hornets at Quicken Loans Arena. Tristan Thompson had nine points and 13 rebounds for Cleveland.
Brian Roberts scored 17 points and Robin Lopez added 15 for New Orleans, which has dropped two straight since the All-Star break after winning four of five before the break. Greivis Vasquez had 13 points and eight assists for the Hornets.
There were three lead changes and five ties in the fourth quarter alone before Irving put the Cavaliers ahead for good. He knocked down an 18-footer for an 85-83 lead with 4:22 left, then buried a long 3-pointer from the top of the arc and went coast-to-coast for a layup on the next two possessions to make it 90-83.
Roberts hit a pair of 3-pointers down the stretch and Ryan Anderson drained another to keep it close, but the Cavaliers made 10 straight free throws and 13 of 14 over the final 1:47 to ice it.
GAME NOTEBOOK: New Orleans rookie Anthony Davis scored 12 points on 2-of-7 shooting. He did not score his first field goal until a dunk with 2:08 left in the game. … Irving has 12 career 30-point games, the fourth-most in NBA history by a player before his 21st birthday. LeBron James had 57 before turning 21, Kevin Durant had 28 and Carmelo Anthony tallied 17. Irving has until March 23 to add to his total. … The Hornets dropped to 2-24 when allowing 100 points or more.
New Orleans | Cleveland | |
Brian Roberts 17 | Scoring | Kyrie Irving 35 |
Greivis Vasquez 8 | Assists | Kyrie Irving 7 |
Al-Farouq Aminu 10 | Rebounds | Tristan Thompson 13 |
Anthony Davis 8 | Free Throws Made | Kyrie Irving 7 |
Al-Farouq Aminu 1 | Steals | Kyrie Irving 2 |
Al-Farouq Aminu 2 | Blocks | CJ Miles 1 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
New Orleans | 100 | 48.7 | 7-15 | 19-22 | 16 | 39 | 6 | 2 | 13 |
Cleveland | 105 | 49.4 | 5-14 | 24-34 | 20 | 34 | 3 | 6 | 8 |