Cavaliers throttle Pistons 104-81
BY TIM SHIRER
SPORTS EDITOR
The Cleveland Cavaliers returned home on Friday night to play the Detroit Pistons hoping to avoid their first losing streak of the season after losing their second game of the season on Wednesday night, when they fell to the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis 103-93. Unfortunately for Detroit they misfired all night as the Cavs cruised to a 104-81 win, to improve 10-2 on the season.
The Pistons jumped out to an early 6-0, but it was all Cavs from that point on as the Cavs outscored the Pistons in the rest of the first quarter 30-13, to have an 11-point advantage 30-19 after one period of play.
Things did not get any better for the visiting Pistons in the second quarter as the Cavaliers increased their lead by six heading into halftime up 56-39. LeBron James lead all scorers in the game with 13 at the break. The Cavs had three players including James in double figures at the half. Kyrie Irving had 11 and Kevin Love had 10 first half points.
The Cavs owned the boards in the first 24 minutes outrebounding the Pistons 29-21. Of the Cavs 29 boards in the first half 28 were of the defensive variety, giving the Pistons only eight second chance shots. The Cavs hit 8 of 19 from behind the three-point line, while the Pistons converted only 4 of 13 from downtown.
The Cavaliers came out in the second half and ended any doubt as they outscored the Pistons 11-2 in the first 3:21 of the 3rd quarter, increasing their lead to 67-41.
By the end of the quarter the result was apparent as the Cavs were in complete and total control of the struggling Pistons 82-56. Detroit only managed 17 points in the 3rd quarter.
None of the Cavaliers starters played a single minute in the fourth quarter and the Piston only outscored the Cavaliers bench by three points in the final quarter 25-22.
Love while sitting out the fourth quarter recorded his seventh straight double, as he finished the game with 12 points and 13 boards.
Irving led all scorers in the game with 25 points and 11 assists. Irving was 3 for 4 from behind the 3-pt. line. The 11 assists are a season high for Irving.
The Cavaliers will be in action next on Wednesday when they take on the visiting Portland Trail Blazers at The Q at 7:30 p.m.
POSTED 11/19/2016 00:01
Lake County Sentinel
Photo by Gregory M. Goth