The Cavaliers continue their homestand on Saturday night when they host the New Orleans Pelicans at Quicken Loans Arena. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Cleveland (35-14) is 27-6 in its last 33 regular season games against Western Conference opponents (13-5 this season). The Wine and Gold have also won 15 of their last 16 regular season games over the West at The Q.
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The Wine and Gold will look to bounce back and snap a two-game skein following last night’s heartbreaking, 104-103, loss at the buzzer on Friday night against the Boston Celtics.
In the loss, LeBron James netted 13 of his game-high 30 points in the game’s final 12 minutes. On the night, James finished 9-for-23 from the floor and 12-for-17 from the stripe, adding seven boards, four assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
J.R. Smith pitched in with 20 points, going 5-for-10 from long-distance and 7-for-15 overall before fouling out late in the fourth. Smith has now canned at least four three-pointers in 15 games this season.
Kyrie Irving added 19 points in the loss, going 7-for-15 from the floor to go with six assists and three boards.
Cleveland will need the same production from their starters and help from the bench as the square off against the Pelicans on the heels of a back-to-back.
New Orleans (18-31) had high expectations coming into the 2015-16 campaign under new head coach, Alvin Gentry, but have struggled to find their stride. The Pelicans have dropped three straight after falling to the Los Angeles Lakers, 99-96, on Thursday night in the Big Easy.
Despite their struggles, All-Star power forward, Anthony Davis, has still been playing at a high level leading the Pelicans in both points (23.4 ppg) and rebounds (10.3 rpg).
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Status Update: (Cavs) – Matthew Dellavedova, (Sore Left Hamstring, TBD), Kevin Love, (Left Thigh Contusion, TBD)
Status Update: (Pelicans) – Eric Gordon, (Fractured Right Finger, Out), Tyreke Evans, (Right Knee, TBD), Quincy Pondexter, (Left Knee, Out)
*Subject to change.
The two teams last met on December 4th at the Smoothie King Center as the Pelicans came away with the 114-108 victory in overtime.
In that game, the Cavs shot 20-24 (.833) from the free throw line and connected on 10 three-pointers.
LeBron James scored 23 points in the fourth quarter and finished with a season-high tying 37 points, a 10-11 (.909) clip from the foul line, seven rebounds, a team-high eight assists, one steal and one block in 45 minutes.
J.R. Smith tied the franchise record for three-pointers in a quarter with five triples in the first period and ended up with 18 points, a 6-13 (.462) mark from long distance, and four rebounds in 37 minutes.
Fathead(r) 12″ x 17″ LeBron James Decal GiveawayCourtesy of The University of Akron & The LeBron James Family Foundation
After Saturday’s game, the Cavs will close out their homestand with DeMarcus Cousins and the Sacramento Kings on Monday followed by Kobe Bryant’s final appearance at The Q when the L.A. Lakers roll in on Wednesday. GET TICKETS | VIEW FULL SCHEDULE
