The Cleveland Cavaliers will take a win anyway they can get it, even if it means intentionally fouling poor free-throw shooting DeAndre Jordan repeatedly.
LeBron James had 22 points with 12 assists, JR Smith buried six triples en route to 22 as well, and the Cavs cruised past the visiting LA Clippers 115-102 on Thursday.
“It’s all about winning,” said James, hours after being voted an NBA All-Star starter for the 12th time in the last 13 nods. “It’s about strategy and whatever it takes to get a win.”
Kyrie Irving netted 21 while Kevin Love added 18 points with 16 rebounds for the Eastern Conference-best Cavs (30-11), who notched up their 12th win in the last 14 decisions.
After leading 79-70 in the third quarter, Cleveland coach David Blatt ordered his club to foul Jordan. The strategy worked because the dreadful 42-per-cent free-throw shooter made just 3-of-8, as the Cavs opened up an 88-72 advantage entering the final frame.
“Very few teams do it, but that’s the proper way to do it because it prevents you from making a run, especially a team like us that can score,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “Statistically, it shows that when you foul when you’re up, you win a lot. So they did it the right way.”
The Clippers drew to within 93-87 midway through the fourth quarter but Blatt repeatedly used the hack-a-Jordan manoeuvre and the centre made just 1-of-4 from the stripe as the hosts pulled away.
Love and Smith buried two triples apiece in a game-breaking 15-3 blitz, pushing the cushion to 108-90 with 3:11 left, and the Cavaliers cruised home.
Cleveland has bounced back well since Monday’s 34-point blowout to the league-best Golden State Warriors in a rematch of the NBA Finals, with Wednesday’s win over lowly Brooklyn and the Clippers, who had won 11-of-12 entering the contest.
“We definitely have responded the last couple of games, but there are still some things we can clean up on both ends,” Love explained.
“Overall, we feel good, but we’re not going to be satisfied until we continue to get better and get to where we want to be.”
Chris Paul netted 30 points, JJ Redick 17 while Jordan finished with 10 and 13 boards for the Clippers (27-15) who have dropped 13 of the last 14 meetings in the series.
Elsewhere:
lSan Antonio Spurs 117, Phoenix Suns 89: Freshly-minted NBA All-Star starter for the first time in his career, Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points, and the surging Spurs rolled to their 12th straight victory after setting the struggling Suns.
Serbian rookie centre Boban Marjanovic had 17 with 13 rebounds for visiting San Antonio (37-6), which matched a franchise-best start without starters Tim Duncan (rest) and Tony Parker (hip soreness).
Devin Booker had a career-best 24 points in the Suns’ (13-31) 15th loss in 16 games.
lMemphis Grizzlies 102, Denver Nuggets 101: Spaniard Marc Gasol scored 27 points, including the go-ahead 3-point play with 12.2 seconds left, and the visiting Grizzlies (25-19) held off the Nuggets (16-27) for their fourth straight win.
After Gasol put the Grizzlies ahead 100-98, Danilo Gallinari, who led the Nuggets with 17 points, missed a 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds remaining. Memphis’ Mike Conley hit two free throws to cap a 20-point effort before Emmanuel Mudiay made a meaningless triple at the buzzer.
lNew Orleans Pelicans 115, Detroit Pistons 99: Anthony Davis scored 32 points, Tyreke Evans added 22 with 10 rebounds, and the Pelicans (15-27) pounded the visiting Pistons for their fourth victory in five games. Kentavious Pope topped Detroit (23-20) with 23 points, while Andre Drummond finished with 19 points and 22 rebounds.
lSacramento Kings 91, Atlanta Hawks 88: DeMarcus Cousins had 24 points with 15 rebounds, Rajon Rondo added 11 points, 11 assists and 10 boards for his fifth triple-double of the season, as the Kings (19-23) ended a 15-game drought to the visiting Hawks since February 2008.
Paul Millsap collected 14 points and as many rebounds for Atlanta (26-18), which had its three-game winning streak snapped despite erasing an 18-point deficit.