76ers-Cavaliers Preview

By JEFF BARTL
Posted Nov 20 2012 11:23PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers had enough trouble winning with Kyrie Irving in the lineup, so there's every reason to believe it'll be much more difficult without him.

That was certainly the case when he missed time last season.

Cleveland will be without Irving for at least a month beginning with Wednesday night's home matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers, who seek their seventh straight victory in the series.

Irving was originally diagnosed with a bruised left index finger after X-rays turned up negative during a loss to Dallas on Saturday, and he ended up finishing that contest with a game-high 26 points.

Things didn't go as well for him the following night against Philadelphia (7-4), as Irving scored a season-low nine points and shot 4 of 14 from the field in an 86-79 defeat.

It turns out the finger indeed was broken, and Irving likely will miss about 20 games. He's just happy the injury won't keep him out longer.

"I'm just glad it's not injuries, knock on wood, such as something that could keep me out for six months," Irving said. "I'm going to miss a few games, I'm aware of that but you just gotta stay positive. I'm just being cautious right now."

Loser of six straight, Cleveland (2-8) may have a hard time finding the positives in losing the reigning rookie of the year, who is averaging 22.9 points and 5.6 assists.

The Cavaliers went 4-11 without Irving in 2011-12.

"It's frustrating," said Irving, who also broke his wrist in July. "But we're just going to get through it and just gotta stay positive."

Coach Byron Scott is tasked with attempting to find a suitable lineup to make up for Irving's lost production. Rookie Dion Waiters, averaging 13.7 points overall but shooting 20.0 percent (9 for 45) over his last three games, will see some time at point guard, though Scott isn't sure which other guard will see the majority of Irving's minutes.

"It's always one of those things where one of your best players goes down, it's an opportunity for other guys," Scott said.

"The biggest thing is, we still know we can win. We've just got to play a little bit of a different style on the offensive end, but we still feel we've got enough guys in this room capable of winning."

They had trouble Sunday stopping Evan Turner, who scored 19 points and finished with nine assists while hitting 8 of 12 from the field as Philadelphia beat the Cavs for the sixth straight time.

Though Cleveland hasn't played another game since, the Sixers rallied from seven down after three quarters Tuesday to beat Toronto 106-98 for their third consecutive win. Turner scored 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting, but Nick Young netted a team-high 23 points off the bench and Jason Richardson added 21.

Jrue Holiday finished with 19 points and 12 assists for the 76ers, who have won six of eight.

"That was a win to remember," coach Doug Collins said. "It could've easily been an L. We finished the third quarter very poorly. We had a lot of fight in the fourth quarter. I was proud of them."

Collins alluded to making some lineup changes against Cleveland, but he didn't specify.

"Byron Scott is on Twitter," Collins joked.

The Cavaliers' last victory in the series was a 101-93 win in Cleveland on Nov. 16, 2010.

Pargo leads Cavaliers to 92-83 win

By STEVE HERRICK
Posted Nov 22 2012 1:28AM

CLEVELAND (AP) Jeremy Pargo, filling in for the injured Kyrie Irving, scored a career-high 28 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers broke a six-game losing streak with a 92-83 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.

The Cavaliers came into the game with a 2-8 record, but stopped the Sixers' three-game winning streak despite not having Irving. The NBA's reigning rookie of the year is expected to miss a month with a broken left index finger. He was injured Saturday against Dallas and played the next night in Philadelphia before an MRI revealed a crack in the bone.

Dion Waiters scored 16 points while Alonzo Gee added 14 for Cleveland. Anderson Varejao scored 10 points and had 19 rebounds.

Philadelphia had five players score in double figures, but a fourth-quarter rally fell short. Jason Richardson and Jrue Holiday led the Sixers with 16 points.

Pargo's previous career high came last season against Oklahoma City when he scored 15 points. He made five starts as a rookie with Memphis in 2011-2012, but had only played in three of the Cavaliers' first 10 games - totaling 23 minutes. Cleveland acquired him in an offseason trade.

Cleveland led 65-50 midway through the third quarter, but the 76ers chipped away at the margin. Nick Young's basket with 3:31 to play cut the lead to 79-77, but Cleveland put the game away with a 13-0 run. A basket and a 3-pointer by Pargo, two free throws from Varejao and 3-pointers by C.J. Miles and Waiters rebuilt the lead.

The Cavaliers took a 38-19 lead midway through the second quarter. The 76ers cut the lead to six late in the period, but Cleveland was ahead 47-35 at halftime. Philadelphia was 12 of 45 from the field in the first half.

Philadelphia cut the lead to 52-50 early in the third quarter before the Cavaliers scored 13 straight points. Gee and Waiters scored five points apiece in the run.

Varejao was hit with a technical foul in the fourth quarter. Varejao thought he was fouled going to the basket, but a jump ball was called and he protested to the officials.

The Cavaliers had lost six straight to the 76ers.

Irving has had several injury setbacks. He has missed time with a foot injury, sprained shoulder, concussion and broken hand in the past two years. The Cavaliers went 4-11 without Irving in 2011-12. Irving, looking sharp in a suit and tie, was seated at the end of the bench.

Daniel Gibson, Cleveland's backup shooting guard, missed his second straight game with a sore right elbow.

Notes: Philadelphia was 4 of 26 from the field midway through the second quarter. ... The 76ers host Oklahoma City on Saturday, the first of three straight games at home. ... Cleveland begins a three-game road trip Friday in Orlando. The Cavaliers also play in Miami and Memphis. ... The Cavaliers' last victory in the series was a 101-93 win in Cleveland on Nov. 16, 2010. Former Cavaliers F Larry Nance, the NBA's first slam dunk champion, attended the game.

Notebook: Cavaliers 92, 76ers 83

Brian Dulik, For NBA.com
Posted Wed Nov 21, 2012 11:20 PM - Updated Wed Nov 21, 2012 11:20 PM

THE FACTS: Point guard Jeremy Pargo scored a career-high 28 points and center Anderson Varejao had 10 points and a game-best 19 rebounds, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 92-83 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night. Rookie shooting guard Dion Waiters added 16 points and a season-high six assists for Cleveland, which played without injured point guard Kyrie Irving. Philadelphia shooting guard Jason Richardson and point guard Jrue Holiday scored 16 points apiece, while small forward Evan Turner had 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

QUOTABLE: "Pargo played the game of his life tonight. He killed us on screens with the ball, going one-on-one, hitting 3-balls. It was like he was playing a video game -- NBA2K -- against us out there."

-- 76ers power forward Thaddeus Young

THE STAT: Pargo had only played in three of the Cavaliers' first 10 games -- totaling eight points in 23 minutes -- as their third-string point guard. He topped both of those figures against Philadelphia, scoring 28 in a career-high 39 minutes. The second-year pro from Gonzaga went 11-for-19, including 4-for-8 on 3-pointers, and 2-for-4 on free throws in his first start for Cleveland. "I saw it all coming," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott quipped. "Honestly, I don't think anyone expected J.P. to come in and play the way he did."

TURNING POINT: After the 76ers pulled within 79-77 on a Holiday jumper with 3:29 left, Cleveland answered with 13 straight points to pull away for the win. Pargo began the run with a driving layup, while Varejao followed with two free throws. Shooting guard C.J. Miles, Pargo and Waiters then made three straight 3-pointers to give the Cavaliers a 92-77 lead with just 93 seconds remaining. "Every time we got close, they would make a few 3s and push the lead out, just like they did at the end," Young said.

QUOTABLE II: "Pargo had a great night. C.J. had a great night. Dion scored when we needed to score. Everyone played well on both sides of the floor and we moved the ball well, which was key."

-- Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao

HOT: Cleveland's three-man bench of Miles, small forward Omri Casspi and center Tyler Zeller combined for 20 points, 10 rebounds and a plus-13 rating in 64 minutes. ... Varejao is averaging 8.8 points and 13.5 rebounds in four games at Quicken Loans Arena this season. ... 76ers shooting guard Nick Young came off the bench to score 13 points in 32 minutes. ... Richardson had 11 of Philadelphia's 23 points in the third quarter.

NOT: The 76ers trailed by 19 points in having their six-game winning streak against the Cavaliers snapped. ... Philadelphia center Kwame Brown air-balled his first free throw attempt. ... Cleveland power forward Tristan Thompson missed six of his seven shots -- all of which came in the paint -- in scoring four points in 25 minutes. ... Cavaliers post players Varejao, Thompson and Zeller shot a combined 5-for-24 from the floor.

QUOTABLE III: "They hit big shots every time they needed them tonight. C.J. Miles -- I don't think he's shot the ball well all season long -- but he was 5 of 9 with three 3s tonight. My goodness."

-- 76ers coach Doug Collins

GOOD MOVE: The Cavaliers were essentially paid by the Grizzlies to take Pargo off their hands (and their salary cap) in a July 25 trade. Cleveland received Pargo, a second-round draft pick in 2014, and a reported $400,000 from Memphis in exchange for end-of-the-bench swingman D.J. Kennedy. ... Scott opted to start Pargo over fellow second-year pro Donald Sloan, even though Sloan had been Irving's primary backup all season. Pargo played so well, Sloan never got in the game.

BAD MOVE: Collins considered changing his starting lineup, but stuck with Holiday, Richardson, Turner, Thaddeus Young, and Brown for a fifth straight game. The quintet again got off to a slow start, falling behind 28-15 after one quarter and 38-19 four minutes into the second. "We dug ourselves another hole, but we won every other quarter," Collins said. "When you battle uphill like that the rest of the game, it will take a lot out of you. There just isn't enough left at the end."

NOTABLE: Miles was 1-for-15 from the floor (6.7 percent) in the Cavaliers' five previous games. ... Waiters was 9-for-45 (20.0 percent) on field goal attempts in his last three contests. ... Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Irving (left index finger fracture) is expected to be sidelined until mid-December for Cleveland. ... Cavaliers shooting guard Daniel Gibson (right elbow bruise) was a last-minute scratch for the second straight game, both of which have been against the 76ers. ... Collins' son, Chris, recruited Irving to play at Duke.

UP NEXT: For the 76ers, Saturday vs. Oklahoma City, Sunday vs. Phoenix, Tuesday vs. Dallas. For the Cavaliers, Friday @ Orlando, Saturday @ Miami, Monday @ Memphis.

• 76ers: Bynum
• Cavaliers: Harangody, Irving

• 76ers: --
• Cavaliers: Varejao

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
• Officials: #9 Derrick Stafford, #16 David Guthrie, #63 Derek Richardson
• Attendance: 16743
• Duration: 2:07