NBA wrap 2015: Cleveland sends message to rivals; Lillard rebounds from All-Star snub

CLEVELAND makes huge statement against the Clippers, while Portland star Damien Lillard rebounds from his All-Star snub. It’s the NBA wrap.

LeBron James, Blake Griffin

CLEVELAND sends a message to their rivals with a thumping win over the Clippers, while Portland star Damien Lillard rebounds after his All-Star snub.

It’s all in our NBA wrap!

AUSSIES IN ACTION

Matthew Dellavedova contributed four points and an assist in the Cavs’ crushing win over the Clippers. The Aussie shooting guard proved his worth in defence as well, making two steals in his 20 mkinutes on court.

Utah coach Quinn Snyder isn’t losing faith in Dante Exum.

Dante Exum was held scoreless for a second straight game yesterday, but Utah Jazz coach Quinn Snyder is keeping the faith with his 19-year-old Australian rookie.

“That happens, especially when you’re 19,” Snyder told the Salt Lake Tribune.

“It’s just a process for him. But as far as losing confidence, I don’t lose confidence in him. I really believe in him, his ability to improve and become whatever it is.

“I don’t think we can define Dante’s game yet. I think we’ve got to kind of keep asking him to work on certain things and see where it takes him.”

CLEVELAND 105, CLIPPERS 94

LeBron James dunks on Clippers’ enforcer Blake Griffin.

The Cleveland Cavaliers stretched their NBA winning streak in emphatic style on Thursday with a 105-94 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kevin Love scored 24 points and pulled down nine rebounds, while LeBron James added 23 points and nine assists and the Cavs notched their 12th straight victory - one shy of the club record 13 in a row set during the 2009-10 campaign.

With the latest win, the Cavaliers seized first place in the Central division. They also looked like the title contenders they were expected to be when James opted to return to his home state this season after his stint with the Miami Heat.

The final score flattered the Clippers, who trailed by as many as 32 in the third quarter and 31 in the fourth before closing the gap against the Cleveland reserves.

James, who scored six points during the surge, capped it with back-to-back baskets.

He drove from the left wing for a two-handed dunk before racing past Blake Griffin from the right for a layup that put Cleveland up 37-22.

J.R. Smith drained four three-pointers and finished with 16 points and Timofey Mozgov chipped in a dozen points and nine rebounds for the Cavs.

Kyrie Irving had 16 points, five rebounds and five steals.

Smith’s three-pointer late in the first half staked the Cavs to a 65-42 advantage at the interval.

Cleveland, who out-rebounded the Clippers 52-43, took a 94-63 lead into the final quarter and cruised home, not before the frustrated Clippers were slapped with four technical fouls.

PORTLAND 108, PHOENIX 87

Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge rejects a shot from Suns center Miles Plumlee.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 points and 13 rebounds for his team-record 220th double-double, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Phoenix Suns 108-87 on Thursday.

Nicolas Batum scored 20 points and Robin Lopez, playing his second game after missing 23 with a broken right hand, had 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Blazers, who won their second straight after a three-game skid.

Markieff Morris had 18 points for the Suns, who dropped their third in a row. Phoenix climbed back into the game in the third period after trailing by 19 in the first half, but ultimately the Blazers thwarted the rally with a dominant fourth quarter.

Portland opened the fourth with a 9-2 run to go up 75-67. Batum’s 3-pointer stretched the lead to 86-75 with 6:03 left.

When you get overlooked, there are two things you can do. Which one do you choose? https://t.co/fkb7242nJ6

— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) February 4, 2015

The Blazers jumped out to a 25-13 lead on Wesley Matthews’ 3-pointer. Portland got a spark off the bench from C.J. McCollum, who had 12 points.

The Suns struggled with turnovers, committing eight in the first quarter alone, and trailed 46-35 at halftime. The first-half point total was a season low for Phoenix.

The Suns closed the gap to 52-46, but there was a scary moment when Alex Len crashed into the base of the basket and appeared to injure his right ankle. He was able to walk it off.

Morris’ 3-pointer and a free throw from Miles Plumlee pulled the Suns to 54-53 midway through the third quarter.

The Suns briefly took a 63-62 lead after Eric Bledsoe’s layup with 1:20 left in the third quarter, but Batum answered with a 3 on the other end.

CHARLOTTE 94, WASHINGTON 87

Hornets guard Gerald Henderson claims a strong rebound over the Wizards' Nene.

Hornets guard Gerald Henderson scored 27 points as Charlotte stepped up their defense after the break to beat the Washington Wizards for the second time this week, 94-87 on Thursday.

The Hornets gave up just 33 points in the second half. They allowed 54 in the first half.

Henderson was 10 of 15 from the field as the Hornets beat the Wizards for the fifth straight time.

Brian Roberts had 12 points and provided a huge spark late in the third quarter after Charlotte fell behind by 11. Lance Stephenson, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Jason Maxiell added 11 points apiece for the Hornets (22-27).

Paul Pierce scored 19 for the Wizards. John Wall had 15 points and 13 assists.

Wizards guard Bradley Beal left in the first half after re-aggravating his right big toe and did not return. He had one point in 11 minutes and watched the game from the locker room in the second half.

Charlotte came into the game allowing the fewest points per game in the NBA since Jan. 1, and its defense proved to be the difference. The Hornets held the Wizards to 5-of-19 shooting in the fourth quarter.

With the Hornets down 11 late in the third, Roberts hit a 3-pointer and a leaner off the glass to beat the buzzer and pull Charlotte within five. Stephenson tied it at 76 with 9:07 left on a drive down the lane.

Al Jefferson, who had been quiet all game, then got into the flow, throwing down a rare putback slam - only his seventh dunk of the season - and scoring on an up-and-under move to give the Hornets the lead for good.

Charlotte went 9 of 9 from the foul line in the fourth quarter.

Jefferson, who had 18 points and 12 rebounds Monday against the Wizards, was a non-factor most of the game thanks to Marcin Gortat’s physical defense in the low post. But he was big in the fourth quarter, finishing the game with eight points and 10 rebounds.

DALLAS 101, SACRAMENTO 78

Dallas Mavericks guard Monta Ellis drives to the ring.

Monta Ellis had 21 points and six assists to lead the Dallas Mavericks - minus Dirk Nowitzki and Rajon Rondo - over the struggling Sacramento Kings 101-78 on Thursday.

The Mavericks broke open a tie game in the second quarter when they made nine straight shots, including four 3-pointers, as they outscored the Kings 22-6. Dallas had a 37-20 edge in the second to take a 60-43 halftime lead.

Tyson Chandler had 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Mavericks. Devin Harris and J.J. Barea each scored 15 points, and Richard Jefferson added 14.

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle chose to rest Nowitzki on the second night of a back-to-back. The veteran forward, second on the team in scoring at 18.2 points per game, missed his fourth game of the season.

The Mavericks were also without Rondo (broken orbital bone), who missed his third straight game. The point guard is not expected back until after the All-Star break.

DeMarcus Cousin had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings, who have lost two straight and 10 of 11. Rudy Gay added 11 points and nine rebounds, but shot 2 of 13. The Kings missed 18 of 21 attempts from 3-point territory and shot 36.7 percent overall.

It didn’t help the Kings that point guard Darren Collison played only 14 minutes after straining an abdominal muscle in the first half.

Dallas outhustled the Kings and forced 17 turnovers. The Mavericks hit 12 3-pointers and committed just nine turnovers. Dallas led by 23 after three quarters and the cushion never got under 20 points in the fourth.

Dallas completed a three-game sweep of the Kings. The Mavericks defeated Sacramento for a sixth straight time and have won 21 of 23 meetings in the last six years.

The Mavericks are 19-10 away from home and lead the NBA in road wins.

Originally published as NBA wrap 2015: Cleveland sends message to rivals; Lillard rebounds from All-Star snub