Clippers-Cavaliers Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Feb 08 2012 12:23AM

Off to a strong start to a season filled with high expectations, the Los Angeles Clippers are suddenly faced with some major adversity.

Playing their first game since losing veteran Chauncey Billups to a season-ending injury, the Clippers look to win five straight games away from home for the first time in 37 seasons while hoping to avoid a 10th consecutive road loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

Los Angeles (15-7) should be thrilled after opening its six-game road swing with wins at Washington and Orlando. However, the mood has soured after the team learned that Billups suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury during Monday's 107-102 overtime victory over the Magic.

Claimed off waivers by the Clippers in December, the five-time All-Star averaged 15.0 points and 4.0 assists for a team with the second-best record in the Western Conference.

"I'm sick about it," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "I'm sick for him, I'm sick for us, but mostly for him and how much he means to us."

The Clippers stepped up by going 3-2 when star guard Chris Paul (18.5 points, 8.9 assists per game) was out with a sore hamstring last month. They hope the loss to a veteran like Billups won't be too much to overcome.

"We'll have to see what happens," Del Negro said. "We've definitely got to have everybody playing well."

Los Angeles showed its resiliency by overcoming a 15-point deficit to win its fourth straight road game following four consecutive losses away from Staples Center. The Clippers' franchise has not won five in a row on the road since Nov. 3-20, 1974, when they were the Buffalo Braves.

"We've got guys who are battle tested," said Paul, who finished with 29 points, eight assists and seven rebounds Monday. "This shows how much grit and fight we have. We realize if we stick together in a tough environment, we are capable of winning games like this."

Paul and fellow All-Star Blake Griffin (21.2 ppg, 10.9 rebounds per game) will try to help the Clippers maintain that attitude as they look to snap a nine-game road skid at Cleveland that dates to a 95-78 win March 10, 2002. That drought matches the club's second-longest active road losing streak.

That same run equals the longest current home winning streak for the Cavaliers.

Griffin scored 30 points to help the Clippers snap a nine-game overall skid to Cleveland with a 100-92 home win March 19.

Injuries to key contributors Daniel Gibson (neck), Tristan Thompson (ankle) and Anthony Parker (back) are beginning to take a toll on the Cavaliers (9-14), who dressed 11 players in Tuesday's 107-91 loss at Miami. Antawn Jamison had 25 points with nine rebounds while Anderson Varejao added 11 and 11 boards, but Cleveland was outscored 29-19 in the fourth quarter to fall for the eighth time in 11 games.

The Cavaliers have averaged 90.0 points on 41.9 percent shooting during that rough stretch.

"You're not going to win a lot of games when you're not get any contributions but again a lot of it had to do with the injuries," coach Byron Scott said. "I'm not trying to make any excuses."

Jamison has averaged 28.0 points and 10.4 rebounds in his last eight games against the Clippers.

Sessions scores 24, Cavs top Clippers 99-92

By TOM WITHERS
Posted Feb 09 2012 12:28AM

CLEVELAND (AP) An expected matchup between two of the NBA's best young point guards never happened.

Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving will meet another time.

This night belonged to Ramon Sessions.

Sessions had a season-high 24 points with 13 assists as a last-minute replacement for Irving, Cleveland's talented rookie who has a concussion, and Antawn Jamison scored 27 to lead the Cavaliers to a 99-92 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.

Sessions, whose name has popped up in trade rumors, didn't find out he was making his first start this season until shortly before tip-off when the Cavs diagnosed Irving with a concussion.

"It's not my first rodeo," Sessions said. "I was ready to go when they called my name."

Daniel Gibson scored 17 and made a big 3-pointer down the stretch in his return for Cleveland after missing five games with a neck infection. Anderson Varejao added 15 rebounds, survived two nasty spills and spent the night trading elbows underneath with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.

The Cavs may not be one of the NBA's best teams, but there's no denying their toughness.

"We're a resilient bunch, man," Gibson said. "Coach Scott has instilled that in us. We have a lot of guys in a lot of different roles, so any time a guy is down the next guy has to step up. We've done that all season and we'll continue to do that."

Irving was ruled out just before the game when team doctors diagnosed him with a concussion. The Cavs said he was kneed in the head Tuesday at Miami.

"He went out and warmed up and said it felt like his head was on fire," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. "He says he's doing fine."

Griffin scored 25 before fouling out with 6.6 seconds left for the Clippers, who tied it at 87 with 2:10 left after trailing by 15 in the third quarter. But Gibson nailed his 3-pointer and Varejao dropped a key jumper with 29 seconds left - and 1 on the 24-second shot clock - as Cleveland held off Los Angeles, which was trying to win its fifth straight road game.

Paul had 16 points and 12 assists for the Clippers, who played their first game without injured guard Chauncey Billups. He's out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon and flew back to L.A. before the game. Billups will visit a specialist on Thursday and is expected to undergo surgery in the next few days.

"We came out with a lack of energy," Griffin said. "That's on us. We had no urgency. We didn't play like we should. We gave the game away."

Griffin added 15 rebounds and Randy Foye, starting for Billups, scored 15. Kenyon Martin made his debut for Los Angeles and scored six in 21 rugged minutes.

The game was extremely physical, with players on both teams getting knocked to the floor. Shoves were exchanged along with a few choice words. Gibson felt the Cavs were able to get under the skin of a few Clippers players.

"They seemed like they were chirping at the refs a lot," he said. "Obviously, that showed the physicality might have been getting to them."

Down by 15 midway through the third, the Clippers closed the period with a 12-3 run, capped when Griffin, usually on the receiving end of alley-oop passes, fed Martin for a two-handed stuff to bring Los Angeles within 70-64. Griffin finally thrilled Cleveland's crowd with his own dunk off a lob during a 6-0 run as the Clippers caught the Cavs at 87-all.

But Gibson hit his 3-pointer from the corner, and after former Cavs guard Mo Williams blew an easy layup underneath, Sessions made two free throws to give Cleveland a 92-87 lead.

The Clippers were still within 95-92 when Caron Butler forced and missed a 3-pointer with 9.8 seconds left. Alonzo Gee made two free throws for Cleveland and Griffin was whistled for his sixth personal when he bumped Varejao from behind as they ran up the floor. The two traded elbows and hip checks all night.

"We came out flat. That starts with me. I couldn't make a shot," said Paul, who went 5 of 16 from the floor. "We didn't defend well. This is definitely one of our worst showings."

Gibson's two free throws sealed it for the Cavs, who opened a nine-game homestand with an unexpected win.

The night started on a sour note.

Irving, who has lived up to expectations as the No. 1 pick in this year's draft, was kept out with a concussion sustained Tuesday night in Miami. He complained of a headache following a walkthrough and while shooting around before the game, when he was given the NBA's new concussion evaluation tool.

"Our policy is to never put a player at risk or put him out there when anything is going on with him," Scott said.

There is no timetable for the 19-year-old's return. Irving, who is averaging 18 points and 5.1 assists per game, was not interviewed after the game and left the arena with teammate Luke Harangody.

Later, after his alma mater Duke beat rival North Carolina on a buzzer-beating shot, Irving tweeted: "Yessir Duke win!!!!!"

The Cavaliers got another scare in the third quarter, when Varejao took a nasty fall while crashing the boards for an offensive rebound. He walked gingerly as he was escorted to the locker room but returned to the bench with a large wrap on his lower back. A few minutes later he was back on the floor and immediately grabbed a rebound.

Martin signed with the Clippers last week after playing part of the season in China. Known for his toughness and temper, the 11-year veteran drew a technical foul in the third quarter when he shoved Samardo Samuels, who had knocked Griffin down with a hard foul under the rim.

"First game back and I get $1,000 (fine)," Martin said with a laugh. "That's who I am. I can't turn it off."

Notes: Griffin, the NBA's reigning dunk champ, said he's undecided about whether to participate in this year's event in Orlando. Griffin said the league hasn't contacted him yet, making it sound as if he's waiting for an invitation. "We'll see what happens," he said. ... Cavs rookie F Tristan Thompson (ankle) and G Anthony Parker remained sidelined. ... The Cavs have won 10 straight at home over the Clippers.

Notebook: Cavs 99, Clippers 92

Posted Thursday February 9, 2012 12:02AM

By Brian Dulik, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Power forward Antawn Jamison scored a game-high 27 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a 99-92 upset of the Los Angeles Clippers. Point guard Ramon Sessions added 24 points and a season-best 13 assists for Cleveland, while center Anderson Varejao had 15 points and 11 rebounds. Power forward Blake Griffin amassed 25 points and 15 boards for Los Angeles, which also got 21 points from small forward Caron Butler. The Cavaliers played without No. 1 overall draft pick Kyrie Irving, who was a last-minute scratch after suffering a concussion one night earlier in Miami.

QUOTABLE: "We had no aggression tonight from the get-go. We were not tough enough tonight, and we weren't gritty tonight, and we didn't execute the game plan. I'm very disappointed in our approach. We did not play like pros tonight."
-- Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro

THE STAT: The Cavaliers' substitute backcourt of Sessions and Daniel Gibson combined for 41 points and 15 assists, while Los Angeles counterparts Chris Paul and Randy Foye collected 31 points and 14 helpers. Cleveland's usual starters -- Irving (concussion) and shooting guard Anthony Parker (lower back strain) -- both missed the game with injuries. "With the young fella being out, I had to come in and fill his void," Sessions said. "We've got a lot of guys banged up, but we've also got a lot of guys stepping in doing a great job."

TURNING POINT: Gibson added to his reputation as a clutch player by burying a long 3-pointer with 1:20 left, giving the Cavaliers a 90-87 lead they would not relinquish. Ex-Cleveland guard Mo Williams then missed a layup for Los Angeles, which Sessions subsequently turned into two free throws to make it 92-87. The Clippers, who trailed by 15 late in the third quarter, never got closer than two points again -- and were outscored 12-5 to end the game. "We've got a very resilient bunch of guys," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. "I thought it was fantastic."

QUOTABLE II: "Positives tonight? None whatsoever. We came out flat. I couldn't make a shot. We didn't defend well. This is definitely one of our worst showings."
-- Clippers point guard Chris Paul

HOT: Varejao recorded his fifth straight double-double and is averaging 15.0 points and 14.8 rebounds while shooting .579 during the span. "Wild Thing" also leads the NBA in offensive boards per game (4.5) and is fourth in the league in rebounding average (11.8). "Since I got to Cleveland, the fans have taken to me," the mop-topped Brazilian said. "I didn't speak any English, but every time I would get in a game, I felt like I had somebody behind me, helping and motivating me. And now that they know me, I just want to thank them for everything."

NOT: Clippers power forward Kenyon Martin made his NBA season debut, but looked rusty in posting six points, four rebounds, four personal fouls, one technical, and one delay of game in 20 minutes off the bench. ... Los Angeles center DeAndre Jordan started, but did not score in 24 minutes. ... Paul missed 11 of his 16 field-goal attempts. ... The Clippers have lost 10 straight games at Quicken Loans Arena, last winning in Cleveland on March 10, 2002. ... Cavaliers backup post players Semih Erden, Luke Harangody and Samardo Samuels collected one point and five fouls.

QUOTABLE III: "I feel like my football team is the Browns, my basketball team is the Cavs, and my baseball team is the Indians. That's all I know. I feel like I'm from here."
-- Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao

GOOD MOVE: The Cavaliers traded Williams to the Clippers on February 24 in exchange for Baron Davis and an unprotected first-round draft pick, which wound up being the first overall selection. Cleveland chose Irving, likely setting themselves up at the point for many years to come. "I'm happy it worked out for them," said Williams, who was 2-of-10 from the field and made two turnovers in 34 minutes. "The organization handled everything first class when I was here."

BAD MOVE: Irving was not declared out with a concussion until minutes before tipoff -- and not until after experiencing frightening symptoms. "He went out and warmed up, and he said his head felt like it was on fire," Scott said. The Cavaliers are listing the former Duke star as "day-to-day." Irving remained at Quicken Loans Arena for the entire contest, but was not permitted to speak with the media. "Every individual is different," Scott said. "We'll see how he's doing and go from there."

NOTABLE: Cavaliers small forward Omri Casspi had as many dunks as Griffin with one. Casspi's came on a nifty alley-oop from Varejao, while Griffin's was off a Butler fast-break feed. ... Paul had 12 assists, but only four came after intermission. ... The Clippers did not make a free throw in the first half. ... Varejao took two hard falls to the court and was diagnosed with a back contusion, but returned to action both times. He also was whistled for a flagrant foul after knocking Foye out of the air by hog-tying his neck. ... The Cavaliers also played without rookie power forward Tristan Thompson (left ankle sprain). ... R&B singer Trey Songz sat courtside.

UP NEXT: For the Clippers, Friday @ Philadelphia, Saturday @ Charlotte, Monday @ Dallas. For the Cavaliers, Friday vs. Milwaukee, Saturday vs. Philadelphia, Wednesday vs. Indiana.

• Clippers: Billups
• Cavaliers: Parker, Thompson

• Clippers: Martin
• Cavaliers: --

• Lead Changes: 7
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
• Officials: #24 Mike Callahan, #26 Pat Fraher, #31 Scott Wall
• Attendance: 17100
• Duration: 2:22