The Sports Network
(Sports Network) - The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to parlay their recent
success against the Oklahoma City Thunder into a second straight win Wednesday
night when they host the Charlotte Bobcats.
Neither team is threatening the playoff race, but Cleveland earned a great
victory on Saturday night against the Thunder. The Cavs outscored the Thunder
by nine in the final frame to post the 115-110 win.
Kyrie Irving went off for 35 points against the Thunder. Perhaps more
importantly, Irving only had one turnover against OKC, something he's
struggled with recently.
Irving scored seven of the game's final nine points, including a gutsy 3-
pointer with 42 seconds left to ice the victory.
"I think we all still tend to forget at times, he is 20 years old. He's barely
played a year in the NBA," head coach Byron Scott said of his All-Star guard.
"He's definitely on the right track."
Marreese Speights, recently acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies, had a double-
double with 21 points and 10 rebounds against the Thunder. Tristan Thompson
also recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards.
Scott held a closed-door team meeting after an ugly 117-99 loss Friday in
Detroit to the Pistons.
"I was pretty upset," Scott admitted. "I didn't have anything to break. Locker
room was way too small to be throwing stuff. You probably hit a player and cut
them or something like that. Our luck hasn't been that great as far as that
goes. I wouldn't dare do that."
The Bobcats come to Quicken Loans Arena losers of four straight and 12 of
their last 14. They put forth an admirable effort Monday night in a 99-94 road
loss to the defending champion Miami Heat.
Charlotte got it to within two with almost 90 seconds remaining, but Byron
Mullens, who returned after a 19-game absence with a sprained left ankle, lost
the rebound. Chris Bosh stole it away and dunked and the Heat were able to
hold on for the win.
"When you are on the road against this kind of team, you are going to have to
execute and one play can make the difference," said Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap.
"Essentially, it came down to that tonight."
Six Bobcats scored in double figures, led by 17 from Ramon Sessions.
The Bobcats, who rank 28th in opponents' scoring, 26th in opponents' field-
goal percentage and dead last in the NBA in opponents' 3-point shooting
percentage, actually held the Heat to eight percent from long range.
The Cavs have won five in a row against the Bobcats, including this season's
only matchup, a 106-104 thriller in Charlotte on Jan. 4. Charlotte has won
only once in Cleveland in their history (1-13), a 91-88 victory on Jan. 3,
2010.
The Sports Network