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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
CLEVELAND (AP) -- When new coach Randy Wittman said before the
season that the Cleveland Cavaliers would be an "up and down"
team he meant on the court, not in day-to-day performance.
|  | | Bobby Phills and the Hornets couldn't get past Cleveland. |
The Cavs finished a rollercoaster week on an up cycle Saturday
night as Lamond Murray and Andrew DeClercq each scored 16 points in
a 106-89 victory over the cold-shooting Charlotte Hornets.
"We had to fix us, not worry about Charlotte," Wittman said
after Cleveland rebounded from a season-worst 23-point loss Friday
night in Philadelphia. That had followed a 3-point home victory
Tuesday night over the powerful Portland Trail Blazers.
"The effort we put forth was as different as night and day,"
DeClercq said. "We came out defensively to attack them, force them
further back with their shots."
The Hornets, 1-5 on the road, shot just 33 percent from the
field. Eddie Jones led Charlotte with 22 points.
Charlotte was coming off a 33-point rout of Washington on Friday
night.
"Who knows, you've got me," guard David Wesley replied when
asked about the inconsistency. "I can't figure it out."
Hornets coach Paul Silas had an answer: "It tells me that in
back-to-back games, we have to become more mentally prepared."
Hornets center Elden Campbell missed 10 straight shots and was
scoreless until making two free throws with 8:57 left in the fourth
quarter. He finished with four points before fouling out with 5:44
left when he also drew a technical foul during a midcourt scuffle
with Cleveland's Danny Ferry.
Bob Sura scored 15 points and Shawn Kemp, Wesley Person and Mark
Bryant 10 apiece for Cleveland.
Murray also had 16 rebounds as Cleveland held a 55-40 rebounding
advantage.
"I was surprised to see anyone else on the team get a
rebound," Wittman said. "He was fabulous."
The Cavaliers took a 32-13 lead by dominating the boards and
outscoring the Hornets, 10-1, on second-chance points in the first
quarter.
"We came out with the intention of making our defense give us
our offense," Murray said. "We did that, got the rebounds and
that led to some easy baskets at the other end."
Charlotte's starters shot a combined 3-for-28 from the field in
the first half as Cleveland took a 56-41 lead. Bobby Phills kept
the Hornets close by scoring 13 of Charlotte's 28 points in the
second quarter.
Game notes
Cavs rookie guard Trajan Langdon was sidelined with an
inflamed right knee. ... Cleveland has won just six of the last 19
games with the Hornets. ... Anthony Mason led Charlotte in
rebounding with 13. ... Murray had a career-high 11 defensive
rebounds. ... Charlotte's starters shot a combined 17-for-62
(.274). ... Charlotte's Eddie Robinson was taken for x-rays after
falling to the floor hard on his back in the fourth quarter. ...
Phills left in the second half a tight left hamstring.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Charlotte Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
RECAPS
New York 99
Orlando 96
Atlanta 94
Boston 84
Cleveland 106
Charlotte 89
Miami 89
Washington 86
Dallas 95
Chicago 83
Minnesota 113
Vancouver 82
Philadelphia 82
Milwaukee 79
San Antonio 106
Denver 87
Phoenix 129
New Jersey 90
Toronto 106
Golden State 88
Portland 88
LA Clippers 71
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