RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
CLEVELAND (AP) -- The ugly wins look just like the pretty ones in
the standings.
"Some games are sloppy, that's just the way it is," Cleveland
forward Chris Gatling said. "If we have to play like that all year
and get Ws, well, then so be it."
With temperatures outside Gund Arena nearing record lows, the
Charlotte Hornets had their coldest shooting performance in
franchise history Tuesday night in a 71-66 loss to the Cavaliers.
Andre Miller, not known for his outside shooting, scored 17 of
his 20 points on jumpers as the Cavs snapped a four-game losing
streak by holding the Hornets to a club record-low 30 percent
shooting.
"I think we should probably keep it that cold all the time if
it will keep them shooting 30 percent," said Gatling, who thought
the arena was unusually cool. "Shoot, then have it sub-zero and
have people sitting there in minks and coats and hats during the
game."
Miller entered the game 2-for-13 on 3-pointers, but made all
three of his attempts from behind the arc -- two with the shot clock
expiring -- and added 10 rebounds for the Cavs, who won despite
scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter.
"I don't like to shoots 3s," Miller said. "But the shot was
feeling good. A couple came with the shot clock winding down and I
had to do it."
The Hornets matched their franchise low for points in a game,
and their 30 percent shooting was the worst since they shot 31
percent at Miami on April 6th. Charlotte also scored 66 in a loss
to Philadelphia on Feb. 5, 1999.
"Our shots didn't go in and we had too many turnovers and
didn't have enough energy," Hornets coach Paul Silas said. "It
was just one of those nights."
Jamal Mashburn, averaging 20.2 points, scored just nine points
and went 3-for-17 from the field. Charlotte's front line of
Mashburn, P.J. Brown and Elden Campbell went a combined 8-for-38.
Charlotte couldn't find the mark from the opening tip, and the
Hornets seemed to have difficulty warming up inside Gund Arena.
"It was just one of those offensive nights where we
struggled," said David Wesley, who shot 6-for-13. "We had a
chance to win. We gave ourselves a chance, we just didn't get it
done. I guess plus the fact that we couldn't put the ball in the
basket, I guess I could mention that, huh?"
Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 11 points, including seven down the
stretch for the Cavs, who made costly turnovers in the final
minutes that allowed the Hornets to stay in it.
Campbell had 16 points and Wesley 14 for the first-place
Hornets, whose lone basket over the final 5:30 came on a
goaltending call after they had battled back from a 16-point
deficit to tie it at 64.
Trailing 59-45 at the start of the fourth, the Hornets got two
3-pointers from Hersey Hawkins and opened the period with a 17-4
spurt. Charlotte eventually tied it at 64 on Jamaal Magloire's
10-foot jumper.
But Ilgauskas, Cleveland's 7-foot-3 center who has spent most of
the past two seasons injured, made three straight baskets as the
Cavs opened a 70-66 lead with 3:16 left.
Miller then drew a charging call on Baron Davis and later made a
free throw with 13.6 seconds left -- the last point scored as
neither team could capitalize on the other's lousy shooting.
"Andre taking the charge was a huge play," said Cavs coach
Randy Wittman, who felt much better about his team. Cleveland was
blown out by 34 points in its last home game.
"Tonight on defense, we dug in," Wittman said. "We said,
'Here we are' and stood our ground."
Game notes
The 71 points was the lowest winning total in Cavs history.
...... Mashburn had scored in double-figures in 13 straight games.
... Wittman says he usually knows right away if his team is going
have an "on" night. "I can tell the way we walk to the jump
balls," he said. "It's evident with this team. They can't hide
it." ... Cleveland will make its first network TV appearance since
April 3, 1998, when they play the Bulls in Chicago on Wednesday.
The game will be broadcast on TNT.
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NBA Scoreboard
Charlotte Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
RECAPS
Indiana 88
New Jersey 64
Miami 100
Atlanta 92
Cleveland 71
Charlotte 66
Orlando 101
Boston 98
Minnesota 100
Chicago 90
Sacramento 81
San Antonio 75
Houston 109
Dallas 102
Utah 98
Toronto 84
Vancouver 91
Detroit 83
LA Lakers 96
Philadelphia 85
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