Cavaliers bring down the Thunder!

The Cleveland Cavaliers ripped off a 12-0 run to blow open a close game late in the fourth period and gain a stunning triumph in Oklahoma City by a 96-90 margin over the Thunder.
Antawn Jamison led the Cavaliers with 21 points,but the star was once again Kyrie Irving as Irving was the watercarrier in the late blitz that gave Cleveland the win.
The Cavaliers will host Houston Sunday night at the Q.

Swashbucklings

1) Oklahoma City had lost just one game at home all season before this loss.
The Thunder shot poorly from the field,missing every three pointer in the second half and certainly played their role in the Cleveland win,but the team hustled,dove for loose balls and generally busted their ass in this one.
Effort will on occasion trump talent..

2) I missed the Denver win,but Kyrie Irving took that game over and he certainly did the same tonight.
Irving finished with just nine points on four of twelve shooting,but his fourth quarter performance was the difference in this game.Irving finished with 12 assists on the evening and despite the less than average scoring,I thought that he generally played Russell Westbrook to a draw....

3) Want more evidence of the workhorses tonight? Cleveland outrebounded Oklahoma City 51-40 and considering the lack of a big man,those numbers are shocking.
Five Cavaliers grabbed six boards or more,with three of those each pulling down eight.

4) I have been less than glowing in praise for Anthony Parker this season,but Parker played well in this one.Parker finished the game with 14 points and helped out on defense on Kevin Durant,which contributed to Durant scoring a below par 23 points.

5) The above shows why Durant is such a great player.
When you look at a 23 point,8 rebounds and 8 assist game and think that you controlled Durant for the night-that is a great player...

6) I do not like how Seattle lost their team to Oklahoma City,but I cannot deny just how loud and crazy that the OKC crowd is.
I would give Oklahoma City the edge for the best crowd that I have seen this season.

7) The trade deadline is just days away and these two wins on the road have pulled Cleveland to within two games of the final playoff spot.The question is whether the team goes for the playoff or for the future.
I tend towards the future,but I sure do like winning games like tonight!

Photo Credit:AP Photo