{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
Cleveland 99, New Orleans 84
When: 7:30 PM ET, Saturday, February 6, 2016
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Officials: #61 Courtney Kirkland, #50 Gediminas Petraitis, #49 Tom Washington
Attendance: 20562

CLEVELAND -- Kyrie Irving scored 29 points and LeBron James had 27 points and eight assists in the Cleveland Cavaliers' 99-84 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.

Guard J.R. Smith made six 3-pointers for 20 points and Tristan Thompson grabbed 15 rebounds while starting at power forward in place of an injured Kevin Love.

The Cavaliers squandered most of a 15-point, first-half lead for the second time in as many nights. They wound up losing Friday to the Boston Celtics at the buzzer, but held on Saturday despite the Pelicans pulling within four early in the fourth quarter.

New Orleans managed one field goal over the next five minutes and the Cavaliers extended the lead to double digits to end a brief two-game losing streak.

Pelicans point guard Norris Cole scored a career-high 26 points on the same day Cleveland State retired his No. 30 jersey. Forward Anthony Davis scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Jrue Holiday scored 12 points off the bench, but the Pelicans lost their fourth straight.

Love missed the game with a bruised left thigh, the first game he has missed all season. Love was hit on the leg during Friday's loss to the Boston Celtics and the area swelled up overnight.

It's unclear how much time he'll miss and he's considered day-to-day.

The Cavaliers play again Monday when they host the Sacramento Kings.

NOTES: Pelicans G Norris Cole had his No. 30 jersey retired Saturday afternoon at Cleveland State, where he starred before entering the NBA. Cole's Pelicans teammates attended the ceremony, as did Cavs F LeBron James, who played with Cole in Miami. ... James broke an 0-for-18 skid from 3-point range early in the third quarter and finished 2 for 5 from 3-point range. ... Pelicans G Tyreke Evans missed his sixth game with right knee tendinitis and coach Alvin Gentry said the team will likely hold him out until after the All-Star break. ... Cavs G Matthew Dellavedova missed his third game with a sore left hamstring and coach Ty Lue did not rule out keeping him out of the lineup until after the All-Star break. "If it was up to me, I wouldn't let him play until after the All-Star break," Lue said. "But it'd be hard to hold Delly out if he's feeling pretty good." ... The league ruled that the foul called on Cavs G J.R. Smith late in Friday's loss to the Boston Celtics was incorrect. The call helped the Celtics' cause in their win at the buzzer.
Top Game Performances
 
New Orleans   Cleveland
Norris Cole 26 Scoring Kyrie Irving 29
Norris Cole 5 Assists LeBron James 8
Omer Asik 12 Rebounds Tristan Thompson 15
Norris Cole 4 Free Throws Made Kyrie Irving 4
Jrue Holiday 2 Steals Kyrie Irving 2
Anthony Davis 2 Blocks Timofey Mozgov 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
New Orleans 84 39.1 5-23 11-16 18 42 2 5 8
Cleveland 99 43.3 14-41 7-7 21 49 6 6 14
Upcoming Games
  • Cleveland will play their next game at home against Sacramento. The Cavaliers have a W/L % of .750 after a win and .643 after a loss.
  • New Orleans will play their next game on the road against Minnesota. The Pelicans have a W/L % of .368 after a win and .355 after a loss.