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Team loses in overtime after Delonte West fractures right wrist
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Friday, Jan 16, 2009
CHICAGO: In their first overtime game in exactly a year, the Cavaliers lost 102-93 Thursday night in a thriller against the Chicago Bulls, a game that was as costly as it was exhilarating.
Cavs guard Delonte West got hurt late in the first quarter, breaking his right wrist and suffering facial cuts.
Working without him, the Cavaliers got to prove just how deep their bench is. It was evident, though, that West's loss affected the team.
For the next quarter and a half, the Cavs played out of sorts, as if they were feeling their way for much of the rest of the game.
It didn't help that LeBron James, suffering from some congestion, missed his final 12 shots of regulation time, including a potential winning shot with the score tied 87-87.
In the end, the Bulls ran away with it in overtime, going on a 12-1 run to start it.
Bulls rookie phenom Derrick Rose hit on a jump shot to start the extra session, only to be fouled. He completed the continuation
play. After a Cavs miss, Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich dropped in a 3-point shot to put the Bulls ahead 93-87.
After three quarters, the score was tied. The Bulls opened the second half as if they had seen red.
Sensing the chance to win the final game in the four that the two teams played this season, the Bulls scratched and fought from there.
Both teams played back-and-forth basketball as the Cavs couldn't pull away, and the Bulls tried to catch up and pass their opponent.
The Cavaliers led 81-80 at 5:52 when Tyrus Thomas of the Bulls blocked a shot from behind, igniting the home crowd and giving the Bulls some energy as they took an 83-81 lead.
Physical game
The Cavs scrambled back as the game grew more physical with each passing possession. With the score tied 83-83, James found the going tough near the basket, missing a layup before getting fouled. He nailed two free throws to put the Cavs ahead 85-83 will 2:54 to play.
After a Bulls turnover, James found a wide-open Anderson Varejao in the lane for a slam to take an 87-83 lead. But the Bulls' Rose raced right back to pull Chicago within two points.
Rose missed a chance to tie the score on the next possession, whiffing on two free throws.
The Bulls, however, proved to have plenty of fight left as James turned the ball over with 28.1 seconds left on an in-bounds pass, giving the Bulls possession. Rose got fouled as he maneuvered to the basket and atoned for the previous misses, tying the score 87-87.
Delonte's exit
After colliding with the Bulls' Rose, West found himself on the floor with facial cuts and was later diagnosed with a nondisplaced fractured wrist. He needed two stitches.
But in an interview with TNT's Craig Sager, West called the injuries no big deal, even emerging from the locker room to shoot baskets with his left hand.
West said Bulls doctors told him that he could put on a splint and soft cast and still play.
He said he planned to play on the Cavaliers' West Coast swing that begins Monday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Should he not be able to play, which might be a more likely scenario, his loss represents a big blow to the Cavaliers. West, who signed a new contract in the offseason, averages 12.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists. But he might be a bigger loss on defense, where he played with ferocity and often held taller, larger players in check.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas.
CHICAGO: In their first overtime game in exactly a year, the Cavaliers lost 102-93 Thursday night in a thriller against the Chicago Bulls, a game that was as costly as it was exhilarating.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Bethesda, MD
Posted 07:01 AM, 01/16/2009
Double loss considering we have to count on Sasha. If West has to sit for more than three weeks I think Ferry will bring in a vet. No one on the team can do what West can. There is no other legit starter at guard. It could be worse. Should be a character building for the team. Cavs just need to maintain home court advantage for the playoffs. We want that game 7 in Cleveland people.
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 07:50 AM, 01/16/2009
LeBoob missed his last 12 shots in regulation. That's the reason they lost. The Cavs are reverting back to 1 and 4 team play with LeBoob doing all the shooting in the 4th quarter. Time for the coach to change that. West's shooting & point guarding skills will really be missed. I don't think playing in a soft cast is the right thing for him or the Cavs. GO CAVS !!!
Posted 08:05 AM, 01/16/2009
Grump, you are a complete idiot. What a big dud you display yourself for name calling. Only a two bit,third class and fourth rate moron would have the audacity to spew out the venom you do not only on this comume but all the others in which you continue to prove there was a bad accident when your born!
Posted 10:35 AM, 01/16/2009
Grump is a moron as usual. He seems to follow the Cavs, or at least read stories about them, but always call LeBron that stupid name.
Anyway, I agree that LeBron was terrible shooting the ball most of the game. Yet time after time there he was dribbling the clock away, and taking a jump shot. It wasn't until late in the game that he started driving more for his shot and looking for the contact.
Why isn't the point guard handling the ball, setting up an offensive play. We do have those, don't we coach?
Loosing West in the game hurt, and will continue to hurt if lasts for long. But the real point where they lost that game was the 2nd quarter. Early in the quarter the Cavs were up 31-20, later they trailed 40-33. They were outscored 20-2 in the early part of the 2nd quater. That is terrible.
There was also a spot in the 4th where they failed to score on 3 consecutive attempts to gain a 4 point lead. Then the Bulls scored and tied it up, swinging momentum their way.
They've got to pull things together. If they can't beat average teams like the Bulls, the better teams will kill them. And in a few weeks they'll be back to 2nd or 3rd place in the Eastern Conference.
Barberton, OH
Posted 11:04 AM, 01/16/2009
It's just one game fellas. The Cavs could win 11 more games for the next 4 months and STILL get the 7th or 8th seed in the playoffs. That's how good they have been this 1st half of the season. I think Ferry HAS to make a big trade at this point. Some of the vets, (Z, Wallace) are starting to show their age, and if we want to go deep in the playoffs, we're going to need some fresh legs for the long haul. At least one more Big and another combo guard if Delonte is out for a long time.
Terrible game for Lebron too. Probably the worst I've seen him play since the beginning of the 2007 season.
Posted 11:18 AM, 01/16/2009
The schedule is gonna get tougher, they've had a pretty easy first half. Every team is going to lose games like this, the Bulls aren't a bad team, I think last night was the first time they've been intact without major injuries. Either way, no sense in worrying, all teams go through a rough spot.
Akron, OH
Posted 12:40 PM, 01/16/2009
Gotta love that Grump. I'm sure his unique personal observations have made you all generate some body heat from the neck up this morning.
Posted 01:31 PM, 01/16/2009
Ed Hass,
Yep it was just one game, in which we lost a key starter for a few weeks. The 7th or 8th seed? The Cavs won't get past the 2nd round if they are seeded that low.
I disagree that a big trade is needed now. Shaking up the team in a big way now will ruin the year. It is hard to get new guys playing well together during the season.
They just need to play smarter (let the point guard do his job, stop LeBron from taking control all the time). Getting healthy would help too. I loved what I saw last week against the Celtics. But last night they looked flat and lethargic from the second quarter on.
This Place, 32
Posted 04:37 PM, 01/16/2009
Amazing...the Cavs are the most dominating team in the NBA right now and still, HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE....
Oh well....I guess when the time comes those same HATERS will be rocking the 23 jersey (err, Grumpy)...
They lost one game, not 10 in a row....typical haters....
AND MOST OF ALL, this is about mr. west and the fact that his head and hand bounced off the hardwood. Does anyone wish him a quick return?
