NEW ORLEANS: LeBron James matched his season high with 37 points following a terrific fourth quarter, but the Cavaliers fell in overtime to the New Orleans Pelicans 114-108 on Friday.
It’s the second time in as many games the Cavs allowed a team with a losing record to end a four-game losing streak against them.
The Cavs managed just 3 points in overtime and didn’t score their first basket until three minutes remained. They seemed to wear down after expending so much energy to rally late in the fourth.
James took over the fourth quarter, scoring 23 of the Cavs’ 28 points in an incredible rally from an 11-point deficit with 5½ minutes to play.
James saved his best work for last, from a terrific, slashing three-point play to attacking the basket and making the elbow jumper that gave the Cavs their first lead since midway through the third quarter.
James had a chance to win it in regulation, but his shot clanked off the rim after the Pelicans tied the game at 105 on a 3-pointer by Jrue Holiday with 8 seconds left.
The Pelicans pushed the tempo in the second and third quarters, scoring more than 30 points in each, before the game slowed a bit in the fourth.
Davis’ 3-pointer, followed by Dante Cunningham’s long jumper pushed the Pelicans’ lead to 94-81 with 6:52 left — their largest of the night. But they managed just three baskets the rest of the quarter as the Cavs’ defensive tenacity improved.
Anthony Davis had 31 points and 12 rebounds for the Pelicans after leaving briefly in the first half with an apparent ankle injury. It didn’t take long for him to return.
J.R. Smith scored 18 points, but 15 of them came in the first quarter. Kevin Love had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavs.
Coach David Blatt shuffled his starting lineup before the game, inserting Matthew Dellavedova and removing Mo Williams, whose suspect defense has been an issue throughout the early part of the season.
Blatt made clear the move wasn’t solely based on Tuesday’s loss to the Washington Wizards, but it’s no secret the Cavs have started poorly more often than not lately and were hoping Dellavedova’s steady hand on offense and defensive tenacity could inject some life into a team still trying to figure out how to play hard for 48 minutes every night.
“It has nothing to do with,” the loss to the Wizards, Blatt said. “Just a matter of thinking about where we can gain an advantage and where we can prepare ourselves going forward.”
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.