It counts as only one win in the standings, but given where the Cavaliers have been lately, and given where they want to go, Wednesday’s improbable 114-104 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena felt like so much more.
“For us, because of the opponent — and I’m not usually into that — but with where we are right now, especially being a young team trying to figure out how to win, when you talk about the opponent, you talk about the environment, you talk about just losing three, the trade we just made, trying to fit Spence [Hawes] in, where we are in the playoff hunt, there’s a lot that adds up to this being a very good win for us, and it could be a confidence booster for a lot of different reasons,” Cavs coach Mike Brown said. “Hopefully it is, and hopefully we can keep playing the right way from here.”
The Cavaliers played the right way on Wednesday, with a strong showing by the bench supplementing a determined showing by the starters.
Kyrie Irving had 31 points, 14 in the fourth quarter, plus nine assists, five rebounds and four steals, while Hawes, looking more comfortable every day, added 19 points and seven rebounds, and Jarrett Jack added 21 points as the Cavs snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 23-36, 9-21 on the road. In spite of the fact that the Cavs were still without Anderson Varejao (back), Dion Waiters (knee) and C.J. Miles (ankle), they won their second straight against the Thunder and three of the last four games against the Western Conference power.
Having now won seven of the last 10 games, and, coupled with Atlanta’s loss to Boston, the Cavs moved within four games of the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Kevin Durant had 28 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists, while Russell Westbrook, in his third game back after missing 27 following right knee surgery, added 24 points and 9 assists as the Western Conference leading Thunder slipped to 43-15, 23-6 at home. Oklahoma City was without starting center Kendrick Perkins, out six weeks with a groin injury.
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