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00:23The Cavaliers' traveling show has arrived in the state of North Carolina
00:27as we welcome you to NBA Basketball on FanDuel Sports Network, presented by Hyundai.
00:33The Cavs look for another victim tonight in Charlotte as they take aim at the Hornets.
00:40Donovan Mitchell and the new-look Cavaliers are rolling.
00:44They've won six in a row and 11 of 12 as the seven-time All-Star gets set to go
00:49to work once again.
00:54Hi, everyone. It's John Michael and Brad Doherty.
00:56Well, the Cavaliers return for the All-Star break in fine fashion
01:00as they were all over the nets at home just last night.
01:03It was a dominant performance in so many different aspects,
01:06and James Harden had his fingerprints all over the ballgame
01:09as Harden's play is our Toyota key to the game.
01:12John, it's been unbelievable watching this young man just fit right into this basketball team.
01:17What's this, a week and a half? It's like he's been here for ten years.
01:20His offense is just absolutely the creme de la creme in the NBA.
01:24He can score at any time on anyone under any circumstances, and he does it so methodically.
01:30He puts people to sleep. He drags you into a double team, and once he starts doing that,
01:35he starts dropping nothing but dimes.
01:37He throws exquisite passes only where the guy can catch the basketball who's finishing.
01:42The thing I've been most surprised, though, with is with his defense.
01:45He has done a great job using that 6'5 frame.
01:48Coming back double teaming the basketball, he had four shots, block shots against Denver.
01:52It's been refreshing, it's been fun, and it's been a leap.
01:55By the way, on this floor in November, Harden put 55 on these Hornets, which was a Clipper record.
02:02We'll see what James has in store here tonight.
02:05Well, these are two teams that are running hot.
02:06We know about the Cavs, but this Hornet team recently put together a nine-game winning streak.
02:11They've won 10 of 12, and suddenly they're back in play-in tournament contention.
02:15Yeah, Charles Lee's got these young guys playing great, smart, high-IQ basketball.
02:20Conk Nipple is an absolutely phenomenal foundational piece on this basketball team.
02:24They run, they shoot, they defend, they play really hard, and they play really smart.
02:30Cavs are going to have their hands full tonight.
02:32Well, a huge rim-running part of the Cavs.
02:34A quality play has been Jared Allen.
02:37And coming up, Serena Winters has more on the big man, as it's that time once again.
02:43Sit back, crack up on your favorite beverage, and settle on in.
02:47It's the Cavaliers and the Hornets, and it's next.
02:51Cavaliers Basketball on FanDuel Sports Network is brought to you by your Northern Ohio Hyundai Dealers.
03:00And by Calvetta Brothers Floor Show.
03:03It's time to fall in love again with your home.
03:07Welcome back to Charlotte, where we get set for another test for these Cavaliers.
03:11I'm Serena Winters.
03:12If you have been watching this team lately, Jared Allen's impact has been impossible to miss.
03:18The February numbers back it up.
03:20He's finishing.
03:21He's setting the tone physically, and he's setting the defensive standard the Cavs need to live up to.
03:26His teammates are taking notice, and they've been vocal about it.
03:29And the strongest endorsement might just be coming from his newest teammate.
03:35He's been a beast.
03:38He's just super aggressive.
03:39I like his aggressiveness.
03:40Every single time he sees a mismatch or anything, he's going down to the pain and getting two points every
03:46single time.
03:46And we need that from him.
03:48We need that from everybody in the floor.
03:50He's just ultra-aggressiveness.
03:52Jared Allen is insane.
03:56To see him, and he's been doing this since before, obviously the deadline, but just to see him set this
04:01tone for us, and then James and him having a great connection, and everybody really feeding off that.
04:06It's really nice to see, and it just gives me to know we have this opportunity.
04:10I can say he's better than I thought he was in the sense of, like, he's able to catch the
04:14ball, finish around the rim with both hands.
04:17He has so much touch around the rim, and that's, I think, probably one of the most underrated parts of
04:21his game.
04:22And, you know, so just trying to find ways, you know, to get him in the ball and positions to
04:27where he can be successful.
04:29Coming up, can Jared Allen continue his fantastic February here in Charlotte, and will the Cavaliers make it seven in
04:37a row?
04:37It is tip-off with Brad Doherty and John Michael next on Facebook.
04:41Here in Charlotte, his tip-off between the Cavaliers and the Hornets is only moments away.
04:46Let's take a look at the starting lineup.
04:49Yep, another new one for the Cavs.
04:51This is the Cavs' 28th different starting lineup in game number 57 of the season.
04:59Evan Mobley will not play tonight.
05:01Tail end of a back-to-back.
05:03Mobley just recently returned after missing seven games with a calf injury.
05:06So Mobley sits out this evening, and Sam Merrill slots back in.
05:12Let's take a look at the Hornets' starting lineup.
05:14Notable omissions, a couple of players who are still serving suspensions in Miles Bridges, and also Moussa Diabate.
05:23So as Ryan Kulkbrenner, who slots in, Cian James, will get the start as well.
05:28Grant Williams started at that power forward spot last night.
05:31He's still recovering from a long-term injury, so he's not playing on the tail end of a back-to
05:36-back either,
05:37as here is Donovan Mitchell.
05:39Mitchell enters action, sixth in the NBA in scoring, top ten in steals per game.
05:46Boy, has he enjoyed the presence of James Harden on this Cavalier club.
05:50Tell you what, you got Donovan running around like a kid in a candy store.
05:54He loves just shoveling that ball off of James and going down and filling his lane,
05:58looking for a screen and an opportunity.
06:01Gives him a chance to hunt on that offensive end to get good shots, so it's been remarkable to watch.
06:06The Cavaliers have won six in a row, 11 of their last 12 as the Cavs win the tip, and
06:11we are underway.
06:12John Michael, Brad Doherty, and Serena Winters, so great to have you with us.
06:17As Jared Allen says nobody's going to come out here, I'll nail this 15-footer to get us started in
06:22Charlotte tonight.
06:23Tell you what, Jared Allen would not do that a year ago.
06:25That is fantastic.
06:26He is making Kalkbrenner, he's going to have to make some decisions.
06:30If Jared's going to shoot that ball from 15 feet consistently, that's going to put so much pressure on Kalkbrenner.
06:35Kalkbrenner is a good young shot blocker.
06:38As back it goes to Brandon Miller.
06:40Miller fires a three and connects.
06:42The Hornets were in action on this floor just last night.
06:44They got nipped by the Rockets in a tight contest throughout.
06:49Here goes Allen working again.
06:50Well, you can just see he is surging with confidence.
06:53It is Allen as Jared draws the foul.
06:58I love the fact that the first two plays by the Cavaliers are going through Jared Allen.
07:03Kalkbrenner backs up, 15-footer.
07:04Yep, Jared's a good free-throw shooter.
07:06You can make that all day long.
07:07Nice footwork.
07:08Gets Kalkbrenner coming.
07:09He comes back across with that little drop step.
07:12Jared's putting in some work, playing great basketball.
07:15I'll tell you, he's top five center in the league, no doubt about it.
07:17In Allen's four games since Harden's arrival, he's recorded three double-doubles.
07:21And the one that wasn't a double-double was the 21-9 game against the Wizards in which Allen
07:26went a perfect eight for eight from the field over his last six games.
07:31He is averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds and shooting a sparkling 73% from the field.
07:37We're just a different basketball team when Jared Allen plays at this level.
07:41And like I said, he's got something to prove.
07:43He knows it.
07:44He's heard the naysayers and the doubters.
07:46And something flipped the switch at Jared Allen about a month ago.
07:50And he is playing like a man possessed.
07:52Sion Gene deals off to Miller.
07:54Miller uncirks a three.
07:56That's good.
07:58Miller had a rough night just last night as he struggled to find his A game.
08:02He went just five, a 22 from the field, one of 12 from long ranges.
08:07Miller's hit his first two threes here this evening.
08:09Mitchell a 15-footer.
08:10He draws a foul as the rookie Sion James reached in and he commits the personal.
08:16What's great about the NBA is you've got 24 hours and you can get right.
08:21You had a bad night.
08:23Miller's going to shoot that basketball.
08:24Nice move by Donovan there.
08:26Ask Lamello.
08:27Yeah.
08:28Ask Lamello Ball, the last meeting in January between these teams.
08:32Lamello had a night that he'd like to forget as he went 1 of 15 from the field, 0 for
08:3610 from long range.
08:38He came out the next night and just lit it up in this field.
08:40Got the beauty of the NBA.
08:42You just never know.
08:43Here's our injury report brought to you by Elkinaw.
08:45No Stroopster Mobley for the Cavs.
08:47McNeely is out for the Hornets.
08:49Newly acquired Kobe White has yet to play for this Charlotte team, a long-time bull.
08:55We mentioned notably both Moussa Diabate.
08:59He's out of this lineup after that fight.
09:02Back on February 9th, the Abate and Miles Bridges, they're serving game three of four of their suspensions
09:09as Miller inside.
09:10We're going to Brandon Miller off in, and that's picked off by the Cavaliers.
09:15Donovan Mitchell, we mentioned Donovan's top ten.
09:17Donovan in steals, he goes to Allen, and Allen thunders it home as Donovan went all the way
09:22and then set up the seven-footer in Allen.
09:25Tell you what, that was absolutely filthy by Jared Allen.
09:30Conkbrenner has it in.
09:31Conkbrenner comes right back at him.
09:33I like it.
09:34Let the big boys go at it.
09:35Nice job on both ends by both the big guys.
09:40Hard into the elbow, around the horn, it goes to Wade.
09:43Allen's posting up and posting up aggressively, he'll find the cutter in Sam Merrill,
09:47and Merrill lays it in.
09:49I tell you what, the ball movement for this Cavalier team, Brad,
09:51over the last couple of weeks has been exquisite.
09:53I agree.
09:54That is, you're absolutely right.
09:56The ball movement has just been contagious as well,
09:58and Cavaliers just being so unselfish and aggressive at the same time.
10:03Brandon Miller got away with a walk there.
10:05It looked like he double dribbled.
10:07Ball almost got that to go after Mitchell commits the foul from behind.
10:13Boy, the last time down, Donovan Mitchell made a terrific play on the defensive end.
10:18Yeah, he comes over to Miller, he's going to block it.
10:20Ends up stealing that ball, and goes down,
10:23and Jared Allen finishes with authority in the lane.
10:26Hey, I standed beside Brandon Miller.
10:28We were in warm-ups there just a little bit, talked to him.
10:31Man, he is, he's like 6'9".
10:34He is every bit of 6'9".
10:36He is tall, man.
10:38Long individual in his third season out of Alabama.
10:44Mentioned he struggled last night to get it going, but he's a dangerous player.
10:50As a rookie, Miller connected on 184 threes, fourth most ever by an NBA rookie.
10:56The only three players that hit more threes in their first NBA season,
10:59Keegan Murray, Damian Lillard, and a young Donovan Mitchell.
11:04James Harden gets two feet in the paint.
11:06He finds Allen.
11:07Allen couldn't get it to go the first time he got it back.
11:10Jared Allen has just been a machine recently for this Cavaliers team.
11:14Tremendous pass, great hands.
11:17Harden makes an incredibly tough pass.
11:19Jared's got tremendous touch to catch that basketball and to finish over top of Kofferner.
11:24Nice job.
11:25Looks like Jared found a new best friend.
11:27Miller twist.
11:28Harden was there with the contest.
11:29It's tapped out and snatched by the Cavaliers' Sam Miller.
11:3311-10 is the early Cavalier lead.
11:35Ball with aggressive defense.
11:36Knocks it away from Miller.
11:37It's rescued from Merrill, I should say.
11:39Rescued by Allen.
11:42Harden now between the circles.
11:43Beers off an Allen screen.
11:44Allen just popped a mellow ball.
11:46It opens up Merrill.
11:49Got what they wanted.
11:50Nice screen by Jared Allen.
11:51Created a lot of space on the floor, setting a solid screen.
11:54You get Sam Merrill, you take that every time.
11:57Donovan out to an open Miller.
11:59Not that.
11:59Knipple with a weak side rebound.
12:01He has been splendid here in his rookie campaign as the ball got run off the line by Wade.
12:07Knipple, don't let him shoot.
12:11Knipple's second in the entire NBA in threes made, only to the man he's guarding in Mitchell.
12:16And then he has to reach in as Mitchell crossed over the youngster and drew the foul.
12:20Strongly foul on Stebbin, Conk, Knipple.
12:23His heart's so hard to stay in front of.
12:26You've got to double team.
12:27You've got to come at him.
12:27And Conkbrenner does the right thing.
12:29When he does that, it allows Jarrett to slip in behind him.
12:32And that's a nice wraparound pass.
12:33That's a lot of confidence James Harden has in those hands of Jarrett Allen.
12:38He quickly found a chemistry.
12:41Allen in toward Conkbrenner.
12:43Conkbrenner gave him a runway.
12:46Time is rebounded by the Hornet rookie.
12:49And here's LaMelo Ball.
12:50Ball works on Mitchell.
12:52He's passed on to Dean Wade.
12:53Wade returned last game after missing three with an ankle injury on the other side of the All-Star break.
13:00Miller's watched now by Mitchell as the shot clock winds to four.
13:04Miller looks for an opening.
13:06Steps back, takes a 15-footer that he left short.
13:08Wade's there as Wade ranged in and reeled in the rebound.
13:12And now Mitchell will orchestrate this offensive sequence with his calves down two.
13:16Mitchell works on Miller.
13:18Fires.
13:19Are you going to buy Sion James?
13:23The nipple now with his head up.
13:25He'll find James with Tyrese Proctor's teammate at Duke last season.
13:31LaMelo.
13:33That's fouled by Harden.
13:34The shot doesn't go.
13:35However, Ball will shoot free throws.
13:39Cavaliers defensively last time down did an outstanding job.
13:42I thought that was one of the best defensive stances I've seen since they've come back.
13:45Started playing again last night.
13:46Everybody had accountability and was doing a good job talking, communicating.
13:50Communication's gone through the roof on this basketball team over the last two weeks.
13:54It's just been, it's something that's pertinent to being successful defensively.
13:58And the Cavs have just absolutely started to talk better.
14:01Here's a word from Spectrum.
14:08Spectrum.
14:08It's internet, mobile, and streaming TV all from one place.
14:12It's only everything.
14:16Well, starting in late January, this Hornet team caught fire.
14:20And in a little less than a month, they've roared from near-basement dweller to a legit factor in play
14:25-in tournament contention.
14:27Charles Lee's bunch opened the season 4-14.
14:30When they lost to the Cavs on January 21st, they dropped to 16-28.
14:35Well out of play-in range.
14:37Following that, however, the Hornets rattled off nine straight victories.
14:40Harden with a step back three.
14:42And it's perfect as James Harden gets his first long ball to go.
14:46Boy, that's just absolutely.
14:48He shoots that basketball, man.
14:50It's a thing of beauty.
14:52Those are just backbreakers between he and Donovan and Sam Merrill.
14:55I mean, you're playing good defense.
14:56You get them locked up.
14:57You get them pushed out.
14:58These guys just drill you from 25 feet.
15:01Knipple finds James back to Knipple.
15:03Knipple's always in motion.
15:05A lot like Merrill, the man who guards him.
15:06The long rebound is batted.
15:08Eventually grabbed by James.
15:09Second chance for the Hornets.
15:11LaMelo with a quick trigger.
15:13Josh Green, who has just checked in, tried to bat it out once again.
15:17But it's Harden there.
15:18He's been a good rebounder in his four games with the Cavs.
15:20Trying to draw a foul.
15:22We play on.
15:24LaMelo balls on the run.
15:25Hornets look to push.
15:27This has been a big part of their offensive success as of late.
15:30And Green stumbles out of the corner.
15:31Wade stayed right with him.
15:33LaMelo on the bounce in toward Dennis Schroeder.
15:35He'll bank and miss.
15:37LaMelo gets it back.
15:38The putback no good.
15:39He thought he got fouled.
15:41Here's Schroeder.
15:42Schroeder over the Hornet logo.
15:44Finds Harden.
15:46Back it goes to Schroeder.
15:48Schroeder shovels to Allen.
15:50Allen.
15:51Shuffled his feet.
15:56We have a timeout on the floor.
15:59The Cavaliers, since the addition of James Harden,
16:02have won four straight.
16:03Overall, they've won six straight
16:05as we are underway here in Charlotte.
16:11Through the first quarter here in Charlotte
16:13as we take a look at the live odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
16:16You can play in the Cavs at a minus five and a half.
16:19Cavs plus over.
16:21Parleys at 2.59.
16:23These are two of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference.
16:27Two of the hottest teams in the NBA
16:29as the Cavaliers have won 11 of their last 12
16:32and 18 of their last 23.
16:34As for the Hornets,
16:36they've won 10 of 12
16:37after authoring a nine-game winning streak.
16:44Cavaliers failed this ballgame at 15-14
16:48and the Cavs steady climb up.
16:50The standings continue.
16:51They're tied for third with the Knicks.
16:54Just a game and a half behind the second-place Celtics.
16:57As meanwhile, Celtics have the basketball
17:00coming out of the timeout.
17:01Trey Mann has just checked in.
17:03The 50-year man out of Florida.
17:06We'll set the lineups for you in a moment.
17:10That ball is shoveled inside to P.J. Hall.
17:12Hall on a two-way contract.
17:14Flips it up and in.
17:15The second-year man, Adam Clemson,
17:17has given the Hornets the 17-14 lead.
17:20Schroeder around and Allen's screen looking for Allen.
17:22Allen has to come down with it.
17:23Sips it back to Schroeder around the horn.
17:26Tyson!
17:27That's long.
17:28Out of bounds it goes.
17:30Last off whom?
17:31Last off the Hornets.
17:32Our officials tonight are referee, Merritt Kogut,
17:35in his 17th season.
17:36Second-year umpire, Tyler Ricks.
17:38And the crew chief is Brent Barneke here this evening.
17:41He's a 16-year veteran.
17:43And his key on Ellis will report in.
17:46You know, in pregame, we were listening to Coach Charles Lee
17:49talk about how he was going to defend the Cavaliers.
17:51And his ideology has put a lot of pressure up front,
17:54really forced the ball handlers to have to get rid of that
17:56basketball and make decisions.
17:59And that plays right into the Cavs' hands.
18:01It plays just like this with James Harden,
18:03who's one of the best decision-makers that we've ever seen.
18:05So hopefully take advantage of some of these one-on-one matchups.
18:09Well, Charles Lee saw plenty of this man in this building in November,
18:14as James Harden set a Clipper record with 55 points that night,
18:20breaking the record previously held by Charles Smith and Bob McAdoo of 52 points.
18:26Harden had 27 of his 55 in the first quarter.
18:29It was his 25th 50-point game.
18:34Oh, goodness.
18:35Wow.
18:35I mean, the man was on fire.
18:37You know, it brings up an interesting contrast, right?
18:40That night, there was no Kawhi Leonard.
18:42So James Harden said, I have to score.
18:45This is what I have to do to get the job done.
18:47The Clippers won that ball game.
18:49And that's, you know, when you compare it to what he's done with the Cavs,
18:53distinctly different.
18:54You know, just a couple of games ago, he took only four shots.
18:57And that big victory over Washington, James knows what it takes.
19:01I mean, he can do that.
19:02He can come out and score 50 on any given night.
19:04But we haven't seen that.
19:05He hasn't needed to do that as he has set up his teammates as a member of the Cavaliers.
19:09Yeah, a guy with his pedigree and background at this point in his career,
19:13he wants to win a championship.
19:14So he's going to do whatever it takes.
19:16And he's been close to getting to the mountaintop.
19:19So he kind of knows what it takes.
19:21He knows what it's going to take to get there.
19:22And it's going to take unselfish play on his behalf.
19:25And then at the times he's selfish,
19:27that's when the Cavs are really going to just strap that saddle to him and ride.
19:30So he's all in.
19:31He's here for one reason.
19:32That's to win a championship.
19:34That Cavalier defense recently has been opportunistic.
19:37They've been forcing turnovers.
19:39They cause one right there.
19:41Both Schroeder and Ellis are in the ball game.
19:43They've been a big part of that for the Cavs in terms of that defensive resurgence.
19:47Here is Ellis.
19:48Ellis off the wing, puts it on the floor.
19:50Boy, he had a dandy of a dunk last night against the Nets.
19:53As Allen draws another foul.
19:54He puts it up and in.
19:56And Jared Allen has a chance for the three-point play.
19:59Play started.
20:00Just originated with Ellis.
20:01He's so quick and so fast.
20:03He exploded into that lane.
20:06And he makes a nice little shovel pass to J.A.,
20:09who's just been absolutely, again, engaged and on fire.
20:12Nice job by Jared giving him an out.
20:14Kind of a release valve there, too.
20:16Stepping into him there about ten feet from the basket.
20:18That's his domain.
20:21And that is our Allison Jewelers time-to-get-engaged feature.
20:25As Allen has given the Cavaliers this 19-17 lead.
20:29What a start.
20:30Eleven quick points for Jared Allen.
20:34Josh Green looks to penetrate down the lane.
20:36He's going to dump it off the P.J. Hall.
20:38Harden got a hand in there, and the ball will stay with the Hornets.
20:43There's a good look at James.
20:47Ford in the NBA, an assist for a game.
20:50We talked about this before as Harden got his arm in the passing lane.
20:55Just his size changes a lot of things in terms of that Cavalier defensive dynamic.
21:00Big guy, and picks up a lot of space, makes it very difficult to move around, and double teams.
21:06It's just a beautiful thing because he's so big.
21:09Allen had to go a long way to grab that rebound.
21:12That was really well done.
21:13And Schroeder works on the veteran Pat Connaughton.
21:15And Schroeder, who had a dozen points just last night at home with the mid-range jumper,
21:20gives the Cavs this four-point lead.
21:22Schroeder's so aggressive on both ends of the floor, digging, grabbing, talking.
21:26Just absolutely getting after you.
21:29Nice play by Schroeder.
21:30The Cavaliers have scored the last seven points.
21:33Miller got off to a nice start with two quick threes.
21:35That pass intended for Hall, and pinball's out of bounds.
21:37Last off Hall, and the Cavs create another turnover.
21:41And Ellis is so quick, John.
21:43He moves his feet so quickly.
21:45I mean, it's just lightning steps.
21:46Did a great job defending there.
21:49Look at it.
21:50Look at how quick he is.
21:50Look at it.
21:51He just gets a body blow.
21:52He's right back.
21:53He comes back around, tries to swipe at it, and it just kind of throws Brandon off just a little
21:57bit.
21:58Throws Miller off.
21:59He throws the ball away.
22:00Great shot by our camera crew and our truck.
22:02It just showed the Cavs' activity in that short little sequence as Mitchell in trapping.
22:08It doesn't matter.
22:09He floats it up and in.
22:10You mentioned Ellis just last night.
22:11He had three big blocks against the Nets along with that highlight reel dunk.
22:16Just what you said, though.
22:17It's the activity.
22:18That's the common denominator in this Cavs basketball team over the last two weeks.
22:23It's just active, active, active.
22:25Baylor can't find his third three of this first quarter.
22:28Thomas Bryant's checked in for the Cavs.
22:30Green opens up.
22:31He's got it.
22:33Goal!
22:34Goal!
22:34Goal!
22:34Goal!
22:34Goal!
22:35Goal!
22:35Goal!
22:35Goal!
22:35Goal!
22:35Goal!
22:36Goal!
22:37Goal!
22:37Goal!
22:38Goal!
22:39Goal!
22:43Goal!
22:49Tyson who represented the Cavaliers at the Rising Stars game in L.A. just recently.
22:55A quality performance in the first meeting between these teams.
22:58He scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds off the bench.
23:02This is the fourth and final meeting of the season.
23:04The Cavs have taken two of three.
23:06That was Ellis with another block as he stripped it away from Miller.
23:10Ellis got wiped out on the screen.
23:12It was a little bit of trouble, but just, like I say, so fast, so aggressive, retreated,
23:16blocked that shot.
23:17Bryant and Schroeder play catch.
23:19A couple of veterans.
23:20He never quit on that play defensively.
23:22Never quit.
23:22That's right.
23:23He got wiped out on the screen, but he did not stop.
23:26They just watched.
23:27He kept coming.
23:34All pressure by Bryant.
23:36Connaughton comes and gets it.
23:37A long-time buck to the foul line.
23:39Going to bounce it back to Hall.
23:40Thomas Bryant was wise.
23:41Connaughton hits the deck.
23:42So did Mitchell.
23:43It's poked, however, back to Green.
23:45Green couldn't shoot it.
23:46Schroeder was there.
23:47Miller appeared to walk.
23:48Miller in jail.
23:49Thomas Bryant put him there.
23:51Green had contested three, and the Cavs are making the Hornets hurry here as Tyson grabs
23:55the loose ball, and out come the Cavs with a five-point lead.
23:58Schroeder, however, gave it back.
23:59Green with the steal.
24:01Now Miller back to Green.
24:02Green thought about a three.
24:03Looks to go baseline.
24:05Cuts across the lane.
24:06Comes back to James.
24:07That was read by Mitchell.
24:08And Mitchell pokes it out of bounds.
24:10A frenetic pace near the end of this opening quarter.
24:15Cavaliers are really scrambling on both ends of the floor, John.
24:18The defensive effort is just absolutely phenomenal.
24:21Cavs are playing really hard, really smart basketball.
24:24Come on back.
24:25We got to.
24:25Welcome back to Charlotte.
24:27Cavaliers up five.
24:28When I asked Kenny Atkinson about James Harden's communication style before this game,
24:32he said it's been great.
24:34Doesn't overdo it, and he's usually on point.
24:36Well, speaking of communication, Kenny Atkinson's message to this group clearly got James' attention.
24:42Take a listen.
24:46We got a bigger picture.
24:48Coach told us before the break.
24:49He said, you know, make sure this is a different break.
24:52We don't want to.
24:53We're preparing for something, you know.
24:54And so I think all the guys listened to him, and they put the work in, and, you know,
24:58the comeback was seamless.
24:59So obviously we got a long way to go, but, you know, we're headed in the right direction.
25:06So far, so good.
25:08Cavs 25, Hornets 20.
25:11Here's Miller.
25:12Miller galloped into the paint.
25:14He got swarmed upon.
25:16The Cavaliers force another turnover.
25:18The fifth of this first quarter by the Hornets as James knocks that ball out of bounds.
25:28The Cavs have taken only 15 shots here in this opening frame.
25:32They've hit nine.
25:33There you see points off turnovers.
25:35The Cavs have been excellent in that department over the last couple of weeks.
25:40Really strong heading into the All-Star break.
25:43They got a terrific performance last night in the wire-to-wire victory over the Nets
25:47as Mitchell caught the rookie leading.
25:50James picks up the personal.
25:52Yeah, it's been a really competitive first half, first quarter of basketball.
25:57The Cavs really making the Hornets scramble on that offensive end, taking some tough shots.
26:02And then on the offensive end for the Cavs, you know,
26:04the Hornets have done a pretty good job of slowing them down.
26:07And when J.A. hasn't touched the basketball, it's been tough to get some buckets.
26:11So it's been a back-and-forth battle thus far, which I expected it to be.
26:16This is game two of a five-game-and-seven-day stretch.
26:19From here, the Cavs go on to Oklahoma City for a matinee against the Thunder on Sunday.
26:26Then after that, you can join the Cavs for an Eastern Conference showdown
26:29against the Knicks on Tuesday.
26:31Tip time is at 7.30 at Rocket Arena.
26:34Go to Cavs.com slash tickets for details.
26:36The next night, the Cavs are in Milwaukee, so the hits just keep on coming here late in February.
26:42And it does not get any easier for Kenny Atkinson's club in the month of March.
26:47No, you get to, you know, basically there's 27 games left in about 45 days.
26:50So it's feast or famine time.
26:54It's time to go.
26:55And I kept saying that before the break.
26:56It's time to put your foot on the throttle and hammer down.
27:00You've got to get every ounce of good basketball out of your team,
27:04your conditioning, your preparation, your execution has to be top-notch this next 30 days
27:10because it's an examination of what's going to take you into the playoffs.
27:14Brandon Miller pressured by Donovan.
27:17Mitchell, he tried to send one through.
27:19Thomas Bryan has been ultra-active since checking in.
27:22The Cavs force another turnover.
27:24Mitchell, however, thought he got fouled.
27:25He ran out of options and threw it away.
27:28Miller works on Schroeder.
27:30His skip pass finds Connickson who touches it into the corner for a three that's no good.
27:34But Antonio Reeves sees some rare playing time.
27:36And then Mitchell gets fouled by Miller as Mitchell looked to escape from danger.
27:41And that will send Donovan to the line once again.
27:44I'll tell you, a lot of times that loose ball ends up, the other team ends up getting it.
27:49But Schroeder, Schroeder stuck his nose in there and took a good blow to disrupt that basketball,
27:56which was going to be captured by the Charlotte Hornets.
27:59A lot of times we don't get that loose ball.
28:01We have not gotten that 50-50 ball throughout the season.
28:05Well, this young man has arrived.
28:07And we saw him dive on the floor last night.
28:09This is a veteran guy.
28:10He's been around a long time.
28:13Diving after a basketball at half court last night.
28:15He just stuck his nose in.
28:17Watch this.
28:17This is a 50-50 ball.
28:18We're losing that.
28:19That's too far away.
28:20But look at him sticking his nose in there and knocked that away from Miller.
28:24That's giving it up for your teammates.
28:25That's a guy you want on your team.
28:26That's a potential five-point swing.
28:28Just a subtle little play right there.
28:30Huge.
28:30Correct.
28:31Huge.
28:32What also was refreshing, when we were in Denver, our seats were right next to the Cavalier bench.
28:36To see James Harden and Dennis Schroeder in one of their first games ever with this new organization,
28:42doing a majority of the talking.
28:43Yes, they do.
28:44In those huddles.
28:46And Donovan was sitting back smiling, saying,
28:47and finally, I don't have to say as much to hear those veteran voices really taking charge early.
28:53Yeah.
28:53Gives you a sense of how thrilled they are to be with this Cavalier team.
28:57This whole dynamic has changed for our basketball team as far as people who are going to talk up and
29:02hold people accountable.
29:03Last night on our flight here, we get here late.
29:05We're sitting on the bus.
29:06I'm trying to relax and keep it nice and quiet.
29:09Here comes Schroeder and Harden, and they were yapping it up.
29:13I couldn't take a nap.
29:15We're talking about the game and just dissecting the game.
29:18And, you know, these guys just can't get it up.
29:20We're so fortunate to have them here in Cleveland.
29:23T. John Salon misses a three.
29:25Mitchell's going to work.
29:26His 15-footer is no good.
29:28Rebounded by the Hornets.
29:30P.J. Hall.
29:31The shot clock is off.
29:33Strong road opening period for the Cavs,
29:35particularly considering that they're playing the tail end of a back-to-back
29:39and had to travel after last night's game.
29:42The Hornets, if you're just joining us,
29:44they also are playing the tail end of a back-to-back.
29:46They were on this floor and lost to Houston a night ago.
29:49Reeves late in the first quarter.
29:51Clock shot puts one up.
29:52The put-back is no good.
29:54And that Cavalier defense, which was so good last night,
29:57and that victory over the Nets,
29:59holds the Hornets to just 20 through 12 minutes here this evening.
30:02I thought the defense was outstanding in the first quarter.
30:05Let's see if we can back it up, match it up this second quarter.
30:09The second quarter from Charlotte is straight ahead.
30:11There's a good-looking young man.
30:14Atkinson's Cavaliers seem to have cranked things up at just the right time
30:17as Cavs lead this ballgame at 30-20 after one quarter.
30:22Let's take a look back.
30:23Three days after Christmas, the Cavaliers were one game over 500
30:27and sitting in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
30:30These are the standings on the right heading into action this evening.
30:34The Cavaliers are in a tie for third place,
30:37just a game and a half behind the Celtics.
30:40As we are back underway here in the second quarter,
30:42it's interesting, Brad, when you have a team like this.
30:45I think it's less about watching those standings
30:48and more about how is this team playing at the right time
30:51as a Salon Free doesn't go.
30:54Naquan Tomlin missed last night's game because of an injury.
30:57He has returned here tonight.
30:58I agree 100%.
30:59Anybody who knows anything about the game
31:00and who really knows the game,
31:02we're not worried about standings.
31:04I mean, it doesn't matter.
31:05I mean, look what Indiana did last year.
31:08It's about playing your best basketball at the end of April.
31:12And so that's what we're getting towards.
31:14That's what we're trying to glean towards.
31:15And so how do you get there?
31:17And putting those pieces to the puzzle together are very complicated.
31:20The Cavaliers go in the right direction.
31:22The mellow ball launches a long-range three.
31:26That's a death from Winston-Salem.
31:28As Carl Kuprenner dives, saves it for Knippel.
31:31And Knippel drills his second three in this first half.
31:34We were talking about that Cavalier defense
31:36on the other side of the break
31:37over the final 5.33 of the first quarter.
31:40The Cavs held the Hornets to just one of eight
31:42from the field.
31:43Bryant's 15-footer is no good.
31:46Boy, that was really close to goaltending.
31:48And Salon appeared to touch the ball
31:50when it was on the cylinder.
31:52In that final 5.33,
31:53the Cavaliers forced five big Hornets turnovers
31:56as Ellis gets whistled for a tough-luck foul.
32:00Serena was back behind the Cavalier huddle
32:02at that last timeout.
32:04Serena.
32:05Well, John, as you can imagine,
32:06you mentioned the defense.
32:07Kenny was obviously happy with their defensive activity,
32:09but I thought he made an interesting point in the huddle.
32:11He said, look, I know we're playing with pace right now,
32:13but we can change our gears, too.
32:15Let's mix up our speeds more on the offensive end
32:17and work with that.
32:19Ball to trigger.
32:20He'll find Carl Kuprenner.
32:22Carl Kuprenner is a 24-year-old rookie.
32:25Adam Creighton was huge defensively
32:27in the Big East over the last couple of seasons.
32:30Salon in trouble.
32:31Comes out of the corner.
32:31Finds Knippel for a contested three.
32:33A long rebound is grabbed by Carl Kuprenner.
32:36Second chance for the Hornets.
32:38Man, short jumper doesn't go.
32:40Cows by 10.
32:41Opening minutes, second quarter.
32:43John Michael, Brad Doherty,
32:44and Serena Winters.
32:46Tomlin takes the feed and gets fouled.
32:48What a surgical pass by Dennis Schroeder
32:51to set up Tomlin.
32:56Did Salon touch that ball on the cylinder?
32:59Let's take a look at this.
33:01Oh, boy.
33:03Absolutely.
33:06Absolutely.
33:07And then that was just a heck of a pass by Schroeder.
33:09Nice cut, too, by Tomlin.
33:11Going to the basket.
33:13Schroeder throws him a nice little pass,
33:14leads him down the alleyway there.
33:15We have talked about all these moves
33:17heading into the deadline.
33:18Of course, the blockbuster was the James Harden deal.
33:22One we like a lot is the deal to bring in Keyon Ellis
33:24and also Dennis Schroeder.
33:26All of those moves, by the way,
33:28cleared the deck for this man,
33:30Naquan Tomlin, to be signed to a standard contract
33:33as his storybook journey continues.
33:36Phenomenal.
33:36He's worked so hard
33:38and has put in tremendous effort
33:41and just deserves every ounce of it.
33:44If you want to talk about a feel-good story
33:47as the Cavs force another turnover,
33:49the Hornets' seventh.
33:51Well done, young man.
33:52He did not play high school basketball.
33:54Went on to play at community college.
33:56Eventually, he worked his way to a major program.
33:59Then, last season, made his Cavalier debut.
34:02Only saw spot minutes.
34:04Started this season on a two-way
34:06and just recently got converted to a standard contract.
34:10Great stuff.
34:10But he's hanging around Schroeder and Harden,
34:12so he's starting to like that.
34:14He likes that yapping.
34:17Mitchell floats it up.
34:19Naquan's already aggressive.
34:21I think it's just going to turn him up another notch.
34:25Dan tracks down that ball into the corner.
34:27It goes Salon.
34:29He'll connect for the corner.
34:31They're having a little bit of trouble
34:32getting their offense flow going.
34:36Tomlin gets a good couple of free throws.
34:38Just if we get some offensive execution right here,
34:40just like that, very nice.
34:42Mitchell twists right around LaMelo ball.
34:44He lays it up, but in Cavs by 11.
34:46Mitchell quickly has 13.
34:49It's funny.
34:50Charles Lee tongue-in-cheek was joking before the game.
34:53He was asked about the 55-point performance.
34:55But the basket goes, man,
34:57it may have been touched by Thomas Bryant,
34:59but the putback is good.
35:01Charles Lee said, well, at least somebody else
35:03is going to take some shots tonight.
35:04James Arden, be careful what you wish for
35:07as Mitchell feeds Tomlin.
35:10Tomlin banks it up, rebounded by Salon.
35:12Mitchell, whoa, has a game-high 13.
35:15Allen has 11.
35:17Tomlin can't believe that he just got whistled for a foul.
35:25Donovan comes off a nice screen, spins.
35:28Just too strong for ball.
35:30Nice job.
35:33Ball just kind of gets away from him,
35:34gives him a lot of room.
35:35He's expecting Cockburn to block that shot.
35:38Donovan takes advantage.
35:40Schroeder, bird, dogs, LaMelo ball.
35:43Looking to take the Hornets out of rhythm.
35:46Boy, offensively, they have caught a rhythm.
35:48Knippel's three is true.
35:50What a pure shot.
35:50Yeah.
35:52This is a team that over the last handful of weeks,
35:54really since the turn of the calendar year,
35:56has caught fire offensively in big part
35:59because of the sharpshooter Knippel
36:01who has trimmed this Cavalier lead.
36:04James Harden and the Cavaliers
36:06are on top of the Hornets.
36:0737-31.
36:08Here is the Indeed career scouting report for James.
36:13Harden is an 11-time All-Star,
36:15three-time scoring champ.
36:17He was the most valuable player back in 2018.
36:21Six-time All-NBA first-teamer.
36:23Also twice named the All-NBA third team,
36:26including just a season ago
36:28as he continues to play at an elite level
36:31and get a load of some of those numbers.
36:33Those are absolutely first-valid,
36:36first check-of-the-box Hall-of-Fame numbers.
36:38And the thing that's just remarkable
36:40is he still moves extremely well.
36:43I mean, this guy can play three, four, five more years.
36:46I mean, it's just remarkable.
36:47I mean, you want to talk about durability.
36:49Last year at the age of 35,
36:51he started 79 games and played 35 minutes a night.
36:56He was the only player in the NBA to rank top ten
36:58in total points, assists, steals, and threes.
37:03Wow.
37:04Remarkable.
37:05Absolutely remarkable.
37:06James Harden is in season number 17.
37:08We're back underway.
37:10He's back on the floor.
37:11He's tracked here by Knipple.
37:13Harden steps back.
37:15Got it.
37:16James Harden has taken only three shots,
37:18eight points for Harden,
37:19and eight minutes of play.
37:21Knipple didn't see that at Duke.
37:23I'm going to tell you that right now.
37:25You've got to guard a guard like that.
37:26You've got to have two guys come to James Harden.
37:28Nobody can guard him one-on-one.
37:30Kalkbrenner puts it up and in.
37:33Kalkbrenner!
37:34Kalkbrenner has a couple of field goals,
37:36four rebounds.
37:37This is a good rebounding Hornet team.
37:40The loss, of course, of Diabate to suspension.
37:43Also, Bridges hurts the Hornets in that department.
37:47Tyson off the Harden feed.
37:48He's got it.
37:50Jalen Tyson entered action,
37:52number two in the entire NBA in three-point percentage.
37:55Harden put that ball right in Tyson's bread basket.
37:58Love that quick pass and quick shot.
38:01Defense can't get set.
38:03LaMelo wanted it.
38:04He was guarded by Tomlin,
38:05picked up by Tyson over the top.
38:07The Kalkbrenner, Knipple, extra pass.
38:09Mann goes baseline.
38:11Trying to throw it down on Allen.
38:12Bad idea.
38:13He ended up on his wall,
38:14and Salon almost walked.
38:15Ball doesn't hesitate.
38:17The weak side rebound.
38:18Took by Allen, grabbed by Harden.
38:19Once again, Harden finishes a possession
38:22by crashing the defensive glass.
38:25Harden works on Salon, a young Frenchman.
38:29Whoa.
38:30Tried to draw a foul.
38:31James can't believe it.
38:32Tomlin.
38:32Oh, my.
38:34Tomlin off the Harden feed.
38:36It's a good guess defensively by the Hornets,
38:39but you got Naquan, the lightning bolt.
38:42Tomlin stepping in, knocking down a big three.
38:44That's a big shot by Naquan.
38:46How about the last time down defensively,
38:48the Cavs talked Knipple out of that three.
38:50The ball instead went into the corner to Mann,
38:51and good things happened after that.
38:53Speaking of good things,
38:54the Cavs force another turnover,
38:56and it's Keon Ellis who lays it in,
38:58and Charles Lee needs a timeout.
39:00So James Harden got beat defensively,
39:02but he didn't stop,
39:03and he knocked that ball away from behind,
39:06pursuing that.
39:07It created an opportunity for transition.
39:09Nice job by the Cavaliers.
39:11Aggressive on that defensive end.
39:13Defensive wins championship.
39:15The network dealers,
39:16and by MGM Northfield Park,
39:19featuring world-class gaming.
39:21Dining, racing, and entertainment.
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39:27and the Cavaliers have executed an 8-0 run.
39:30Three buckets, three assists,
39:32all belong to James Harden,
39:34as he draws just so much attention, Brad.
39:36Yeah, you talk about the gravitational pull
39:38on a lead score.
39:39I mean, look at him.
39:39Look at Salon, Knipple.
39:41They cannot get their eyes off of him.
39:44They have to stay with the basketball.
39:46That leaves a wide-open Tyson who benefits
39:49and just knocks down that easy three-point bucket.
39:52Nice job by James Harden.
39:54I mean, you have to account for him.
39:55We heard Charles Lee talking about it in the pregame.
39:58He is so difficult to plan for
40:00because it just changes the entire balance of your defense.
40:04and puts all the pressure on one side of the floor.
40:06I mean, his gravitational pull is huge.
40:08Miller leaned on by Ellis.
40:10There's Allen attacking.
40:11Colt Brenner gets loose, and he dunks.
40:14Colt Brenner!
40:16Cavaliers have made the Hornets work
40:17on seemingly every offensive possession here tonight.
40:22Dabs by a dozen.
40:23Nearly halfway home in the second.
40:25Harden uses a big Allen screen.
40:27Shovels to Allen, and Allen floats in.
40:29Oh, my, as Allen has 13.
40:32Well, you can just see that play developing.
40:34James Harden turns the corner,
40:35and Colt Brenner does the right thing.
40:36He steps up, and Jarrett Allen just starts licking his chops
40:39because Harden's going to draw Colt Brenner
40:42all the way down that lane.
40:44Throwing it at either the alley-oops coming
40:46or he's going to dunk it.
40:47Salon tried to work around Harden.
40:49It appeared that he hopped on the same foot twice,
40:51which is a no-no.
40:52Harden stayed down.
40:55Strange sequence as Salon was trying to get himself moved.
40:58I don't know what to say.
41:00Harden uses Tomlin.
41:02Tomlin can't hit.
41:03Allen nearly knocked it away from a trio of Hornets.
41:07Yes, here comes Brandon Miller.
41:10I'm still just baffling, but, yeah.
41:13An offensive foul is called on Miller.
41:16Why?
41:16Because he was being hawked by Keon Ellis on that defensive end.
41:21Yeah, no doubt about a good defense by Keon Ellis
41:23just absolutely will not give him room to breathe.
41:26Look at that.
41:26There's the pick and roll.
41:27Kulkbrenner has to step up.
41:29Jay gets a wide-open expressway drive down the middle of the lane.
41:36Hammers that baby home.
41:38Miller has just picked up his third,
41:40and that's more good news for the Cavs.
41:42One of the Hornets' primary scorers heads to the bench,
41:45presumably for the remainder of this first half.
41:48Allen, Merrill, Tyson, Harden, and Wade make up the Cavalier five.
41:51Here's Harden, who plays at his own pace.
41:53Works on James, steps back.
41:55Nope.
41:56Rebounded by Kulkbrenner.
41:58He's a nice-looking rookie, is the 7-1 Kulkbrenner.
42:00I like his game a lot.
42:01I think he catches that basketball up high, and he doesn't bring it down.
42:05Good shot blocker, good rebounder, good activity.
42:09Unfortunately, there he is on cue.
42:10The Cavs run Knipple off the line.
42:12Back it goes to James.
42:13James for three.
42:15Rebounded.
42:16Uh-oh.
42:16Tyson, I think, is going to get called for a foul.
42:18He is, as Tyson was trying to hold off an active Kulkbrenner.
42:23Last season, Kulkbrenner won the Big East Defensive Player of the Year Award
42:28for the fourth consecutive time.
42:31Yeah, you can see why he's a good athlete, and like I say, he's so long.
42:34But I've noticed when he catches the basketball, he does not bring it down,
42:38and what most big guys do is make themselves small.
42:40He keeps it above his head, and he finishes with it.
42:42So, he's got some excellent fundamentals.
42:4524-year-old rookie, good fundamentals.
42:48Coincidence?
42:49Maybe not.
42:50Yeah.
42:51Knipple.
42:52Heels back and finds Connaughton.
42:54Connaughton for three.
42:55He has been doing that for a long, long time.
42:58The 11-year veteran out of Notre Dame cuts the Cavalier lead to 49-38.
43:05Allen off to Tyson.
43:06Tyson kisses it off the window.
43:08Yeah, Jalen's gotten to this little thing where he's just a playmaker
43:10in this little half court.
43:11Everything slows down, and he just keeps making a play,
43:14and he's done that since the beginning of the season.
43:17It's been fun to watch.
43:19What I think is remarkable about Tyson,
43:21with all of the accolades that he's been receiving this second year,
43:25playing in the Rising Stars game.
43:26He's top five basically all season long in terms of three-point percentage.
43:30James fires.
43:31James hits.
43:32He never seems to get out ahead of himself.
43:35No.
43:35As Jalen Tyson, which is a mascot new, Brad,
43:37it seems extremely difficult for a young player who's finding this success all of a sudden.
43:42Yeah, I think I think it's interesting about him is he's very inquisitive.
43:45He asks a lot of questions all the time about the game.
43:47He loves to talk about things from a learning perspective,
43:50and he's just in that mode.
43:52He's like a sponge, and he's figured out confidence goes a long way.
43:56You put in the work, you become confident.
44:00Man, every time Knippel rises up to shoot, you think it's going in,
44:05and, well, this season it has gone in a lot.
44:08Knippel has four first-half threes.
44:11He is a team-high 14 points as the rookie, Adam Duke, cuts that Cavalier lead to 51-44.
44:19Cavalier lead.
44:20The Cavs over their last 23 games have won 18.
44:24That's the best winning percentage in the NBA over that span.
44:28During that stretch, the Cavaliers ranked third in offensive rating.
44:32Maybe more importantly, Brad, fourth in defensive rating.
44:36The Cavs are taking strides on both sides of the ball, but, man, that defense for Kenny Atkinson
44:41really has taken strides over the last handful of weeks.
44:44Yeah, I think that's where we really struggled early on is just being consistent on the defensive end.
44:48Just think about all the layups we gave up early on.
44:51It was just aggravating to watch at times, and that's been fixed, and that's just buying in
44:56defense, and guys looking at film, studying, understanding the dynamics and shifts of playing
45:01basketball at a high level on the offensive end, but being able to come back defensively
45:05and lock in and utilize that as well to score baskets.
45:08What a tough shot by Sam Merrill.
45:11Merrill, as Knippel floats it up and he floats it in.
45:16Merrill, before the break against Washington, went for a career-high 32 points
45:21as Merrill is firing threes all night long.
45:25He went 9 of 10 from long range.
45:27James Harden assisted on seven of his 11 buckets from the field.
45:32Knippel over the top to Connerton.
45:33Connerton took a dribble, swings it off to Green.
45:36Onn is looking to make a run here.
45:38Allen grabs the weak side rebound.
45:40The Cavalier lead remains 53-46.
45:44Mitchell back in the ballgame.
45:45He's on the bounce.
45:47Gets Knippel on his hip, gets inside, banks, and misses.
45:50Allen with the offensive rebound.
45:51He hooks and scores as Jared Allen has a team-high 15.
45:56Jared Allen is just torching this Charlotte Hornets team.
46:00They have no answer for him.
46:01Saying that again, another night, another team, no answer for Jared Allen.
46:06Nice job with that rebound and bucket.
46:09We have a whistle and a foul.
46:11You know when you think about it, as Jared Allen strong once again inside.
46:19Mitchell to the basket.
46:21There's Allen to clean it up.
46:22Back on February 9th, the Hornets were involved in that ugly on-court brawl against the Pistons.
46:27It resulted in four-game suspensions to both starting center, Moussa Diabate, and starting power forward, Miles Bridges.
46:34The timing, I don't think, could have been any worse for this Hornet team.
46:38And we're, you know, pumping the tires of Allen here.
46:40Remember, this is without Diabate and Bridges in that lineup.
46:43As Mitchell pulls up, launches a three, can't get the roll.
46:48You know, the Hornets put together a nine-game winning streak.
46:50You know, they get a run going for the first time in years, frankly.
46:54And then the game, they lose it.
46:55The brawl starts, and all of a sudden, now they're short two of their frontcourt guys.
47:00Diabate is very physical, very aggressive.
47:04Good move by Josh Green, and Green zigzags in the hole.
47:07He lays it in, and the Aussie has a chance for a three-point play.
47:13Coach's basketball, good pump fake, goes towards the middle there.
47:17Nice job, but he loses balance there, and that's where the foul occurred.
47:21Yeah, but Bridges and Diabate give this team a physical presence inside.
47:25It really makes it difficult.
47:28Green gets set for the free throw as we pause for a word from Wayside Furniture.
47:35The right styles at the right prices, every day and always at Wayside Furniture.
47:41Wayside Furniture, keeping it local since 1937.
47:4690 seconds remain in this first half.
47:48James Harden right in toward Colt.
47:50Briner thought he got fouled.
47:51Green with a rejection.
47:52Beckham's ball in a hurry.
47:53He'll spray off the Connaughton.
47:54Back to a trailer in to Knipple.
47:56Whoa, Knipple a tumbling down as he and Merrill got tangled up.
47:59Harden back the other way in toward Green.
48:01Use that big body.
48:02He'll find Mitchell.
48:04Mitchell picked up by Ball.
48:07Boy, Knipple, after he shot that ball, went tumbling.
48:09I saw his feet going end over end.
48:11I didn't know what happened.
48:12Mitchell draws the foul.
48:15And this crowd here inside Spectrum Center does not like the no call.
48:20You see Merrill grimacing there.
48:23Those two, it appeared, got tangled up.
48:34Take a look here.
48:37A little bit of a hip check, a hip nudge, if you will.
48:42Colt Brenner tried to sell it, nothing doing.
48:44I don't like seeing Sam get nicked like that.
48:48Oh, man, he's been beat up as it is all season long.
48:54What a season it's been for Merrill when he's been on the floor.
49:0060th overall pick back in the 2020 draft after a four-year college career
49:05at Utah State Mountain West player of the year back in 2019.
49:10And he has come a long, long way.
49:13One of the premier three-point shooters now in the NBA
49:17as Mitchell's second free throw gives the Cavaliers this eight-point lead.
49:23Donovan and Allen lead the way for the Cavs with 15.
49:27Knipple has a game-high 16.
49:31Knipple introduced himself to the Cavaliers with a huge game
49:34in the first meeting between these teams.
49:36He had 29 points and an overtime Hornet victory.
49:39As ball can't finish, it was Allen who altered it at the rim.
49:42Colt Brenner, however, grabs the offensive rebound, his fourth.
49:46And then he's fouled by Dean Wade.
49:48The foul of 32, Dean Wade is second.
49:51The ball goes and drives, and then he just didn't quite get the box out.
49:56Everybody was in the air trying to contest that ball shot.
49:59Colt Brenner stayed at home.
50:03Jared Allen with the altered shot to go along with his 15 points and seven boards.
50:09You can showcase your Cavs spirit as the most colorful fan
50:12presented by Sherwin-Williams.
50:14You can win four tickets with free food and drink
50:17to the April 8th game against Atlanta.
50:19Winners also get a $500 Sherwin-Williams gift card and a $500 check.
50:24Enter now at Cavs.com slash contest.
50:27Free food and drinks.
50:28I like that.
50:29Uh-huh.
50:30Cash, too.
50:31I take the cash.
50:31Also, food, drink, little cash, little walking around money.
50:34Oh, that one's coming to my other way.
50:36I'm talking about the food and drinks.
50:38You want the cold hard cash.
50:39Yeah, I need that cash, but cash money.
50:43There's about an 11-second difference between a shot clock and game clock.
50:49Cavs let this ball game by 10 after one.
50:52And Hornets have chipped away at that Cavalier late here in the second.
50:56Conniple has had a nice first half.
50:58James Harden is saying he got bumped into Conniple by Kulk Brenner as he leads his case to Merrick Kogert.
51:06Did he?
51:11Perhaps.
51:13Kenny is looking at his assistance, and he will use a coach's challenge.
51:19How about this?
51:20This is the second straight game in which Harden was involved in a would-be foul that Kenny wants to
51:26take a look at.
51:28I think it's close.
51:29I think he was kind of around the corner there.
51:31It looks like, I don't think, in my opinion, which is, you know, pretty high as far as I'm concerned,
51:39it looked like that James may have found him.
51:41The on-court ruling of the defensive foul.
51:45So, we shall see.
51:47That was Brent Barneke.
51:48He'll put the headset on.
51:49Did Kulk Brenner push him?
51:51He gave him a little push there.
51:53He gave him a little push.
51:54I'm changing my mind now.
51:55I see that, man.
51:56That right there.
51:57Yeah, that's a foul.
51:57That's on Kulk Brenner.
51:58Yep.
51:59Shoved him right into him.
52:01Yep.
52:01All I got to do is be able to sit like seven, eight times, and I'll get it.
52:05I'll nail it.
52:06What is your accuracy record?
52:07I'm 100%.
52:08I'm 100%.
52:09That's what I thought it was.
52:10Yep.
52:11They just asked me.
52:13That's Brent Barneke on the left.
52:14Merrick Kogut on the right.
52:18Two of our more experienced officials here in the NBA.
52:21They are in contact with the NBA Replay Center.
52:25The NBA Replay Center has all the angles.
52:28They can slow it down and give these guys a good look.
52:32I wonder if they're ever at that Replay Center, like, in the back getting donuts or something,
52:35and all of a sudden, they're like, oh, no, we got to get in here.
52:38Hurry up.
52:41No, I bet they actually have people who bring them stuff to eat.
52:44Yeah, that'd be nice.
52:45There is foot-to-foot illegal contact by Harden regarding Kniepel out on the perimeter.
52:50Kniepel will shoot the penalty for two.
52:51There is no illegal pushing that happens.
52:54That happens after any foot-to-foot contact, so therefore it'll be the penalty for Charlotte,
52:59and we'll shoot from there.
53:01Foot-to-foot contact.
53:02Your first miss all season long came because of foot-to-foot contact.
53:07What are we doing?
53:08Is this soccer?
53:09What are we doing?
53:09Who's watching foot-to-foot contact?
53:11He got shoved.
53:13It's ridiculous.
53:15All right.
53:17Moving right along.
53:18Put the game going.
53:19Foot-to-foot contact.
53:21Give me a break.
53:23Kenny Atkinson.
53:24He agrees with me.
53:25He's as irate as you are.
53:27Perhaps more.
53:28See?
53:29I was reading his lips.
53:30He said, foot-to-foot contact.
53:31What's that?
53:31What's that?
53:35So here's Kniepel.
53:37Picked fourth overall back in the summer.
53:42One of five players in that Duke starting five selected.
53:47The Cavaliers, of course, were happy to pick up Tyrese Proctor.
53:51What a season this young man has had.
53:53He ranked second in scoring among rookies to only his college teammate Cooper Flag of the Mavericks.
53:58In late January, Kniepel went for a career-high 34 against flag in the Mavs.
54:03Only to see Cooper go for 49-10 in the same game.
54:07Kniepel is phenomenal.
54:09Yeah, he can play.
54:10He can both ends of the floor.
54:11I like he's a sturdy guy.
54:13Very just beautiful basketball.
54:15Xavier Tillman just picked up from the Celtics.
54:18Tried to defend hard and nothing doing as James scores to close the scoring here in this first half of
54:25play.
54:25Cavaliers played really well on the defensive end.
54:27I thought they defended hard.
54:29Really scrambling around after playing last night, traveling in.
54:33Cavaliers played a good first half of basketball.
54:35Cavaliers shoot it at 53%.
54:37They hold the Hornets to 36%.
54:40The Hornets did take eight more shots than did the Cavaliers through the first two quarters of play.
54:46Jalen Tyson off the Cavalier bench chipped in with five points, and he now joins Serena.
54:51We'll be right back.
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