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CLEVELAND -- Kyrie Irving recorded his first career triple-double with 21 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 99-79 win over the Utah Jazz on Friday night. Packers #21 Jersey . CLEVELAND -- Kyrie Irving didnt need any reminders he was closing in on his first career triple double Friday night. He got plenty of help anyway. "I was trying to not think about it too much, but my teammates were hollering at me to get one more rebound, Coach (Mike) Brown was telling to get one more rebound, a couple of fans were yelling at me that I need one more," Irving said. "I said, I got you guys, dont worry. " The All-Star Game MVP had 21 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 99-79 win over the Utah Jazz. Two rebounds shy of the mark going into the fourth quarter, Irving grabbed his ninth rebound early in the period and pulled down his 10th with 4:12 to go to become the first Cleveland player with a triple double since LeBron James on March 16, 2010, at Detroit. Irving gave credit for his last rebound to centre Spencer Hawes, who joked he pulled back a bit on a missed shot by Marvin Williams. "Luckily, Spence alligator-armed that one, like he said, to let me get that last one," Irving said. Irving received standing ovations when he reached the milestone and when he was pulled from the game a few seconds later. That support went a step too far earlier in the quarter when a young fan wearing a stocking cap raced on the floor and patted Irving on the shoulder. The fan was wrestled to the floor by several policemen and security guards and led away in handcuffs. Irving joked that the fan was a long-time friend and suggested it might have been better if he had waited until after the game. "He told me loved me and I told him I loved him back," said Irving, who also had a fan enter the court at Quicken Loans Arena last season to congratulate him. "My teammates said I was scared. I dont think I looked scared. I flinched a little bit. I was surprised." Cleveland dominated the second half to earn the win and gain ground in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers trail Atlanta by 3 1/2 games for the eighth position. The final game of February capped quite a month for Irving and the team. An embarrassing loss to the depleted Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 6 stretched Clevelands losing streak to six games and general manager Chris Grant was fired the following day. Just when it looked like the season was a lost cause, the Cavaliers won six in a row and Irving took over the All-Star Game with 31 points and 14 assists. With 22 games remaining, Cleveland has a chance to reach the playoffs in Irvings third season in the NBA. "Kyrie has got so much talent, so much ability, I think the numbers are always going to be there for him," Utah forward Richard Jefferson said. "But no one is going to judge his career on numbers. The next thing for him is about winning. Thats what everyone expects to happen." Luol Deng scored 16 points as the Cavaliers placed five players in double figures. Gordon Hayward scored 18 points for Utah on the first stop of a six-game road trip. Irving scored 10 points in the third quarter as the Cavaliers turned a three-point deficit into a 63-51 lead. The margin reached 23 late in the fourth quarter. Clevelands long injury list grew when Anthony Bennett, the top pick in the draft last year, missed the game with a sore right knee. Center Anderson Varejao (sore back) and guards Dion Waiters (hyperextended left knee) and C.J. Miles (sprained left ankle) were also sidelined. Utah has lost nine of 11 on the road. The Jazz missed only one 3-pointer in seven attempts in the first quarter and built a nine-point lead. Utah maintained the lead until early in the third quarter when Irving took over. He hit a 3-pointer, scored on a twisting drive to the basket, knocked down two jumpers and hit two free throws. Irving also assisted on Alonzo Gees buzzer-beating jumper from the corner that gave Cleveland a 69-60 lead. Jefferson scored 13 points and Alec Burks added 11 for Utah. "Its the road," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "Youve got to find out how to be ready every night. Thats another thing were still learning as we try to bring this young bunch along." Rookie Trey Burke, a native of Columbus, Ohio, played his first NBA game in his home state and was held to four points on 2-of-9 shooting. Tristan Thompson had 18 points and 14 rebounds for Cleveland, and Hawes added 13 points and 16 rebounds. Hawes was given a technical foul in the third quarter, his second in five games since joining the team last week. NOTES: Bennett will be a game-time decision Saturday in Memphis. ... Jazz G John Lucas III didnt play until the final 2:46 with what the team called "gastric distress." ... Varejao missed his ninth straight game, Waiters was out for the sixth contest in a row and Miles was unavailable for the fifth consecutive game. ... All six games on Utahs trip are against Eastern Conference teams. Packers #57 Jersey. David Griffin was promoted from interim GM on Monday by owner Dan Gilbert. He says Irving was not consulted on Browns future and any insinuation that he pushed to have him fired is "patently false. Reggie White Packers Jersey . All that matters to the son of a high school coaching legend is that hes the one they selected. "Its been my life-long dream to be an NFL head coach," Pettine said Thursday, "and however that opportunity presents itself, its fine with me.Each week, well take a look at some top performers from the CFL, with an eye to looking ahead to some matchups that could be favourable for TSN Fantasy Football, CFL Edition, presented by Joseph Abboud. Here are some of the best from Week Two and players to watch for Week Three: TOP PERFORMERS Ricky Ray, QB, Toronto - After a brilliant performance (29-for-37, 407 YDS, 3 TD) against Saskatchewan, Ray leads all quarterbacks in passing yards (690) and touchdowns (five) through the first couple games. In a passing league, Ray is the cream of the crop right now. Chad Owens, WR, Toronto - Someone has to be on the receiving end for Ray and, against the Roughriders, it was Owens (11 REC, 159 YDS, 1 TD vs. Saskatchewan). Hes the leagues top receiver, with 237 yards, through two games; 93 yards more than second-place Adarius Bowman of Edmonton. Nic Grigsby, RB, Winnipeg - Followed up his stellar Week One performance with a big game (112 YDS, 16 touches, 3 TD) against Ottawa. Through two weeks, Grigsby has 251 yards from scrimmage as part of an exciting Blue Bombers attack. PLAYERS TO WATCH IN WEEK THREE Bo Levi Mitchell, QB, Calgary - After a decisive Week One win, during which Mitchell passed for 313 yards and a couple of touchdowns, the Stampeders got the week off last week. With health questions surroounding star runner Jon Cornish, the Stamps may need Mitchell to throw lots to stay competitive in Toronto. Packers #24 Jersey. Going up against an Argonauts defence that has allowed an average of 329 passing yards through the first couple games, enough that they traded for Dwight Anderson to shore up the secondary, ought to present a favourable matchup for Mitchell too. Nick Moore, WR, Winnipeg - A big free agent signing in the offseason, Moore has been a valuable target for QB Drew Willy and if Willy is going to continue airing it out -- he and Ricky Ray are the only quarterbacks with more than 600 yards passing -- Moore is a good play as a complementary threat behind team-leading receiver Aaron Kelly. Going into Montreal isnt necessarily easy pickings, but might as well ride the Bombers, at least until they slow down. Chevon Walker, RB, Ottawa - The Jamaican-born runner had a strong debut for the Redblacks (99 YDs, 17 touches, 2 TD at Winnipeg) and has a decent track record from his time in Hamilton, including 1285 yards from scrimmage with nine touchdowns on 189 touches. Now, hes the primary backfield threat for Ottawa. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
