The Cavaliers (51-29), who entered the fourth quarter leading 93-67, was outscored 44-18 in the fourth quarter and blew their 26-point lead. By the time the fourth quarter had started, the Cavs lead was up to 26 and it looked as if it was time to get the starters some extra rest. Tim Hardaway Jr., playing with a sprained left wrist and bruised right knee, scored 22 points and keyed the fourth-quarter surge. "We've had some good moments and some not-so-good moments - like today". Given this and the team's inconsistent play this year, Atlanta is unlikely to make much noise past the first round. But they lacked energy from the outset and the Hawks took advantage with their second straight victory, moving a game ahead of Milwaukee for fifth place in the East. When he met with reporters, coach Mike Budenholzer wasn't certain about his starting lineup and he initially said Dennis Schroder would play. Dragic tied it for the Heat with a long jumper, Miami got a stop on the final Cleveland possession and to overtime they went. After he came out with 1:56 remaining, he didn't head to the bench, but instead sat on the floor in the corner of the end zone with his knees pulled up.
Although they had all but one of those absentees back on Sunday, the Cavaliers appeared to be rolling toward a payback victory until the fourth quarter.
New York Knicks' Willy Hernangomez tries to make a shot past Toronto Raptors' Jakob Poeltl during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 9, 2017, in New York.
"We needed it tonight", said Kevin Love, alluding to the fact that a win would have put Cleveland in the driver's seat to rest its stars down the stretch while still clinching the No. 1 seed.
- A worst-case scenario is still in play for the Celtics as well: If Boston loses its final two games and the Toronto Raptors win their final game against the Cavaliers, Toronto - which owns the tiebreaker against the Celtics as well - will slide past Boston into the No. 2 seed. The playoffs are going to be different types of games where you just got to figure out a way to win. "I was telling myself I have to bring that up, so I'm glad you asked".
Japan envoy recalled over statue flap to return to S. Korea
Meanwhile, tensions with North Korea are rising as the country appears to be readying for another nuclear test or missile launch. Nagamine was recalled on January 9 after the statue was erected by a citizens' group outside the Japanese consulate in Busan.
The problem for Lue is exacerbated because Irving's left knee is bothering him.
Hawks: Host Charlotte on Tuesday.
Less than a week after Cleveland lost three straight and five of seven, and just days following a heated exchange between LeBron James and Tristan Thompson that seemed to tear at the team's fabric and prompted questions about the champions' chemistry, all seems to be right with the closest thing the league has to a day-and-night time soap opera. And tonight was one of those games where they took all the momentum from us and it felt like it wasn't going to go our way.
The Hawks were without five key players when they beat the Cavs 114-100 in Cleveland on Friday.
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