No fourth-quarter theatrics this time. Cavs win, 104-87
Posted on October 31st, 2009 – 2:37 AMBy Jerry Zgoda
There was no magic in the Wolves’ finish tonight.
Not by a long shot, and certainly not a surprise against a Cleveland team driven not to start the season 0-3.
TNT analyst Charles Barkley called the Cavs’ Friday night date with the Wolves an “elixir,” a comment on the network’s Thursday night postgame show that caused Kevin McHale to guffaw.
The Wolves stayed near for close to a half, but were no match for LeBron or for the Cavaliers’ nifty passing.
I’ve got a morning flight to Phoenix for Sunday’s game, so I’ll make this fairly quick tonight.
LeBron, obviously, wowed again, with a 24-point, 9-rebound, 6-assist game and he didn’t score in the fourth quarter at all.
Al Jefferson, meanwhile, has shown in the first two games that his full return from that February knee injury won’t come quickly or immediately.
Even though he lost those 30 pounds, he hasn’t regained the explosiveness or confidence that he showed all last season.
Jefferson has played 25 minutes in each of these first two games and still is trying to find the rhythm and assurance that made him one of the league’s best low-post scorers.
The same guy who averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds last season before he was injured is averaging 10.5 points on 30. 4 percent shooting on 30.4 percent shooting (7-for-23) and 5.5 rebounds in these two games as the Wolves head to Phoenix in the morning for games Sunday against Suns and Monday in L.A. vs. the Clippers.
“I think he just has to continue to be patient,” Wolves coach Kurt Rambis said. “He’s come back from knee surgeryand dealing with an Achilles. He’s probably a little frustrated.”
To be sure.
“My timing is still not there,” Jefferson said. “Every shot I took tonight, I’ve made those shots before. I didn’t make them tonight. I just have to keep working on my shot at practice and after practice.”
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