CLEVELAND (AP) - Kyrie Irving scored 18 of his 33 points in the third quarter and the injury-riddled Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Atlanta Hawks 99-83 on Wednesday night.
Irving's big night came at a perfect time for Cleveland, which had lost 5 of 6 overall and six straight at home. The margin of victory was Cleveland's biggest of the season.
The Cavaliers, who had only 10 available players, announced earlier in the day that center Anderson Varejao will have surgery Thursday to repair a muscle that split near his right knee. He will miss six to eight weeks. Varejao was having an All-Star caliber season, averaging 14.1 points and an NBA-leading 14.4 rebounds.
Josh Smith scored 17 points to lead Atlanta, which has lost a season-worst four straight.
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Quin Snyder, a former assistant coach with the Lakers and 76ers and former coach at Missouri, has been hired to join new Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer's staff as an assistant.
Quin Snyder, a former assistant coach with the Lakers and 76ers and former coach at Missouri, has been hired to join new Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer's staff as an assistant.
Hawks president Bob Williams says a letter to potential ticket-buyers promoting Atlanta's chances of signing Chris Paul and Dwight Howard was an "unfortunate" mistake.
Hawks president Bob Williams says a letter to potential ticket-buyers promoting Atlanta's chances of signing Chris Paul and Dwight Howard was an "unfortunate" mistake.
George Hill and David West each scored 21 points and the Indiana Pacers withstood a furious Atlanta comeback in the fourth quarter, beating the Hawks 81-73 on Friday night to close out the opening-round playoff...
George Hill and David West each scored 21 points and the Indiana Pacers withstood a furious Atlanta comeback in the fourth quarter, beating the Hawks 81-73 on Friday night to close out the opening-round playoff series four...
David West scored 24 points and Paul George had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead Indiana past Atlanta 106-83 on Wednesday night, taking a 3-2 playoff series lead.
David West scored 24 points and Paul George had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead Indiana past Atlanta 106-83 on Wednesday night, taking a 3-2 playoff series lead.
