Cavaliers Do Not Take Undermanned Jazz Team Lightly In Saturday Win

Posted by Matt Loede under NBA Game Analysis

LeBron James was quick to point out that despite the Utah Jazz missing a few key players Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena, they were not about to take them lightly. “As a team in the past, it would have been real easy to take this team lightly,” LeBron said. “But with us growing up and knowing that every game matters, it doesn’t matter whose out on the court, these guys are in the NBA for a reason, and we have to approach every game the same way.”

It was that approach that led the Cavs to their seventh straight win, a convincing 105-93 win at the Q that puts their record at 8-2 on the season, and 6-0 at home. The Jazz fall to 6-4 on the year. They were playing without a couple of big name players – Deron Williams and Mehmet Okur, and top reserves Andrei Kirilenko and Matt Harpring. To the Cavs, it didn’t matter, as they were not about to allow a short-handed Jazz team to bring them down.

James led the team with 38, and his play and energy picked the team up in the second half, as they outscored Utah 59-40, this after the team trailed 53-46 at the half. The team needed solid play from James and the other four starters, as it was a tough night for a bench that has played so well so far this year, as tonight they only scored 18 points.

Mo Williams had 20 points and four assists, Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 16 points and 7 rebounds. Ben Wallace led the team with 10 rebounds, and overall the Cavs out rebounded Utah 40-37. Old pal Carlos Boozer, who was booed just about with every touch of the ball, led the Jazz with 17 points and 9 rebounds.

The Cavs trailed by as many as 10, but rallied to take a 76-74 lead with 30 seconds left in the third quarter, and then went on a big fourth quarter rally that saw them go up by as many as 13 before winning the game by 12. They outscored Utah by 11 in the third quarter, and 8 in the fourth. It was again another night were the team didn’t play a complete game, but had enough from their superstar and the supporting cast to put the Jazz away.

The team had an impressive week at home, winning three games, and now will head to the road for two games, at New Jersey and at Detroit for an interesting game against the Pistons before they come back at home next Saturday for the Atlanta Hawks.

Updates, Fresh From the Oven, Straight to Your Inbox