Instant Reaction: Spurs 126, Cavaliers 96

Nov 23, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (right) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova (left) during the first quarter at the AT

Final Outcome

In the second quarter, the Cleveland Cavaliers were outscored 35-11 by the San Antonio Spurs, and yes, you read that correctly. 35-11. At halftime, the score was 65-32 in favor of the Spurs. Simply put, the Wine & Gold lost this game in the second quarter when San Antonio got hot and the Cavaliers failed in their attemptto play NBA level basketball. After a closer second half – which was closed out by reserves on both sides – the Cavaliers ended up being blown out in the AT&T Center by a score of 126-96. Danny Green lead all scorers with 17 points, while Andrew Bynum lead Cleveland with 16. Kyrie Irving also and 15 points for the Wine & Gold.

Here are some other noteworthy stats from tonight’s game that highlight how horrible Cleveland was tonight.

• The Spurs shot an insane 66.7 percent from three. The Cavaliers shot 30.8 percent from behind the arc.
• Kyrie Irving was seven of 17 from the field. He only has three games this season of above 50 percent shooting.
• Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard combined for 30 of the Spurs 126 points.
• The only Spurs starter to play above 20 minutes was Danny Green.
• Patty Mills of the Spurs score 15 points off the bench. His season average is 6.8 PPG.
• Matthew Dellavedova played the most minutes for the Wine & Gold with 34.

Key Play to the Game

Here is Dellavedova slamming his head on the ground in the opening seconds of the game as if he knew what was about to happen. If he had a headache after smacking his head, then at least he’s like every Cavaliers who watched all 48 minutes of this game.

Wine & Gold MVP

Can you give an MVP in a game like this? The Cavaliers were out of this game before halftime and it would have taken a Herculean effort from the player who wears numero dos for them to bet back into the game. That didn’t happen, and thus, I don’t deem anyone fit for get the Wine & Gold MVP.

Top Tweets

Coach Brown Breakdown

The Cavaliers fell apart and Mike Brown didn’t really do anything to stop the free fall. Maybe he could not have really made an impact once it really got going, but as the team quickly fell apart and behind, he kept his lineup largely the same. I would have liked to have seen Brown go back to Bynum a little earlier or maybe press the Spurs in hopes of creating a cheap turnover or two. He needed to do something to try and change the flow of the game and he didn’t do it. I did, however, like how he played Anthony Bennett and Tyler Zeller for long stretches in the second half. Those are two young guys in need of minutes they haven’t received as of late. I was pleased that Brown didn’t stick with his regulars until the final bell – there would have been no purpose to it. Still, that tiny-saving grace wouldn’t have even happened if the wheels hadn’t come off early. *Cue a Bill Simmons joke about Mike Brown being a horrible coach.*

Up Next 

Things don’t get any easier for the Cavaliers, as after three days off, they will take on the defending champion Miami Heat. It is also the Cavaliers first national televised game and it’s sure to be a spectacle on the shores of Lake Erie. The Cavs played Miami tough last year and, with the hoopla already surrounding LeBron James’ free agent next summer and how much it’s going to be brought up on ESPN (plus, you know the on the court aspect), Wednesday is shaping up to be quite interesting. *Cue a Bill Simmons joke about Mike Brown being a horrible coach.