Get live updates and chat in the comments section below as the Indians and White Sox begin a three-game series from the South Side of Chicago.
CHICAGO -- Get live updates and chat in the comments section below as the Indians and White Sox begin a three-game series from the South Side of Chicago. Cleveland's Trevor Bauer will oppose Chicago's John Danks.
Game 12: Indians (4-7) vs. White Sox (4-7)
First pitch: 8:10 p.m. ET at U.S. Cellular Field
TV/radio: STO; WTAM 1100; WMMS FM/100.7.
Check out short video highlights of the best of the Buckeyes' presentation with President Obama.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State seemed to have a good time as President Barack Obama joked around with the Buckeyes (thanks to a speech writer who must have done a lot of studying up on Ohio State) during their White House visit on Monday.
Here's all our coverage from the Buckeyes' trip to Washington.
* Story, photos, video of Ohio State at the White House
* The Buckeyes react on Twitter to their Washington visit
* Watch the replay of the White House ceremony
* Everything the president said about Ohio State
* Ohio State's plans for their visit
And here are the top six moments from the day, with video highlights from the day. From Joey Bosa to Ezekiel Elliott to Braxton Miller to J.T. Barrett to Cardale Jones to Archie Griffin, the president knew his way around the Buckeyes.
1. President Obama does the Joey Bosa sack shrug
2. Ezekiel Elliott asks President Obama to get the NCAA to allow the crop top
3. President Obama pulls Archie Griffin and Cris Carter on stage before he leaves
4. President Obama calls Cardale Jones by his nickname
5. Eli Apple's mom wanted him to get a good spot, and he wound up next to President Obama on his left
Eli is usually in the background. After BIG Champ &Sugar Bowl wins, he didn't even make it on podium. Today I told him to stand next to Zeke
-- Annie Apple (@SurvivinAmerica) April 20, 2015
Check out who wound up to President Obama's left. That's a son who listens. pic.twitter.com/nKgjp8P18q
-- Doug Lesmerises (@DougLesmerises) April 20, 2015
6. President Obama wouldn't say Michigan
He's a two-time champion, four-time MVP and yet still LeBron James has something to prove and he won't stop until he's there.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - You would think that a player of LeBron James' caliber and stature would feel like he receives his due respect.
He is a two-time NBA champion, four-time MVP and an 11-time All-Star. Nevertheless, James -- a player perceived to have it all -- remains motivated, hungry and unsatisfied.
James is a student of the game and a basketball historian. He can name off the top of his head all of the championships and individuals awards the greats have ever won. His own achievements stack right up there with them.
There isn't much he hasn't accomplished on the basketball court, but at the same time that's the very problem. He hasn't done it all.
Teammate Tristan Thompson on Monday finished fifth in the Sixth Man of the Year voting. Toronto guard Lou Williams was the winner of the award. Big men are typically long shots for the top reserve accolade, because scoring guards commonly get the nod.
On Monday I asked James if he could expound upon the complications post players experience in their pursuit of the Sixth Man plaque and in his answer, he revealed his own set of complications he's been dealing with throughout his illustrious career.
"[It's] probably just as difficult as it is for a wing player to win Defensive Player of the Year," he replied.
His comment was heard loud and clear.
James is one of the fiercest, most versatile defenders in the game. He has made the All-Defensive Team the last five years, but never once has he been awarded the preeminent individual defensive honor.
It has been 11 years since a perimeter player took home the DPY award. Metta World Peace was the last non-big recipient, in James' rookie year. Ever since then, he's witnessed big man after big man hoist the trophy.
"I always have a drive. I always stay motivated," James told NEOMG in a March interview. "You have to playing in this league. There are too many good players. I'm never going to get complacent. I'm trying to be the best player I can be. Simple as that."
After a road game against the Orlando Magic on March 15, in which the Cavaliers won convincingly 123-108, I spoke to James after his mass media address and questioned him about his lack of opportunities at the charity stripe.
"That just shows that I haven't done enough," James told Northeast Ohio Media Group, in reference to only being awarding two trips to the foul line despite multiple drives to the basket. "That's all right, though. All I can do is continue to work on my craft and maybe I'll get a different outcome down the road."
He even tinkered with his free throw shooting mechanics in March in an attempt to gain some rhythm and consistency. Players, let alone superstars players, don't experiment with their shooting in-season. But James has shown that he'll do whatever it takes to advance his game.
"If someone sees something and they think it could help me, I don't mind looking into it," he said. "Even at this stage in my career."
The thought of James being a player who is disrespected is baffling, but it's all in the eyes of the beholder. For extreme competitors, they may see a slight where others don't. The ability to manufacture extra motivation is what separates them from the pack.
For someone who still has something to prove, he sure has proven a lot. He says there's more where that came from. Cleveland's first major sports championship in 51 years could be on the horizon.
"I'm not through evolving," he said. "There's so much more that I can add to the game and to my team. And I won't stop until I get there."
Vote in the poll to let us know who you think deserves to be named Team of the Week for March 13, 2015.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Who would you vote as your Northeast Ohio high school sports Team of the Week?
Every week, we will give you an opportunity to respond and share who should be our first Team of the Week winner. This week's nominees are as follows:
1. The Euclid Girls Track & Field Team after defeating Lorain, 102-28, on Wednesday. Then on April 18, the team placed second at the Glenoak Invitaitonal with 96 points. Euclid also came home with 2 MVP trophies: Rashida Harris in the field events and Caisja Chander in the running events. Rashida Harris placed first in the discus (135'5") and in the shot put (44'9") which is a new meet and school record. The previous record was set in 1983 by Jean Savage (42'11 3/4"). Chandler placed first in the 100 Meter Dash (12.81), in the 200-meter dash (25.98) and first leg for second place in the 4x200-meter-relay and third place in the 4x100. Tiffany Moore was 2nd place in High Jump 5'5".
2. The Wickliffe Softball Team. The team posted wins every day this week against Beachwood, Cardinal, Hawken, Laurel and Chagrin Falls, ending the week with an impressive 6-0 record.
3. Bedford baseball defeating Euclid, 4-2. Daniel Presby pitched a complete game one-hitter with seven strikeouts to help lead Bedford to a win at home last Wednesday against Euclid.
4. Vlad Rotnov and Like Qin earned victories after two sets to help lead the Solon boys tennis team last Wednesday defeating Westlake, 4-1.
5. Beachwood's baseball team scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to send Tuesday's game into extra innings and won, 9-8, against Cuyahoga Heights.
6. Andrew Czech pitched a complete game and picked up the game-winning RBI for Twinsburg on Tuesday as the Tigers beat Solon, 2-1.
7. Holy Name baseball tops St. Thomas Aquinas, 4-3. Coach gets 270th career win.
8. Cloverleaf's softball team overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat Suburban League rival Highland, 4-3.
9. Brecksville's softball team continued its undefeated start to the season with a 3-1 win against Poland Seminary.
Our high school sports staff will go through the nominations and decide which ones to include in the poll to decide who wins the Team of the Week. Look for the Team of the Week poll every Monday afternoon. Voting is open until Thursday at noon. The winner will be announced Thursday afternoon.
Here is last week's winner: Cuyahoga Heights softball.
Did we miss one? Let us know by adding an answer into the poll or leaving a message in the comments section below.
We want to hear from you. Whether it’s asking us questions in the comments or commenting as you check out all the high school sports content, please take advantage of the comments section and let us know your takes on local teams, players and conference predictions.
Sign up here for a free account. It's a fast process and you'll be able to comment on all stories forever.
Follow our high school sports Twitter account, @NEOVarsity for high school sports news and score updates and be sure to use the hashtag #NEOVarsity when Tweeting about high school sports.
Contact high school sports producer Cameron Moon by email (ncline@cleveland.com) or on Twitter (@nathanielcline). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
Johnny Manziel showed up for the start of the Browns offseason program on Monday, but he's not expected to meet with the media Tuesday on the first day of availability.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Johnny Manziel showed up Monday for the start of the Browns offseason program as anticipated, but is not expected to address the media Tuesday on the first day of player availability.
Unless Manziel changes his mind by the time reporters arrive in Berea at about 11 a.m., Manziel will go about his workout and duck out of the facility without being interviewed.
For now, he will let his statement do all the talking for him as he navigates life outside of the Caron addiction treatment center in Pennsylvania, where he spent 10 weeks learning how to live sober.
The statement, released by the Browns Friday, is as follows: "I would like to thank my family, friends, the Browns organization, my teammates and Browns fans everywhere for your patience, understanding and support during my stay at Caron. The doctors and staff have been amazing and what I've learned in the last couple of months has been tremendous. I owe private apologies to a lot of people that I disappointed but a very public one to the Browns organization and the fans that I let down. I take full responsibility for my actions and it's my intention to work very hard to regain everyone's trust and respect.
"I understand that will take time and will only happen through what I do and not what I say. I also understand there's a lot of curiosity about this but anyone who has a friend or family member that's been through things like this knows it's an ongoing process. I'm going to continue to ask folks to try to respect my privacy as I determine to what degree I am comfortable talking about a subject which I consider very personal. Most of you have been considerate about that and I thank you for it. I look forward to seeing my teammates next week and focusing on football and my desire to be the best possible player, teammate, and man that I can be."
But Manziel apparently has no intentions of living a low profile off the field. Since his release from Caron on April 11th, he's been photographed at a Rangers game, a Mavericks game and then courtside at the Cavs playoff game on Sunday afternoon.
A friend and business associate of LeBron James, Manziel frequently attends Cavs games, and that's not about to stop now that they're in the playoffs. However, at least one sports personality, Rich Eisen of NFL Network and DirecTV's Rich Eisen show, took exception to Manziel sitting courtside and jumping right back into his celebrity lifestyle so soon after being discharged from rehab.
Michael Bourn, and the rest of the Indians hitters, have started this season slowly, but manager Terry Francona says things can change quickly.
CHICAGO -- Michael Bourn didn't start Monday night against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
To replace him, Jason Kipnis moved into the leadoff spot and utility man Mike Aviles played center field. Bourn played the Tribe's first 11 games and manager Terry Francona felt it was a good time to rest him against left-hander John Danks.
Bourn is a .286 (4-for-14) lifetime hitter against Danks, but he's off to a slow start this season. The Tribe's leadoff man is hitting .200 (9-for-45) with five runs, one steal and a .265 on base percentage.
Francona spent a lot of time during the offseason saying that he hoped Bourn could wreak havoc on the bases like he once did in the National League. Bourn hasn't caused much havoc in the first two weeks of the season, but he's not alone. The Indians' offense has been almost non-existent.
They're averaging 3.2 runs per game. They haven't scored more than six runs in a game and that was in a loss. With runners on base, they're hitting and MLB-low .194.
"We wanted to give Michael a day off where it made sense," said Francona. "He's played every day and we've got two righties coming up in the next two days."
The White Sox will start right-handers Hector Noesi and Jeff Samardzija on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
"Team wide we haven't gotten off to the best start," said Francona, when asked about Bourn's start. "That can change so fast. I watch Bourn's work. I watch the way he prepares.
"Today is Monday and you could look up Thursday and say, "Man, he's (hitting well). We haven't hit on all cylinders. I don't think anyone has, but I do like his work and his preparation. It's been pretty awesome.
"When guys aren't hitting .300, but they're doing the other things to do it, you have to be patient."
Bourn is in the third year of a four-year $48 million deal. In his time with the Indians, he's hit exclusively in the leadoff spot. If the Indians had to move him in the order, Kipnis would be one of their options to replace him.
Kipnis has hit leadoff at various times with the Indians.
"No, my approach doesn't change," he said. "You always want to have a good at-bat and set the tone. That might mean the first pitch is the best pitch of the at-bat that you get so you've got to be ready for that pitch.
"Otherwise it's see pitches and get on base anyway you can so you can to start the game the right way. At the same time, you don't change too much. It only matters for the first inning because you might not bat first against for the rest of the game."
Asked if he likes hitting leadoff, Kipnis said, "Not a huge preference. I'm sure any hitter will tell you that they like it a lot better when they're going well. When I'm going well, I feel like I'm a good leadoff hitter.
"I can get on base a lot, cause some havoc, steal a base and help us score some runs. When you're not going well, it doesn't matter if you're hitting in the one hole, seven hole, wherever, you're trying to do whatever you can to get on base."
Kipnis, at the moment, is hitting .244, but he's not calling that "going well." He needed a ninth-inning single Saturday to break a 0-for-16 skid.
"My confidence is still fairly high," said Kipnis. "At the end of the 0-for-16, I was starting to get back to last year's swing and not having great at-bats. But I noticed it right away.
"You always want to put pressure on yourself to be the guy to help the offense. Right now we'll take any guy who wants to step up."
Rim shot: A panhandler was standing on the corner of Michigan Ave., and Erie on Monday morning in Chicago. He was telling jokes to the people who walked past.
One of them went like this: "What did Jesus tell the Cubs? Don't do anything until I get back."
Century mark: Carlos Santana, who hit his 100th homer Sunday, ranks third all-time among Indians switch-hitters. Carlos Baerga is first with 104 homers followed by Victor Martinez at 103 and Santana.
Santana ranks 23rd overall on the Indians home run list. He's tied with Hall of Famer Joe Gordon.
Finally: The 73 strikeouts by the Indians starting rotation through 11 games is the most in the AL. Overall, Indians pitchers have 111 strikeouts, second in the AL.
Shortstop Erik Gonzalez went 4-for-4 for the RubberDucks, all singles, with an RBI.
The Fightin' Phils scored five runs in the bottom of sixth inning, breaking a 4-4 tie and sending the Akron RubberDucks to a 9-4 loss in a Class AA Eastern League game in Reading, Pa.
Shortstop Erik Gonzalez went 4-for-4 for the RubberDucks, all singles, with an RBI. The RubberDucks (4-7) finally got their first home run of the season, a two-run shot from designated hitter Yonathan Mendoza.
That wasn't a problem for Reading, which got a three-run homer in the first inning from right fielder Aaron Altherr off of Akron starter Will Roberts (1-1, 5.94 ERA), giving the Phils a 3-1 lead.
Akron was down, 4-2, when it tied the game in the fifth on Mendoza's homer off Reading starter Anthony Vasquez.
But Reading took control in the fifth. With two outs, Phils third baseman drove in a run with a single, then second baseman Tony Thomas, the No. 9 batter, tripled off reliever Jordan Cooper to bring in two more. Two more RBI singles put the game out of reach.
Roberts gave up seven runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings for Akron. Cooper gave up two runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings.
Roman Quinn and KC Serna, the top two hitters in the lineup for the Phils, both went 3-for-3. Altherr was 2-for-4 with four RBI.
See spring sports highlights from Monday, April 20, 2015.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Here are spring sports highlights from Monday's action based on box scores reported to the Northeast Ohio Media Group.
For more information on how to report box scores, please email High School Sports Manager Kristen Davis (kdavis@cleveland.com).
Matt Orloff gives Hawken baseball walkoff win against Independence
Matt Orloff's walkoff single in the bottom of the seventh inning gave Hawken's baseball team a 5-4 win against Independence.
The Hawks scored two runs in the inning, the first on a passed ball that scored Isaac Hoffman to tie the game. Orloff's single scored Tommy Murphy, who reached on a walk.
Orloff also had a triple and a second RBI.
Hawken pitcher Evan Faxon (2-2) pitched a complete game, allowing three earned runs and striking out seven.
St. Edward baseball holds on to beat Avon Lake
Despite giving up three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, St. Edward's baseball team held on for a 4-3 win against Avon Lake.
The Eagles got on the board in the fourth inning and scored three times in the sixth.
Avon Lake's Brandon Kiser, Zac Sabol and Matt Molina each had an RBI.
Wellington softball defeats Black River
Wellington's softball team defeated Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division opponent Black River, 7-4.
Morgan Tandarich and Olivia Bradstock each had two RBI for the Dukes.
Bradstock got the win, striking out five.
Strong fifth inning leads Avon baseball past Vermilion
Avon's baseball team used a four-run fifth inning to beat Vermilion, 4-1.
Trailing by one at the start of the inning, Neil Strodtbeck used a suicide squeeze to tie the game at one. The Eagles scored three runs in a row to take the lead for good.
Avon reliever George Webb got the win, going three innings without giving up an earned run.
Vermilion outhit Avon, 8-4.
Olmsted Falls baseball shuts out Amherst
Anthony Savarino threw a five-hit shutout to lead Olmsted Falls' baseball team to a 10-0 win against Amherst in six innings.
Collin Romel led the Bulldogs' offense, going 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI.
Four Bulldogs had two hits or more.
Get all the scores
Get scores from the following sports this evening: baseball, softball and boys tennis.
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Seven straight batters reached with one out in the ninth inning as the White Sox defeated the Indians, 4-3, Monday night.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians gave up four runs in the ninth inning and lost to the White Sox, 4-3, Monday night at US Cellular Field in Chicago. Here is a capsule look at the game after a dvr review of the Fox SportsTime Ohio telecast:
False starts: The Indians are 0-5 in series openers, during which they have scored a total of 10 runs.
Twilight Zone: Tribe closer Cody Allen opened the ninth by striking out Adam LaRoche. The next seven White Sox reached, all against Allen:
*Avisail Garcia cued a double over first base.
*Conor Gillaspie walked.
Both runners advanced on a wild pitch.
*Alexei Ramirez hit a two-run double to center. Mike Aviles tracked it but drifted in the last couple of strides and failed to make the catch near the wall.
Aviles started in center and batted second against White Sox lefty John Danks. Why Michael Bourn was not in the game for defense is puzzling.
Indians manager Terry Francona was asked by a reporter in Chicago during postgame availability why Aviles was not subbed out. Francona said: "I thought about it, but it's hard to take Aviles out of a game just the way our bench is situated. And I think Mikey does a good job in center.''
*Tyler Flowers hit a soft single to left, Ramirez advancing to third.
*Gordon Beckham hit and RBI single to left, Flowers advancing to second.
*Adam Eaton singled to left to load the bases.
*Melky Cabrera hit an RBI single to left-center.
Ball game.
Fast fact: In the first eight innings, the White Sox never had more than one hit.
Homer happy -- sort of: Homers by Ryan Raburn and Brett Hayes gave the Indians nine in seven road games. They have zero in five home games.
Don't blame him: Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer allowed four hits in seven scoreless innings. He walked two and struck out seven.
Bauer was terrific. He should have been 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA in three starts this season. Instead, he is 2-0 with a 0.95 in three starts.
Bauer relied on a fastball/slider/changeup/curveball combination. Here is a pitch-by-pitch breakdown of Bauer's start:
FIRST INNING
(L) Adam Eaton -- fastball high; 92 fastball high; 92 fastball foul back; 92 fastball high; 91 high and inside, walk.
(L) Melky Cabrera -- fastball high; 86 slider foul; 86 split-change up swinging strike; 93 high and in; 86 changeup low (barely); 95 fastball inner half foul fly to left.
(R) Jose Abreu -- 91 fastball up and in single to right.
(L) Adam LaRoche -- 86 called strike; 93 fastball swinging strike; 94 high and in; 88 down and in; 88 changeup swinging strikeout (off inside corner at shins).
(R) Avisail Garcia - 86 slider grounder to short (outside corner).
(18 pitches)
Skinny: Release-point issues against Eaton....Abreu good piece of hitting to muscle pitch into right. ... Front-door changeup got LaRoche (catcher Brett Hayes was set up away); excellent arm action and location made it possible. ... Good location for slider against too-eager Garcia.
SECOND INNING
(L) Conor Gillaspie -- fastball up and in; 84 changeup foul (above belt); 85 swinging strike (inner half at belt); 79 curve in dirt; 86 changeup swinging strikeout (outer third at shoes).
(R) Alexei Ramirez -- 85 slider called strike (outside corner); 92 fastball called strike (inside corner); 78 curve in dirt (Alexei checked in time); 94 fastball low and away; 94 fastball foul; 87 slider foul; 94 fastball down and away; (Bauer gets rid of napkin in front of mound); 87 slider swinging strikeout (down and away).
(R) Geovany Soto -- 94 called strike (outer half); 93 foul; 78 curve low; (Bauer gets rid of hot dog wrapper); 96 fastball down and away; 86 slider down and away; 86 slider swinging strikeout (outside corner at shoes).
(19 pitches)
Skinny: Gillaspie had no chance against the change piece. ... Slider that whiffed Soto had serious tilt; Soto swung over it by plenty.
THIRD INNING
(L) Micah Johnson -- fastball high; 92 fastball singled up middle (inner half).
(L) Adam Eaton -- 93 fastball low and away (barely); 86 changeup low; 86 changeup outside (barely; Johnston steals); 94 fastball called strike; 93 fastball called strike (inside corner at knees); 87 changeup foul; 94 foul (in); 86 changeup foul; 94 fastball low walk (barely)
(L) Melky Cabrera -- 86 bunt foul; 87 cutter foul (on hands); 80 curve in dirt; 88 changeup low; 94 fastball up and in; 94 fastball 5-4-3 GIDP (up; originally ruled fielder's choice).
(R) Abreu -- 86 backup slider swinging strike (outer half); 86 slider swinging strike (down and away); 87 slider pop to short (outside at knees).
(20 pitches)
Skinny: Bauer made decent pitch to Johnson, who hit a lower-barrel grounder past the mound....Bauer surrounded the zone against Eaton.
FOURTH INNING
(L) Adam LaRoche - fastball away; 92 fastball foul (in); 85 high and away; 85 foul; 95 fastball swinging strike (belt, outer half).
(R) Avisail Garcia -- 92 fastball called strike (outside corner); 87 slider foul (outside corner); 79 curve swinging strikeout (in dirt).
(L) Conor Gillaspie -- 87 foul; 85 changeup double to right-field wall (up and outer half).
(R) Alexei Ramirez -- 85 hanger pulled foul (up and over plate); 94 fastball low; 93 foul (over at knees); 89 slider swinging strikeout (in lefty's batter's box; appeal to first-base umpire Eric Cooper, who correctly ruled that Alexeeei went too far).
(14 pitches)
Skinny: LaRoche, as is the case with most power lefties, likes the fastball down and in. So Bauer kept it up enough and away enough. ... Garcia overmatched by 12-to-6 break. ... Gillaspie pounced on a mistake. ... Slider to Alexeeeeei was simply wicked.
FIFTH INNING
(R) Geovany Soto -- 91 fastball foul pop to first (outside corner).
(L) Micah Johnson -- 90 called strike; 91 cutter grounder to second (under hands).
(L) Adam Eaton -- 91 fastball called strike; 85 changeup fly to center (down and away).
(five pitches)
Skinny: Dominant -- with nothing over 91 mph.
SIXTH INNING
(L) Melky Cabrera -- 84 away; 91 fastball high; 91 fastball called strike; 84 off-speed grounder to second (inside corner).
(R) Jose Abreu -- 86 low; 83 off-speed fly to center (outside corner at thighs).
(L) Adam Laroche -- 84 called strike (inside corner); 76 curve in dirt; 85 changeup called strike (knees); 80 curve in dirt; 94 grounder to short (belt).
Skinny: Bauer's body language seemed to indicate he thought Abreu homered; Aviles caught it at the edge of the track. Maybe on a warmer day.
(11 pitches)
SEVENTH INNING
(R) Avisail Garcia -- fastball foul (knees); 85 off-speed foul (outer half); 91 fastball high; 92 fastball outside (barely); 79 curve flare single to right (inside corner)
(L) Conor Gillaspie -- 91 fastball called strike; 83 foul; 88 in dirt; 85 down and in; 93 pop to left (inner half).
(R) Alexei Ramirez -- 86 down and away; 84 swinging strike (down); 86 down and away; 93 fastball down and away; 93 fastball liner to left (at knees).
(L-PH) J.B. Shuck -- 93 fastball called strike; 93 fastball fielder's choice to second (inner half).
Skinny: Garcia was so far in front of the curve, he hit it off the end of the bat.
Trevor Bauer, backed by homers by Ryan Raburn and Brett Hayes, was in line for his third straight victory when closer Cody Allen allowed four runs in the ninth inning as Chicago beat the Indians, 4-3.
CHICAGO -- Closer Cody Allen allowed a 3-0 lead in the ninth-inning to slip away Monday as the White Sox came from behind to beat the Indians and ruin a terrific start by Trevor Bauer.
Bauer threw seven scoreless innings and was in line to run his record to a 3-0 when the White Sox rallied for a 4-3 victory by scoring all four runs with one out in the ninth at U.S. Cellular Field.
Melky Cabrera won it with a bases-loaded single off Allen, who was trying to save is fourth game. Cabrera's single scored Tyler Flowers with the winning run.
A key hit in the inning was Alexei Ramirez's two-run double over Mike Aviles' head in center field to cut the Tribe's lead to 3-2. Regular center fielder Michael Bourn was given the night off by manager Terry Francona.
The last time Trevor Bauer pitched at U.S. Cellular Field he was making a spot start in 2013. The Indians needed an extra starter because they were playing a makeup doubleheader against the White Sox.
Bauer took the mound and pitched out of the stretch. Depending on who you listened to at the time, the Indians did or didn't know he was going to do it. Anyway, Bauer didn't make it out of the first inning.
His parting gift was a 67.50 ERA at The Cell.
Bauer's return to Chicago's southside Monday night went much better. He threw seven scoreless innings before Allen laid the ninth inning to waste
In three starts this season, Bauer is 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA. He's allowed two runs in 19 innings with 26 strikeouts and 11 walks.
The last two starts have come against the White Sox. He's held Chicago to two runs in 13 innings with 15 strikeouts and six walks.
Ryan Raburn and catcher Brett Hayes supported Bauer with solo homers against left-hander John Danks. Danks 5-12 in his career against the Indians.
Allen allowed six hits and four runs in one-third of an inning. It's the second time this year he's allowed four runs in an inning.
Solo flights
The Indians have hit nine homers this season, one of the lowest totals in the big leagues, and they've all come with the bases empty.
Raburn gave the Indians a 1-0 lead with a 420-foot leadoff homer in the second. Raburn crushed a 3-2 pitch from Danks for his first homer of the year.
Hayes, in his first game with the Indians, stretched the lead to 3-0 with a leadoff homer in the fifth.
Every home tells a story.
Raburn's homer was his first of the year, but it certainly didn't surprise the White Sox. In his career, Raburn has hit 18 homers against them.
He came into the game hitting .298 (99-for-332) against Chicago.
The homer by Hayes was his first in the big leagues since May 28, 2014 when he homered for the Royals against Houston.
Hayes, who came to spring training on a minor league deal with the Indians, hit three homers in Cactus League play.
Every run counts
Aviles and Michael Brantley joined forces to give the Indians a 2-0 lead in the third off Danks.
Aviles, starting in center field for Bourn, drew a two-out walk. Brantley followed with a double off the right field fence. Aviles would have stopped at third, but Mike Sarbaugh waved him home when right fielder Avisail Garcia double-clutched on his throw back to the infield.
Brantley took third on the throw, but did not score. Brantley has 33 RBI in his career against Chicago.
Thanks for coming
The Indians and White Sox drew 13,055 to U.S. Cellular Field on Monday night. It was 46 degrees at first pitch with a 26 mph winds swirling about the ballpark.
Well challenged
In the third inning Francona won his first managerial challenge of the season.
With runners on first and second, Cabrera sent a grounder to Lonnie Chisenhall at third. Chisenhall went to second for the force, but first base umpire Eric Cooper ruled Cabrera beat Jason Kipnis' relay to first.
The White Sox were in a good spot to cut into the Tribe's 2-0 lead. They had runners on the corners with one out. Francona, however, challenged the call and MLB headquarters overturned Cooper's call.
After Cabrera went back to the dugout as the second out, Bauer retired Jose Abreu on a pop up to bring the inning to a quiet end.
The Indians are 1-for-2 in challenges this season.
What's next?
Right-hander Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 2.84) will face White Sox righty Hector Noesi (0-1, 3.86) Tuesday at 8:10 p.m. SportsTime Ohio and WMMS FM/100.7 will carry the game.
It will be Carrasco's first start since he was hit in the jaw by a line drive off the bat of Cabrera on April 14 at Progressive Field. Cabrera was the second batter in the game and Zach McAllister replaced Carrasco.
Carrasco's start was moved back two days to give his bruised jaw time to heal. Carrasco is 2-5 with a 5.37 ERA in 10 games against the White Sox. He has 45 strikeouts and 10 walks in his career against them.
Noesi will be making his second start for Chicago. He is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA lifetime against the Indians.
LeBron James scored 15 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to push the Cavaliers to a 2-0 lead over Boston in an Eastern Conference first-round series.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James scored 15 of his game-high 30 points in the closing 12 minutes and the Cavaliers outlasted the Boston Celtics 99-91 to take a 2-0 lead in this first-round playoff series.
James shot 11-of-22 from the field and contributed nine rebounds and seven assists. He passed Jerry West (4,457 points) for seventh place on the NBA's all-time playoffs scoring list with an early fourth-quarter layup.
Boston seemed to have James tied up for two quarters with its double team, but was no match for him in the fourth quarter of what was a tight game throughout. James also committed six turnovers.
Here is an instant, quarter-by-quarter briefing on James' Game 2 performance against the Celtics.
1st Quarter
Stats: 3 PTS, 1 RB, 4 AST, 1-3 FG, 0-0 FT
Highlight: James bounced a pass into Timofey Mozgov who was on his way to a nasty right-handed dunk with 4:53 left.
Briefing: This time there was no harassing of Evan Turner by James. It was James who was bothered. Opening Game 2 much like they did Game 1, the Celtics were quick to double James any time he had the ball below the three-point line, especially in the post. James finished the period with three turnovers - one on a bad pass out of a double-team and a second when he tried to dribble around Turner and Turner's help defender. But James was still able to move the ball. His zip pass to Kevin Love for a three-pointer to start the game was nice. James reeled off three assists during Cleveland's 8-0 run to erase the Celtics' 16-8 lead. Boston by one, after one.
2nd Quarter
Stats: 8 PTS, 3 RBS, 1 AST, 2-5 FG, 4-4 FT
Highlight: After what seemed like a tough second quarter, James connected with Kyrie Irving for a three-pointer at 1:01 to put Cleveland up 49-48.
Briefing: Irving's three-pointer accounted for his first and only points of the quarter. James played the entire 12 minutes in the second and his numbers looked good, but he stood for large stretches on the perimeter while the Cavs tried to take advantage of one-on-one matchups in the post. Mozgov scored 10 first-half points as a result. Jae Crowder guarded James, and the C's surprisingly stifling double team arrives as soon as James starts to matriculate south of the three-point line. He was at his best when Boston was late. He drew three fouls and got the rim for a layup on those occasions. Two James' free throws put the Cavs ahead 51-50 at halftime.
3rd Quarter
Stats: 4 PTS, 2 RBS, 1 AST, 2-5 FG, 0-0 FT
Highlight: James bounced on crosscourt to Irving on a runout, who lobbed it back to James for a hoop-shaking alley-oop at 6:52.
Briefing: James was a part of two alley-oops that revved up the 20,562 at The Q. The other was a lob to Love who finished with a reverse dunk at 8:08. Both of James' buckets were courtesy of Irving, who drew attention on a drive and flipped one to James cutting baseline for a layup. James seemed to find a hole in the Boston wall around him. Two other times he cut to the basket for what would've been easy dunks - but both times his teammate chose to pass to a different player. Lucky for them, both times the Cavs scored. Keep your eye on Crowder. He bumped James on James' way off the floor at 4:04. James was furious.
4th Quarter
Stats: 15 PTS, 3 RBS, 1 AST, 6-9 FG, 3-4 FT
Highlight: A driving layup with 10:44 to go put James ahead of West on the NBA's postseason all-time scoring list.
Briefing: Closing time belonged to James. The Celtics either gave up on, or were much sloppier with, their doubling of James and it cost them. He caught the ball with his back to the basket and started his dribble for what became a low-post basket. Jared Sullinger tried to double him, but was way too late. Other times, James had much more room than normal and took advantage. Two mid-range jumpers helped. James blocked Tyler Zeller with 1:52 to go and finished off the Cs with a layup at 1:13. LeBron and Irving scored all the points for the Cavs in the fourth.
Totals: 30 PTS, 9 RBS, 7 AST, 11-22 FG, 7-8 FT, 42 MIN
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving came through for the Cavaliers in the final quarter to get past Boston 99-91 to go up 2-0. Watch video
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Those pesky Boston Celtics made life miserable for the Cavaliers on Tuesday night, but the fourth-quarter heroics of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving lifted their team to a 99-91 win to take an 2-0 first-round series lead.
Boston can't match the Cleveland pound-for-pound in talent, but can match the Cavaliers' intensity level and that's how they stayed in the game throughout. But with a seven-point lead entering the final quarter, James and Irving went for 15 and nine points respectively to put away the determined visitors.
James registered a game-high 30 points to pair with nine boards and seven assists in 42 minutes and Irving continued to show that his regular-season success translates into postseason by providing 26 points, five rebounds and six assists.
James and Irving accounted for all of the Cavaliers' fourth-quarter points. James passed "The Logo," Jerry West (4,457), for No. 7 on the all-time playoff-scoring list. Coming into the game he needed 19 points to move ahead of the Hall-of-Famer.
Boston was active and aggressive from the opening tip. Even when the Cavaliers jumped out to a game-best 14-point advantage in the third, the Celtics never gave up, fighting back within two midway through the final period before James and Irving put the affair away.
It was not an efficient effort offensively for the Cavaliers. There were plenty of sloppy passes and staring down targets, which led to interceptions. James' six turnovers were a third of the team's total of 18 for the night. Kevin Love and Timofey Mozgov each had four. Amazingly, the Cavaliers had six turnovers in the fourth quarter yet still never gave up the lead.
Isaiah Thomas supplied 22 points and seven assists off the bench for Boston and fellow reserve Jared Sullinger from Ohio State put forth a solid outing off 14 points and five rebounds.
One factor in the Celtics getting out to a good start was the foul trouble the Cavaliers were in during the first half. Love picked up his second foul four minutes in and was forced to come out, throwing a monkey wrench into David Blatt's substitution pattern.
With the rotation out of whack, Kendrick Perkins -- who didn't play in Game 1 -- had to be used a little. All that sitting in the first half must have gave Love a little extra bounce after halftime, as he banged out a reverse alley-oop slam off a halfcourt pass from James midway through the third quarter, as the Cavaliers built a double-digit lead.
Love finished with 13 points and six boards.
Mozgov gave them a post presence that frustrated former Cavalier Tyler Zeller. In the opening quarter he posted up Zeller and gave him a bump that sent him falling to the floor, leaving Mozgov with a wide-open dunk right over the second-year center. Shaquille O'Neal had to have been proud.
Mozgov ended the night with 16 points, seven rebounds and five blocks.
The Celtics bench had total domination of the Cavaliers' bench, 51-7. Matthew Dellavedova had five points and Iman Shumpert included two. Tristan Thompson pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds, delivering three key offensive boards down the stretch that killed any chance the Celtics had of stealing the game.
The series shifts to Boston with Game 3 on Thursday and Game 4 on Sunday. During the regular season the Cavaliers went 1-1 at TD Garden.
Jordan Smith hit a grand slam and Erik Gonzalez also homered as the RubberDucks piled up 13 hits in a 12-4 win.
The alarm went off on Akron's slumbering bats on Tuesday.
Jordan Smith hit a grand slam and Erik Gonzalez also homered as the RubberDucks piled up 13 hits, including six for extra bases, and Akron rolled over the Fightin' Phils, 12-4, in Class AA Eastern League game at Reading, Pa.
The 12 runs were the most scored by the RubberDucks since a 14-5 win over Binghamton on Opening Day on April 9 at Canal Park.
Akron (5-7) scored in every inning except the fourth and seventh, building a 9-2 lead after five innings.
The RubberDucks, holding a 4-1 lead, took control of the game with five runs in the fifth.
Left fielder Ollie Linton started the inning with a double off Reading starter Tom Windle (0-1, 7.36 ERA). Linton moved to third on a groundout by Gonzalez, then scored on a Yandy Diaz single. A double by catcher Tony Wolters put runners on second and third with one out.
Windle intentionally walked first baseman Jeremy Lucas and Smith made him pay, sending the ball over the right-field wall for a grand slam.
Smith finished just a double away from the cycle, going 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Gonzalez (2-for-6), Diaz (2-for-3, three walks) and Wolters (3-for-5) all had two RBI.
Akron starter Cody Anderson got the win, giving up two runs, one earned, on five hits in six innings and striking out six. Jeff Johnson, Trey Haley and Jacob Lee all pitched an inning of relief.
Browns coach Mike Pettine, like GM Ray Farmer, has left the door open to the Browns trading up for Marcus Mariota. Watch video
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns coach Mike Pettine hasn't given up on Johnny Manziel, but he also hasn't ruled out trading up for Marcus Mariota.
Are the Browns still open to the possibility?
"Sure, why not?'' he answered with a big grin on his face.
But was he joking? Or will the Browns really make a pitch for the Heisman Trophy winner with their No. 12 and No. 19 picks? Afterall, their quarterbacks coach Kevin O'Connell spent months working with him prior to the NFL combine and knows him almost as well as anyone.
The Browns loved Mariota last year and wished he had come out when they had the No. 4 overall pick. If O'Connell gives him the thumbs up, there'd be no reason for the Browns not to try to land him in a year when they have the ammunition to do it. They might have to climb all the way to No. 2, but they're expected to at least explore a draft day trade.
"I think everybody's at the point where all the teams call around,'' said Pettine after an offseason workout. "They call each other. Everybody says, 'Hey, we're looking to trade up. We're looking to trade down.' You never truly know until you get close. People naturally assume that we can be a part of it because of having the extra pick, maybe having a little bit more ammunition than some other teams would. It just makes for good filler material for you guys, good draft talk."
Pettine stressed that coaches have a big say in the draft even though general manager Ray Farmer has final say.
"Ray's in charge of the draft,'' said Pettine. "He's in charge of the 53-man roster and the practice squad, but I don't think he sees it that way. I know he'll say it's his final call on it, but coaches are very involved in it. I think that's a big part of the process is making sure that we are on the same page and we view players the same and that we all feel good about the players that we select and add to this roster."
Pettine said he feels much better about the draft process in year two.
"To me, it was a natural thing that between Ray's staff and the coaching staff just getting on the same page,'' he said. "I just feel - and hopefully Ray will be able to speak to this as well - that from an evaluation of players standpoint, that we're a lot more on the same page this year. Year One, you're usually all over the map. You have grades from the previous fall, and it was for a different system. Now that the scouting department has a better feel for who we are and what we're looking for, I just feel we're a lot more together on the prospective draft picks."
Question is, do they all agree Mariota is worth trading up for? Chances are, they do.
See reaction from social media as the Cavaliers beat the Celtics.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers are up 2-0 on Boston following a 99-91 win at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday night. Game 3 is Thursday night in Boston.
Check out reaction from Twitter following the game. Fans were happy to see a win but some a little concerned about how tough it was. Get complete coverage of the game at cleveland.com/cavs.
The Cavs played nearly the last 18 minutes of the game with no one scoring for them besides Kyrie Irving and LeBron James.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Give LeBron James 15 points ... in the fourth quarter.
Give Kyrie Irving nine points ... in the fourth quarter.
Give the Cleveland Cavaliers 24 points in the final 12 minutes -- all from James and Irving. Give the Cavs a 99-91 victory over the Boston Celtics. The Cavs now have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round playoff series.
Here's the good news: The Cavs have two great players in James and Irving who can take over a game. They outscored the entire Boston team, 24-23, in the fourth quarter.
Here's the confession: It makes me nervous when the Cavs are forced to play this way, especially against a scrappy but marginally talented team such as Boston.
Irving and James combined to take all but two shots for the Cavs in the fourth quarter. They were brilliant, combining for 8-of-15 shooting, so it's hard to be especially critical.
"LeBron is the most physically talented and one of the best mental players in the game," said Celtics coach Brad Stevens. "(Kyrie) is explosive handling the ball (and as a) scorer. But I also think we made those guys earn everything they got."
James finished with 30 points, Irving had 26. So give them 56 of the Cavs' 99 points.
"They did what they had to do, and we needed them," said Cavs Coach David Blatt. "They answered the call."
Yes they did.
"LeBron imposed his will on the game," said Blatt.
Yes, indeed.
WHERE WERE THE OTHER GUYS?
But what about Kevin Love? He seemed a bit out of it, scoring 13 points (3-of-8 shooting) with six rebounds in 30 minutes. He had five fouls, four turnovers and was not as aggressive as he was in the opener.
J.R. Smith shot 3-of-12, scoring only seven points. He did have five steals and hustled, but Smith was left wide open for much of the game -- and couldn't connect from the field. That hurts, because a major part of Smith's job is to make those 3-pointers so that the defense doesn't clog up the lane to try and prevent James and Irving from driving to the rim.
The other two shots (both misses) in the fourth quarter were taken by Love and Smith.
"It's the nature of the playoffs that nothing comes easy," said Blatt.
But it doesn't have to be this hard if some other players had produced, especially Love and Smith.
LOVE THE RUSSIAN
Fans should be thankful for Russian Timofey Mozgov, the 7-foot center who delivered 16 points, seven rebounds and five blocks. In his 29 minutes on the court, the Cavs outscored Boston by 15 points.
Mozgov scored with his right hand. He scored with his left hand. He dropped in a couple of medium-range jumpers. In a league where true back-to-the-basket big men seem to be going the way of the two-handed set shot, Mozgov is a refreshing throwback -- and a guy who can help the Cavaliers mount some significant comebacks in the playoffs.
General Manager David Griffin should be in line for the Executive of the Year Award for his mid-season trades, turning Dion Waiters and a future Memphis first-round pick into J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Mozgov.
It's so difficult to find 7-footers with as much athleticism and physical toughness as Mozgov. He is surprisingly graceful taking 1-2-3-4 huge strides down the court, catching a lob pass and soaring for a rim-ratting dunk.
The Cavs needed Mozgov on this night, especially in the first half. Go ahead, throw the ball inside to the big man. That's what the Celtics seemed to be saying, and Mozgov made them pay.
Tristan Thompson was on the bench for the start of the game when Boston grabbed a 16-8 rebounding advantage. Thompson went after every rebound and had one of the more amazing lines in the box score: He was on the court for 26 minutes, and didn't take a shot.
That's right, not one shot. But he grabbed 11 rebounds. Stevens talked about how two of Thompson's late-game offensive rebounds were "huge, huge plays."
Yes, they were, as the Cavs out-rebounded Boston, 12-4, in the final period.
This is not to complain about a victory. The playoffs are pure bottom line, style points don't count.
But consider this: The last Cavalier not named James or Irving to score was Smith with 5:29 left in the third quarter. That's disturbing. For the Cavs to gain the grit they need to play for a title, they will need more scoring from someone besides James and Irving.
See what LeBron James and Kyrie Irving had to say following a 99-91 win against Boston in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference opening-round series. Watch video
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James and Kyrie Irving's postgame remarks following their 99-91 win against the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference opening round series in the 2015 NBA playoffs.
LEBRON JAMES
When you see six turnovers, what goes through your mind?
James: You've got to be more conscious about certain plays, certain passes that I'm making. Thats 11 for me in two games. That won't cut it. You can make a couple more mistakes at home than you can on the road. I've got to be better with the ball in order for us to be successful.
How important is it for you to be moving before the double-team comes?
James: I try to read and react to the game. Sometimes my mind gets caught up and I start being indecisive. I have to be aggressive. And I have to make quick moves before the defense gets there. And also bait them. In the first time I was waiting too long. Being a little indecisive. Not being aggressive for our team's success. I had to change that approach in the second half.
Did you feel you had to take over in the fourth quarter?
James: I've been in this moment before. A lot of our guys haven't. I felt it was important to put a statement on the game the best way I know how and be aggressive. I was able to make a few plays to help our team get the win. It was very important for me to be there for our team when we needed it.
Fifteen of your 30 points were in the fourth. Was it something you picked up through the first 3 quarters that allowed you to dominate in the fourth?
James: I'm always analyzing the game throughout the game. From the floor or bench. I'm just trying to figure out ways to help my team personally and help my team as well. My mind is always figuring out the positions on the floor where I can be successful. Playing off the floor, getting rebounds. Being aggressive. My coaching staff gives me all the leeway I need to help this team be successful. And I was able to do that.
Combined with Kyrie to score teams final 28 points. What is it like to have him out on the floor with you?
James: It's a treat for sure to have a guy who can score with the best of them. He's very poised for a young guy in this environment. It's great to have him out there.
What do you do when physicality is part of the opponent's game plan?
James: You just try to win. I don't try to get too involved in extracurriculars. My only concern is how I make a play to help us win. I've seen it all before. I've seen everything a defender or a team can throw at me. Either try to take me out of a game. Or make me shoot jump shots, or pass. I'm able to calibrate that throughout the game to figure out ways to be effective.
How will you convey the importance of whats required to win a road game?
James: First of all, we can't have 18 turnovers that lead to 22 points. In the first half we gave up a lot of second chance points. They had 19 for the game. But in the first half, they dominated us and that was able to keep them in the game. We have to clean that up. We have to clean glass and take care of the ball. That will give us the best chance to win on the road.
Were you aware that you and Kyrie were doing all the scoring in the fourth quarter?
James: I was not aware, and it was not by design. Just happened that way. We're trying to be in position to be successful. That's all that matters.
How did you overcome 18 turnovers as a team?
James: You can't hang your hat on offense in the postseason. Possessions become very tight, the game becomes very physical. You have to have something to fall back on, and that's defense. You give yourself a chance to win when you defend. We held them to 38 percent from the floor. We have to continue that in their building
Take us through the half-court alley-oop to Kevin
James: It's touch. You try to put it there for the guy to catch and finish. I saw Kevin running the whole way. I tried to throw it up to him. He surprised all of us with the way he finished. It was a big momentum swing for us.
Do you still have concerns about your team's lack of playoff experience?
James: Every experience we have will be great for us. It will be a learning curve for the younger guys who haven't been a part of this. The best teacher in life is experience. They're learning on the fly. Friday and Sunday it will be great for the young guys for sure.
What do you need to do different coming out of the gates in Game 3?
James: We have to be better to start the game. The mistakes you make at home you cannot make on the road. We have to understand they are going to try and hit us first. We have to be ready for their speed, and ready for the crowd and the execution. Not wait around. Ready to go from the beginning. If we defend and we rebound, we'll give ourselves a chance to win game 3.
KYRIE IRVING
In that fourth quarter you and LeBron took over. What did you see in that quarter?
Irving: We saw basically what they were doing to LeBron in the post. we tried to make adjustments. lebron is a great passer in the post. our game plan got a little messed up. it came down to making basketball plays. it started with our defense. we got out in transition. it wasn't perfect. it wasn't pretty. but we hang our hat on the defensive end. and we got it done.
That half-court alley-oop and the alley-oop you threw to LeBron seemed to get the team started.
Irving: It gets our fast break going. It's just the little things that make the difference. Big-time plays get our team going and get our crowd going. Kev got out and made a play. If we don't see that, we look out to the wings one on one and get the shot. When that doesn't fall, we get out on the break.
The Big Three scored 69 points again tonight. Do you have a target number going into a game?
Irving: Not at all. It's not a number we think about. We went to play extremely well. Especially at the defensive end. All three of us aren't going to shoot well every single night. It may not show up on the stat sheet, but trying to stay in front of Isaiah is tough to do. Trying to stay in front of Avery Bradley is tough.
Is there a difference in mental approach knowing you don't have to carry the scoring load?
Irving: You're at ease. Playing with guys who are playing extremely well. Every game we might not shoot well. But every game we keep on preaching it.
Talk about the chemistry with the LeBron on the alley-oop.
Irving: It's been a while since we connected on one. I saw it in his eyes. He was ready to attack the rim. It's just awesome to finally be a part of that. It gets everyone juiced up.
How important was it for LeBron to be moving before the double team comes?
Irving: We made adjustments. It's not going to be perfect. He's going to be (expletive)-off about his turnovers. He came out and dominated. Especially in the fourth.
This will be a first playoff road game for you expectations?
Irving: The biggest thing for me is to stay even-keel. Even mindset. Stick to game plan. It's just about us. Our first time being on the road for me and Kevin. We're professionals. Need to go out there and execute on both ends of the floor.
The Celtics starting lineup had 16 less points than LeBron James and Kyrie Irving on Tuesday.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Boston Celtics had no answer for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving late in the 99-91 Game 2 loss on Tuesday. The Cavaliers duo scored all 24 points in the fourth quarter despite constant defensive attention from Boston.
With Boston in foul trouble early in the second half (eight third-quarter fouls), the Celtics learned quickly how tough it is to stay in front of the Cleveland duo without fouling.
"You can't," said Celtics forward Evan Turner. "It's tough because you have to gauge what you can do."
Even without foul trouble, James and Irving are players that Boston has trouble defending.
"At the same time, they are tricky players," Turner said. "One is a physical force, and the other is great with the ball. They can make tough shots."
In the second half, James had a level of focus that stuck out to Celtics coach Brad Stevens.
"He's obviously a great competitor," Stevens said. "He's also the most physically talented and he's certainly one of the best mental players in the game."
Outside of a 47-39 rebounding edge for Cleveland, the teams were close in most statistical categories. The Cavaliers turned the ball over seven more times than Boston and made just one more field goal.
But one major difference was that Boston did not have players like James and Irving to take over the game. While the Cleveland duo combined for 56 points, the entire Celtics starting lineup combined for 40 points.
Because of that Boston needed to do all of the little things to overcome the play of James and Irving.
"They can score all of the points they had in the fourth," said Celtics forward Jae Crowder. "If we take away the offensive rebounding and take away the little turnovers we had, we win the game."
In the second half, Boston trailed 9-4 in offensive rebounds and committed six turnovers.
For the second game in a row, the Celtics led after the first quarter. At halftime, they trailed by only one point, and part of that early success was limiting James and Irving to a combined 23 points at the break.
But then the fouls started. Boston had six fouls in the first six minutes of the second half, and that allowed James and Irving to attack with a new level of aggressiveness.
"That killed us," Crowder said. "They are going to take advantage of it. They are going to put our heads down and drive the ball and force us to make a play."
Despite the late success of Cleveland, the Celtics did play a better defensive game overall. The Cavaliers' field goal percentage was down a tick from Game 1 (45.1 percent to 44.7 percent), and Boston did a much better job defending against the 3-pointer (41.9 percent in Game 1 to 24.1 percent in Game 2).
The key to being able to close out one of these games for a win is to continue that defensive progression.
"In the playoffs you win games by defense," said Celtics forward Jared Sullinger. "We just have to play better defense."
Contact sports reporter David Cassilo by email (dcassilo@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@dcassilo). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
Dennis Manoloff and Dan Labbe break down Game 2 of the opening round series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers beat Boston in Game 2 of their playoff series. Boston held a first-half lead and came back in the second half to keep it close.
After the game, Dennis Manoloff and I broke everything down. We talked about the win, what we liked and didn't like from what we saw and looked ahead to Game 3 on Thursday. Other topics included:
You can listen to our live postgame show immediately following every game this postseason.
Listen to the podcast in the player above or listen at this link.
Kyrie Irving shows again why point guards are simply (and correctly) called "points" these days, as he backs up LeBron James in a hard-fought victory over Boston.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - No wonder they call them "points" these days.
The odd thing in this, the heyday of the littlest assassins, of whom the Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving is one of the deadliest, is that the perception persists of point guards as helpers. Look no further than the "born to assist" insurance company commercials, featuring, among others, the twin brothers of Chris Paul and Stephen Curry.
Four of the top 10 highest-scoring games this season were by point guards, including Irving with the top two of 57 and 55 points. Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City and Curry of Golden State also hung a half-hundred or more on opponents.
Fourteen of the top 50 performances were by point guards, who, in contrast to the traditional role of passing the ammunition, seem to be well-armed themselves. On the list are Damian Lillard of Portland twice, Westbrook seven times, Curry twice, and Paul.
The so-called "combo" guard -- who is both a ball-handler and scorer, or in Cavs coach David Blatt's words, is both a "target" and a "facilitator" -- is really nothing new.
Isiah Thomas of the Bad Boys Pistons, was such a great streak scorer that it overshadowed his stunning passing skills. The Cavs' Mark Price was known for his marksmanship more than his passing. Like Irving, he was a 3-Point Contest champion, twice in fact.
The best all-time combo guard was Nate "Tiny" Archibald, who in 1972-73 became the only player ever to lead the NBA in both points and assists for one season. It appears to be a record that is indestructible.
Not so are the Cavaliers, who were fortunate Tuesday night at The Q to have players like LeBron James and Irving while the Celtics do not.
Irving and James combined to score the team's last 28 points over the final 17 1/2 minutes in a hard-fought 99-91 victory over Boston for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Obviously, they scored all 24 in the fourth quarter. They finished with 56 between them, with half of James' 30 in the final quarter.
They were close, down 26-25, after one quarter only because Irving went off for nine points. His crossover and step-back 3-pointer fooled Avery Bradley, a tenacious defender, and his use of a high ball screen was so quick in lateral movement that it was the equivalent of a misdirection play in football. Kyrie went this-away and two Celtics went that-away.
In the third quarter, Irving showed why his elite passing skills should not be obscured by the torrent of points. Kevin Love grabbed a rebound and whipped the outlet to James. James looked to the wing, as the Cavs are trained to do, and hit Irving.
Irving could've shot a three, but he saw James "ready to attack the rim," and he put an alley-oop above James' head. The James noggin was at the rim itself, and he threw down a dunk that brought the crowd to its feet, roaring. The basketball never touched the floor.
That's beautiful stuff, and not just the dunk.
Irving finished with six assists. For his career he is close to 23 points and six assists per game.
So why did the John Stockton-Maurice Cheeks model of point guard go the way of the set shot?
Blatt said it's the natural evolution of the game, particularly in the decline of the back-to-the-basket bigs, which put more emphasis on face-up wings and ball-handling combo guards who can create their own shots.
As for Irving, he is the best sidekick, in terms of room to grow, that James has ever had. Also the youngest.
Dwyane Wade was 29 years old in 2010-11, their first year together in Miami, and already had the wear and tear of 66 playoff games on his body.
Irving is 23. He has played two playoff games.
"It's a treat to have a guy like that who can score with the best of 'em," said James.
