Check here for video highlights from NBA games of Tuesday, Oct. 23. Blake Griffin of the Pistons had 50 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in an overtime victory over the 76ers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Blake Griffin amassed 50 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in the Detroit Pistons' 133-132 overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Detroit as part of the NBA schedule on Tuesday, Oct. 23. In the other games: Anthony Davis scored 34 as the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Los Angeles Clippers, 116-109; and the Denver Nuggets handled the Sacramento Kings.

Griffin, who shot 20-of-35 from the field en route to his career-high in points, helped the Pistons improve to 3-0. The Pistons' next game is Thursday at home against the Cavaliers, who will face them on the second night of a back-to-back (Cavs vs. Brooklyn on Wednesday).

With the Pistons trailing, 120-118, and 34.6 seconds left in regulation, Griffin made a short jumper off glass. Those turned out to be the final points of regulation.

With the Pistons trailing, 132-130, and 1.8 seconds left in OT, Griffin drove from topside right, made a layup and was fouled. He sank the free throw.

76ers center Joel Embiid missed a topside 3-pointer as time expired. 

According to ESPN, Griffin authored the NBA's fifth 50-14-6 in the past 30 seasons (Michael Jordan twice, Russell Westbrook, James Harden).

This is the fourth year for the local annual Coaches vs. Cancer doubleheader featuring Akron, Cleveland State, Kent State and Youngstown State and all agree it must continue.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The head basketball coaches of Akron, Cleveland State, Kent State and Youngstown State unanimously agreed on the need to keep a good thing going at the fourth annual Coaches vs. Cancer media session Tuesday at the Wolstein Center.

This is the fourth year for the round-robin doubleheader event set for Nov. 10 at the Wolstein Center. Akron will play Youngstown State at 4:30 p.m. followed by Cleveland State vs. Kent State at 7 p.m.

And while no contract has been signed as yet, there was complete agreement the cycle will begin in 2019 at Kent State.

"This allows us a platform to start the season,'' Kent coach Rob Senderoff said, noting that having the four local teams in one arena to tip off the season is a bonus for the teams and the media that cover them.

And while the question was raised about perhaps moving the event to later in the season, again the coaches were unanimous that the current format is the best: open the season with all four teams - two MAC, two Horizon - at annual alternating sites and alternating opponents.

"I love the format,'' Calhoun said. "I think it's the perfect way to start the season.''

The other plus, being a Coaches vs. Cancer event, Akron coach John Groce said, "runs deeper than basketball."

"We're getting close to figuring out a way (to beat cancer),'' CSU head coach Dennis Felton said. "This event is one of those ways."

All four coaches talked about their teams, with the consensus being a lot of new players will be on the court for the Zips, Vikings, Golden Flashes and Penguins.

Transfers, junior college recruits and freshmen mean at least half of all four teams will be composed of new faces, no matter what class.

"Our guys are sophomores, juniors and seniors who have not played together,'' Groce said. "We're trying to figure it out. But I got a great group and they want to be good."

Also, all four teams have had at least a scrimmage, with Kent actually playing an exhibition against Robert Morris for hurricane relief. All the teams will have one more private scrimmage before the season begins.

CSU also had a summer trip to Italy that helped Felton get an early gauge on his team for the 2018-2019 season.

"We got the experience out of it that we needed to,'' Felton said. "The good news is, we're more talented."

The Cleveland Browns ownership gave Coach Hue Jackson a fresh start with more talent. What happens next is up him, no more pointing fingers at the front office. Watch video

CLEVELAND -- This is what happens when you bring back a coach with a 1-31 record.

Especially when a new general manager was hired and paired with the old coach who'd won one game in two years.

That's the situation created by Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.

John Dorsey replaced Sashi Brown as head of football operations. Dorsey also knew he had to retain Jackson as coach.

Ownership, Dorsey and Jackson admirably came together on the theme of "Let's Get Hue Some Players."

Or as Haslam said before the 2018 season: "I think we'll see the real Hue Jackson. He's got good quarterbacks. He's got some skill players...three really good backs and a good defense."

After seven games, the talent level has improved to the point where the Browns have played four overtime games this season.

Four overtimes in seven games!

That's still hard to believe, and it does show improvement.

But the team's record is 2-4-1, and that feels disappointing because of so many close losses.

The Browns have advanced from awful in the previous two seasons to agonizing.

The frustration in the fan base bubbles up. Many fans couldn't figure out how Jackson survived in the first place.

Then they watch the Browns lose three games each by three points -- and they point the finger of blame at Jackson.

BENEFIT OF DOUBT

Dorsey has been given the benefit of doubt for a variety of good reasons.

He came from Kansas City, where he had four winning seasons and three playoff teams in his four years as general manager.

He made a variety of creative and dramatic moves to upgrade the talent level this season.

He has been very supportive of Jackson whenever speaking in public.

He has given the fans a reason for hope.

And in some ways, that has made it even harder for Jackson. Expectations are higher.

The coach is not stuck with the Ivy League Analytics front office -- as the Sashi Brown regime was viewed. By the middle of the 0-16 season, Jackson was able to portray himself as a victim of a clueless front office who gave him no chance to win.

Ownership generally bought into that argument, dumping Brown but giving the coach a fresh start with Dorsey.

The interesting sidelight is Dorsey is a former NFL defensive back, a hardcore scout -- but he also likes analytics. He tries to blend the best of the old and new worlds of running a football team.

The bottom line for Jackson is he can't fault the front office if he fails this season.

CAN HE FIX IT?

No one should be expecting a playoff team. But it's driving the fans nuts to see how close the Browns could be to a 4-3 record.

Jackson is 1-3 in games decided by three or fewer points this season...and 2-10-1 in his time with the Browns.

Jackson said he still has support of Haslam and the front office. But he knows the pressure is on.

Most Browns fans know how Jackson did himself and offensive coordinator Todd Haley no favors with how he spoke about the offense after last Sunday's 26-23 loss in Tampa.

Nearly everything Jackson said about how the offense is underperforming and starting slow is right...bottom line being only four touchdowns scored in the last three games.

His intention may not have been to blame Haley, but Sunday's outburst came off that way.

Monday, Jackson tried to repair the situation at his press conference, saying he won't take over play-calling from Haley.

Jackson's real work has to be done in private with Haley and the other members of the coaching staff who deal with the offense. They have to be hurt by how the head coach handled this.

Arizona just fired offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. Tampa Bay fired defensive coordinator Mike Smith last week.

That makes assistant coaches nervous.

Jackson has replaced 18 assistant coaches in his 2-plus years with the Browns.

The Browns play at Pittsburgh Sunday. The Steelers fired Haley after six years as their offensive coordinator.

It's a huge game for Jackson, for Haley and for the Browns this season.

It's when the Browns don't need these distractions and drama -- something needlessly created by the head coach. Now, how will they respond?

What happens from here remains to be seen. But either way, Korver isn't sweating it.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Kyle Korver's playing time has been sporadic this season. On Sunday, when he was temporarily removed from the rotation in favor of a youth movement, Korver received a DNP-CD (Did Not Play-Coach's Decision)

First reported by The Athletic, Korver, Channing Frye and JR Smith -- the team's elder statesmen -- were informed that they were going to be out of the lineup for the foreseeable future during a meeting with head coach Tyronn Lue and general manager Koby Altman on Saturday afternoon. That was one day before the Cavaliers' embarrassing loss against the Atlanta Hawks in the home opener.

What happens from here remains to be seen. But either way, Korver isn't sweating it.

"I think we're trying to figure a lot of things out across the board," Korver said following Wednesday's shootaround. "Trying to find lineups that work, trying to find a fun style of play. There's a lot of new here and it hasn't been that long yet. This is a great job for me, whether I'm playing or not, so I'm going to come every day and work hard."

Korver, who is 37 and fourth all-time in 3-pointers made, admitted his voice can be louder when he's playing. But he recognizes that his impact on the team, one dotted with youngsters trying to find their way, can be felt off the floor too.

"You just lead by example and you try to let the other guys see you're still putting in your work," Korver said. "It's a long season and at some point this season I'm going to play. I know that. So I'm going to be ready, whenever that moment is."

In the regular season opener, Korver logged 14 minutes, including nine during Cleveland's second-half rally. Still, that total was below his average of 21.6 last season. It was a bad sign. 

Then in Friday night's matchup against the bouncy and athletic Timberwolves, Korver played just five minutes, sitting for the duration of the second half. That night, it seemed like no big deal, simply a case of Lue opting to ride Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton and Cedi Osman -- a trio primarily responsible for another late-game surge.

But then came Sunday against the Hawks.

"A lot of it really is the lineups that we're playing," Korver said. "We have certain guys whose strengths are attacking the basket, certain guys whose strengths are getting in the paint and making plays, certain guys' strengths are shooting. I think we're just trying to find lineups that work. Obviously I have a certain strength, it's like how do I fit into a certain lineup. I think we're trying to figure out a lot of stuff."

That last part was Korver's common response, not wanting to speak out of place.

He understands the organization's tricky spot without LeBron James. It's a delicate balance of trying to win games while also developing the young core that will be part of the new era, one that, given his age and contract situation (he has a partial guarantee for the 2019-20 season), Korver won't be around to see.

That, and a three-game losing skid to open the season, has made this perhaps even more difficult than many expected. 

"I think the toughest challenge is just trying to implement a lot of these new things that we are doing into a game," Korver said. "It's one thing to do it in practice when you are sitting there doing a drill and you're really trying to focus on something and then you get into a game (and it's a challenge).

"We have a lot of guys that want to play. If you're not doing those basic things that doesn't require talent and doesn't require anything then you should just, you know ... and I think we're heading in that direction from what Ty says."

Mayfield doesn't think Jackson needs to dive in and overhaul the offense. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Baker Mayfield doesn't think Hue Jackson needs to step in and overhaul Todd Haley's struggling Browns offense.

"I think a lot of things are said postgame emotionally, but I think the thing around here is that we don't have to re-invent the wheel,'' said Mayfield. "We need to perfect our craft. You look at the good teams around the league, they work hard at what they do and they become good at it. We have what we have.

"We don't need to try and change too much. We just need to get better at what we're doing. There's no secret recipe for success besides working your ass off for what you have."

The Browns offense has tumbled to 29th or lower in several key categories, including yards per play, passing yards per play, sacks per pass play and third down efficiency. They're also tied for 23rd in points per game.

But Mayfield puts the slow starts and horrible overtimes primarily on the players. The Browns have scored a total of eight points in the first quarter, and two of those came on a safety. The defense has forced a league-high 20 takeaways, and the Browns have scored an average of only 1.5 points off each one, a league-low mark.

At plus-10 in turnover differential for tops in the league, the Browns should be in contention right now. Instead, they're 2-4-1 in the cellar of the AFC North heading into Sunday's rematch with the 3-2-1 Steelers.  

"Gotta eliminate the minus plays,'' said Mayfield. "We had two penalties. One penalty on the first drive, one penalty on the second drive, the third drive had a negative run. If we do our job and eliminate those things we'll be in a much better position to take points and any points are good points. Field awareness, we've got to score when we have a chance, and we've got to do that and be proud to do that.''

Both on Monday and after the game, Mayfield alluded to taking points wherever possible, and would've been happy attempting a field at the of the half during Sunday's 26-23 overtime loss to the Bucs instead of going for it on fourth and 2 from the 11. Mayfield was stripped of the ball after he had slipped out of trouble and scrambled for a first down tower the left sideline when he failed to put the ball in his left hand. The ball skittered backwards to wipe out the conversion, and the Browns went to the locker room down 16-2 instead of 16-5 or 16-9.

He blamed himself for not switching hands, but also indicated he would've preferred the three-pointer there.

"Either kicking a field goal or i'm switching the ball in the other hand,'' he said. "Those points matter down there, and in the first half, you've got to take the easy way out. Any points are good points at that point in the game. I've got to take care of the ball."

Jackson, who stressed early on that he'd be involved in whether or not to go for it on fourth down, said he did so "because I needed to jumpstart our offense. You're in fourth and 2, I thought we had a good play call. And we did. It's unfortunate. ....Could've kicked a field goal, no question, but I thought our offense needed something to feel good about in the first half. We did not play well.''

On Monday when asked if he makes those calls or grants approval, he said, "I grant approval."

Despite strong remarks after the loss that he'd dive in and do whatever it takes to help fix the Browns' offense, Jackson clarified on Monday that he won't take over the playcalling duties from Haley and that he'd only "infuse'' himself into the offense.

Running back Duke Johnson, who doesn't get many touches in the Haley scheme and carried the ball only once on Sunday despite Carlos Hyde being traded, said it doesn't matter to him one way or the other if Jackson gets more involved, and that he's just doing his job.

Left guard Joel Bitonio said so far there's been no discernible difference in the offensive meetings this week in regards to Jackson's increased involvement.

Through three games, the Cavaliers have seemingly abandoned that old philosophy, becoming more enamored with the league's most inefficient shot -- the mid-range jumper.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It wasn't that long ago when the Cleveland Cavaliers lived by the "layups and 3s" mantra.

That approach -- a system centered on the game's most wondrous superstar LeBron James, combined with All-Star talent, skillful perimeter shooters and deadly isolations -- led to the Cavaliers crafting an offense that ranked top 5 in rating four straight years.

The Cavs also finished alongside the NBA's elite in effective field goal percentage.

The offensive rating statistic measures points per 100 possessions. Effective field goal percentage adjusts for the fact that 3-point field goals are worth 50 percent more than 2-point field goals. That's the added parameter that means so much more in this pace-and-space era.

The Cavaliers have seemingly abandoned that old philosophy, becoming more enamored with the league's most inefficient shot -- the mid-range jumper.

According to NBA stats, the Cavs average the second-most shots from midrange in the NBA, taking a whopping 22.3 per night.

They also rank second in the "long mid-range" area -- attempts around 14 feet and out while also staying inside the 3-point line.

In terms of shot frequency, the Cavs are hoisting mid-range jumpers 37.9 percent of the time.

NBA.com 

For perspective, last year's Cavs had a frequency of just 30.2 percent, taking the sixth-fewest mid-range shots. During their four-year stretch of Eastern Conference supremacy, the Cavs never finished higher than 25th in that particular category.

With those outside-the-paint 2s rising, the Cavs have plummeted from the 3-point ranks -- a trend initially shown in the preseason and one that has carried over into the first three games of the regular season.

In terms of total 3s, no team has taken fewer than the Cavs. They also currently rank 29th in 3-point frequency at 23.2 percent.

The only team below them in that particular category? The Sacramento Kings, who entered Tuesday's slate placed second in mid-range shots. No offense to Sacramento, but that's probably not the kind of company the Cavs are looking to keep on offense. 

In the last four years, the Cavs never finished lower than fourth in 3-point frequency, getting as a high as second on two separate occasions. They were always near the top in total long-range attempts as well. 

When asked recently about Cleveland's drop in 3-pointers, head coach Tyronn Lue showed little concern.

"I think you have to take what the defense gives you," he said. "I mean, we're not just going to be a jump-shooting team. We have guys that can create, get to the basket and finish at the basket and get to the free throw line. We're not just going to focus on 3s. The last few years we had specialty players that shot 3s. I think now we have guys that can shoot the 3-ball but also get to the basket and finish at the rim as well. A little different."

Lue's right about one thing: The Cavs are getting to the rim.

They rank 11th in shots from that distance. The only problem is they aren't finishing when they get there, currently sitting at 51 percent -- the NBA's second-worst mark.

All throughout training camp and the preseason, Lue spoke about adjusting his system to his player's strengths. The Cavs went isolation-heavy in the James era because of his dominance -- and Kyrie Irving's -- in ISO situations, which made that Cleveland's best option. Without James, the Cavs have tried to implement a system with an abundance movement and more options on any given possession.

They are also giving a majority of playing time to guys who appear more comfortable inside the 3-point line.

JR Smith, one of Cleveland's bombers, has played four total minutes. Kyle Korver, a premier long-distance threat, logged 19 minutes in the first two games before seemingly getting bumped from the rotation in favor of the youngsters in Sunday's eye-opening loss to the Hawks.

That's left Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood, Cedi Osman and Collin Sexton -- a quarter in Cleveland's future plans -- to handle a bulk of the wing minutes.

Sexton has taken more mid-range shots than anyone on the roster, firing 16 of his 27 total attempts from that in-between distance.

NBA.com 

Hood is next with 11. Clarkson and Osman have each hoisted 10.

On Sunday, during the Cavaliers' 22-point loss, they looked to be playing a different sport than the Hawks, who rank 26th in mid-range shot frequency.

Atlanta hoisted 47 triples, 20 more than the Cavs, and canned a franchise-record 22 of them. They outscored Cleveland by 36 points from beyond the arc, a complete role reversal from what it used to look like between the two teams. The Hawks, whose general manager Travis Schlenk came from revolutionary Golden State, attempted just seven mid-range shots on Sunday.

The other 91 tries came inside the paint or outside the arc. The Cavs, meanwhile, put up 24 shots from midrange.

According to ESPN's Kevin Pelton, the percentage of 2-pointers that teams have taken outside the paint has already declined by more than 3 percent league-wide. Only the Cavs are going the other way.

To Cleveland's credit, hitting 45 percent on mid-range shots puts them fourth in the NBA. But when it's widely considered the league's most inefficient shot and has also led to such a decline in triple attempts, is that really something to brag about?

Part of this was expected. James, who is in Los Angeles now after a landscape-shifting free agency, is the league's preeminent 3-point setup man, snapping on-target passes directly into the shooting pockets of his capable teammates while defenses collapse to halt his drives.

With all the floor spacing that Cleveland used to enjoy, especially after Kevin Love moved to center in a small-ball lineup, the Cavs would bury teams from beyond the arc. And when defenses honored the outside shooters, it would allow James -- or other attackers --- to feast around the rim.

This season, Love is back at his original power forward spot, with Tristan Thompson and Larry Nance Jr. sharing starting center duties. Playing that more traditional big takes one outside shooter off the floor.

Smith and Korver being swapped out eliminates two more. A lack of effective play creators has minimized the number of open catch-and-shoot chances.

"Can we still be a good 3-point shooting team," Korver asked when that question was phrased to him during training camp. "I think so. Just think we are going to be shooting different 3s.

"We're not going to get as many of those ones, but we are all going to be moving more, it's going to be hard to guard each of us because we are coming off a screen, dribble handoff, pick and roll, we're swinging the ball and there's more opportunities for breakdowns on the defense. Obviously, we don't have LeBron creating breakdowns. But we will create different breakdowns hopefully with a lot more movement."

That hasn't happened yet.

Cleveland's offensive rating is respectable. But 20th still puts them in the bottom third, needing to improve, especially given those continued defensive woes.

So this is the real question for the Cavs: Do these mid-range numbers represent a nothing-to-worry-about extremely small sample size or a nasty movement the wrong direction -- a sign of things to come as the season continues?

Check here for the live first-round leaderboard for the PGA Tour's WGC-HSBC Champions 2018 in Shanghai.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Brooks Koekpa, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood comprise one of the notable groupings for the HSBC Champions 2018 this week in Shanghai. Another high-powered grouping is Francesco Molinari, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy.

• HSBC CHAMPIONS TEE TIMES

• HSBC CHAMPIONS LEADERBOARD

Koepka won The CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges last week in South Korea to become No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Rose is defending champion.

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PGA TOURS
WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS-HSBC CHAMPIONS
Site: Shanghai.
Course: Sheshan International GC. Yardage: 7,261. Par: 72.
Purse: $10 million. Winner's share: $1.8 million.
Television: Wednesday-Thursday, 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. (Golf Channel); Friday-Saturday, 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. (Golf Channel).
Defending champion: Justin Rose.
Last WGC: Justin Thomas won the Bridgestone Invitational.
Notes: The Americans go for a sweep of the World Golf Championships following victories by Phil Mickelson (Mexico), Bubba Watson (Match Play) and Justin Thomas (Firestone). None of the three is playing in Shanghai. ... Only 19 Americans are in the field. Two of them, John Catlin and Julian Suri, are not PGA Tour members. ... Dustin Johnson last year tied a PGA Tour record by losing a six-shot lead in the final round. Justin Rose won from eight shots behind. ... Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka and Francesco Molinari give the HSBC Champions all four major champions. ... Koepka makes his debut at No. 1 in the world. Of the previous 22 players to reach No. 1, only six won in their debut atop the ranking. The most recent was Dustin Johnson in Mexico in 2017. ... Rose and Johnson each will have a chance to replay Koepka at No. 1. ... Molinari leads the Race to Dubai over Tommy Fleetwood. Both are in the field this week. ... Patrick Reed plays for the first time since the Ryder Cup.
Next WGC: Mexico Championship on Feb. 21-24.
Online: www.pgatour.com

(Fact box from Associated Press.)

While Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers of the modern day era, his postseason struggles are starting to damage his legacy. Watch video

While Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers of the modern day era, his postseason struggles are starting to damage his legacy. Many people feel his lack of World Series rings and uneven performances in the playoffs shouldn't garner the kind of negative attention he gets. Others believe Kershaw had little help from the rest of his team and is still one of the best pitchers ever. What do you think?

PERSPECTIVES

People seem to be surprised Clayton Kershaw underperformed in another postseason series. This is what we have to expect of him! In eight years of pitching in the playoffs, Kershaw has been nothing but a serviceable starter, compiling a 9-9 record with a 4.28 ERA after Game 1 of the 2018 World Series. 

Still, that's a far cry from his 153-69 record during the regular season with a 2.39 ERA. He can get all the awards he wants, but if he isn't performing well in the postseason where it really counts, he shouldn't be praised like he's one of the greatest to step on the mound.

People act like it's all Kershaw's fault for some of his poor pitching performances in the playoffs. There was the time he didn't get any run support in 2014 against the Cardinals. Even in Game 1 of the 2018 World Series, his defense let him down in the first inning. 

Let's not forget about the seven-inning, 11 strikeout gem he threw in the World Series. Kershaw has proven he can pitch in the playoffs. His team needs to step up and help him out. He's not overrated at all!

Orel Hershiser says Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw is the 'the best pitcher that ever lived'

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After an admirable first half, staying even with the Nets, the Cavs got run off their own home floor for the second straight game.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Well, LeBron James may win the race with his old team after all -- the one to a first win this season. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers entered Wednesday's game as one of a quartet of teams without a victory. They had their fourth chance on Wednesday night to put a notch in that column against the Brooklyn Nets while also boosting morale following a few tough days, as Sunday's embarrassing loss in the home opener festered.

But after an admirable first half, staying even with the Nets, the Cavs got run off their own home floor for the second straight game, losing 102-86.

"We've got to be able to sustain it," head coach Tyronn Lue said. "I thought we did a good job in the first half of being physical, fighting over screens and even competing when we weren't making shots. And that third quarter we wasn't making shots. That let our defense down and we can't do that. The margin for error for us is too small right now to give in to that."

In a season of wins and lessons, Cleveland is still seeking the all-important but incredibly elusive W. The early-season teaching points haven't been an issue. 

The Cavs have gotten off to slow starts before. They've had some incredibly baffling losses -- even in their most bountiful years. But this is different. This season, James is no longer around to pull the team out of the darkness and bring hope of brighter days. No, he's thousands of miles away still seeking his first victory with the Lakers.  

Hours before the game, veteran Kyle Korver said this poor start will allow the Cavaliers to find out who they truly are.

Adversity has a way of providing answers -- either come together as one or be ripped apart by losses.

What are the Cavs made of? Everyone, including the players inside that melancholy locker room, is about to get that answer. 

On Wednesday night, the Cavs looked disheveled and overmatched.

"Play hard and play smart," Tristan Thompson said. "You can play hard but play like a chicken with your head cut off and look like a damn idiot out there. We've got to follow our schemes."

Against Brooklyn, one of a handful of teams expected to fight for a back-end Eastern Conference playoff spot, the Cavs seemed to be playing a different sport, looking like a team with no chance to be in the same battle for a postseason berth.

For the fourth consecutive game, the Cavs trailed by at least 20 points, facing a deficit of 23 points in the second half. 

A night Cleveland's picked-apart defense looked its best, the offense collapsed.

"I think we're supposed to be playing at a faster pace and seeing the ball move, getting those swing-swing actions," Kevin Love said. "But plain and simple we're not getting them right now at all. Teams are out-shooting us from 3 by a wide margin, teams are getting to those wide margins and we're not able to fight back. That has to change."

The Cavs tallied a season-low 86 points on 34-of-89 shooting. Love, who appears miscast as the No. 1 option on a team with playoff aspirations, struggled once again. He scored 14 points on 4-of-9 from the field and was largely ignored during the Nets' runaway third quarter, where they outscored the Cavs by 21 points.

Thompson missed nine of his 10 shots. Jordan Clarkson had his worst offensive showing of the season, needing 14 attempts to reach 14 points.

Rodney Hood, the de facto second scoring option, repeatedly passed up long-distance bombs for mid-range jumpers -- the NBA's most inefficient shot.

Cedi Osman stumbled again, tallying eight points on 4-of-12 shooting.  

While the Nets were launching 3-pointers, going 14-of-34 from beyond the arc, the Cavs were playing inside the stripe. Cleveland went 3-of-18 on 3s, only taking four more than what the Nets made all game.

Lue talked about the team being in a good place heading into the night. They left the court in a much more somber mood, wondering what it will take.

"Fight, fight. If you don't fight you don't give yourself a chance," Thompson said. "You've got to fight out there and take it kind of personal. At the end of the day, coaches, fans, everyone can live with the team playing hard and giving an effort. Fall short, you can live with those results. But if you're not giving yourself an effort or a fight, you've got no chance in this league."

It's the latest test in a season that will be filled with them. The exams aren't going to stop. Winning is the only answer.

Through four games, the only race the Cavs look to truly be a part of is the one to the bottom. They've got a big head start there. 

New rotation

The Cavaliers dusted off veterans JR Smith and Korver in the first half after neither guy played during Sunday's blowout loss against the Hawks, leading to some internal frustration. Both players have been a part of plenty of wins the past few seasons and the Cavs are hoping to capitalize on that vibe.

Neither guy helped much.

Korver scored two points in 19 minutes. He took two shots. Smith was able to get minutes at the power forward spot, matching Brooklyn's small-ball lineup. Lue has been searching for unique ways to get Smith some playing time and the downsized Nets provided a great opportunity.

Smith scored seven points in 18 minutes. 

With Smith in the rotation, Sam Dekker, who had been the backup 4 during the first three losses, was headed for a DNP-CD before garbage time hit.

It will be tough for the Cavs to consistently use Smith as an undersized forward, especially Thursday night against the burly Pistons. But in matchups similar to Wednesday, the Cavs will be able to get away with that strategy.

Winning second quarter

One of Cleveland's problem areas was fixed. For one night anyway.

The Cavs, outscored 111-72 in second quarters of the first three games, won that 12-minute stretch by seven points. As a result, they didn't trail at halftime. Instead, the Cavs and Nets were tied at 45 following the first half.

Up next

The Cavs will play the second game of a back-to-back on the road Thursday night. Cleveland heads to Detroit to play the undefeated Pistons, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena.

From playoff flop to World Series ace in one legacy-changing October, David Price earned his second postseason victory in a row Wednesday night and delivered the Red Sox their second straight World Series win.

BOSTON -- From playoff flop to World Series ace in one legacy-changing October, David Price earned his second postseason victory in a row Wednesday night and delivered the Boston Red Sox their second straight World Series win.

The Red Sox left-hander pitched six innings of three-hit ball, and major league RBI leader J.D. Martinez broke a fifth-inning tie with a two-run single during another two-out rally to lead Boston to a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers and a 2-0 lead in the World Series.

Game 3 is Friday in Los Angeles. The Dodgers need a win to avoid an 0-3 deficit that no World Series team has ever recovered from.

The Red Sox have won 14 of their last 16 World Series games, dating to a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004.

Not bad for a team that went 86 years without a championship before then.

And Price had battled a curse of his own.

Price had been 0-9 in his first 10 postseason starts and his team had never won a playoff game he started before this year. Boston has now won his last three starts, including the ALCS Game 5 clincher against the defending champion Astros in which he pitched six shutout innings.

So what changed for Price, who said he found something while warming up in the bullpen late in Game 4 at Houston?

"I have," he said. "I take a lot of pride in being able to evolve from pitch to pitch or day to day or game to game. Being able to make adjustments on the fly, it's paid off."

On a frigid night at Fenway Park, Price held the highest-scoring team in the NL hitless through three innings and retired the last seven batters he faced. He struggled only in the fourth, loading the bases with nobody out on two singles and a walk, to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead -- their first of the Series.

But the 108-win Red Sox pulled ahead, and once again they waited until there were two outs to do it.

In an uncanny stretch of clutch hitting that has been their hallmark throughout the season, the Red Sox scored all four of their runs in Game 2 with two outs, including a three-run rally in the fifth that only started after Hyun-Jin Ryu set down Ian Kinsler and Jackie Bradley Jr.

Christian Vazquez singled, Mookie Betts did the same and Andrew Benintendi worked the count full before walking to load the bases, chasing Ryu. Ryan Madson walked Steve Pearce to tie the game before Martinez, who had 130 RBIs in the regular season, dropped a soft line drive in front of right fielder Yasiel Puig to score two more and give Boston a 4-2 lead.

Price and three relievers retired the last 16 Los Angeles batters, with Craig Kimbrel closing the Dodgers down in a perfect ninth for his sixth save this postseason.

Boston's other run came on Kinsler's two-out single in the second. The Red Sox, who led the majors in two-out runs in the regular season, have scored 36 of their 68 runs this postseason -- and nine of their 12 in the Series -- with two outs.

And now it's the Dodgers in a hole.

The last 10 teams to win the first two games of the World Series -- and 16 of the last 17 -- have gone on to win it all. And the NL West champions will need to do it against a team that has won six straight postseason games and five in a row on the road.

GREAT CATCH

One night after getting four hits, Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi made a leaping, spread-eagle catch to rob Brian Dozier of an extra-base hit leading off the fifth. With the ball tailing away from him toward the corner, Benintendi jumped, kicked and pulled it in a few feet in front of the Green Monster scoreboard.

UP NEXT

The teams head to the West Coast for Game 3 at Dodger Stadium on Friday. Rookie right-hander Walker Buehler is scheduled to pitch for Los Angeles against likely Boston starter Rick Porcello.

--By Jimmy Golen 

One game after using the term "embarrassing" to describe a loss, Tristan Thompson condemned Cleveland's lack of fight in the most recent double-digit defeat.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There's already a long list of responses that provide a window into how the Cleveland Cavaliers have started the season. 

Tristan Thompson added another late Wednesday night.

One game after using the term "embarrassing" to describe a loss, the veteran condemned Cleveland's fight in the most recent double-digit defeat. 

"If you don't fight you don't give yourself a chance. You've got to fight out there and take it kind of personal," Thompson said following the 102-86 loss. "At the end of the day, coaches, fans, everyone can live with the team playing hard and giving an effort. Fall short, you can live with those results. But if you're not giving yourself an effort or a fight, you've got no chance in this league."

A few lockers over, Kevin Love was getting dressed before meeting with the media. When it was Love's turn, he echoed Thompson's sentiment. 

"I think you saw in the first two games a lot of fight, but the last two at home, especially when we've gotten down -- it was a tie ballgame at halftime and last game we were down by two -- then second half we just let up and didn't show any fight. That has to change."

These comments come on the heels of Lue saying morale was down after the 22-point loss against the Hawks. That performance on Sunday in the home opener, combined with a trio of veterans receiving DNPs in that same game, led to that somber mood just three games into a new year. 

Love used the term "alarming" the other day. Kyle Korver labeled it a "hard loss" to take. That's quite a change from the tone just one week ago.

In back-to-back games on the road to open the new campaign, the Cavs didn't get the results they desired, dropping the first two.

Still, they left Minneapolis feeling good about the effort. For a team that has been forced to reset expectations, finding little victories along the way will be important. It might be their only hope to keep from crumbling before December.

So they latched onto the dogged fight displayed in a pair of second halves against playoff-bound Toronto and reigning Western Conference eighth seed Minnesota, nearly pulling off a pair of improbable comebacks. At the very least, it was something to build on. 

Somewhere between Minnesota and Cleveland, the Cavs lost that edge. 

So if they trailed by a large margin and rallied to make the final score respectable against both Toronto and Minnesota but didn't do the same against Atlanta and Brooklyn, does that suggest there's been some quit?

"I wouldn't say that. There better not be. ... It's been four games," Thompson said. "If you quit already, shoulda stayed your ass home. Just not shown up to training camp. Take the insurance money and say you're hurt. It's too early to say quit.

"I'm not quitting. I know Kev's not quitting. I know our vets aren't quitting. So we need everyone in this organization that gets paid by the Cleveland Cavaliers to make sure everyone is here to fight and no one has quit yet."

Sometimes poor execution and horrible play can masquerade as a lack of effort. It's no doubt demoralizing to get behind by at least 20 points in every game and have to keep battling uphill. Maybe the Cavs will get to a point where that doesn't happen. Perhaps they will find a way to lead at halftime. A win will eventually come. 

But until then, one thing Thompson, Love and others won't allow is a lack of scrappy play -- something that was supposed to define this team.

That's why Thompson plans to reiterate his effort message ahead of Thursday's game against the undefeated Detroit Pistons. It's the second night of a back-to-back where it may not always be easy to find that extra burst of energy.  

"They haven't been a part of this culture that we're building here in Cleveland," Thompson said when referring to some of the younger players. "At the end of the day, the only guys who really know what's expected, every night, are myself, Kev, and Swish (JR Smith). Everyone else has been one year, two year guys. They don't know the culture of being a Cavalier and what it takes and what's expected and what the fans expect when you put on that jersey."

Thompson's comments are meant to inspire and galvanize. He wants the youngsters to learn quickly. But if he's not careful it could lead to created factions and perhaps even some tension in what's quickly becoming a quiet and grim locker room.

One thing that's more clear as the season goes on: there's some separation between the old guard and the new, young core. It wasn't the plan, of course, but it's happening organically and it will need to be monitored, especially if the youngsters keep taking the brunt of criticism. 

As for Wednesday's game, Thompson felt the lack of fight showed up everywhere, but even more so on the defensive end, as the Nets came out of the locker room packing a wallop. In the third quarter alone, Brooklyn scored 38 points and outscored the Cavs by 21. The Nets buried Cleveland with the deadly 3-pointer. 

According to some players, that led to some hung heads and ugly body language.

Lue tried to stop the bleeding. He called five timeouts in the quarter, including his first after a minute had gone by. Three minutes later, after the Nets' lead ballooned to 11 points, Lue signaled for another one. It was fruitless.

"We've got to be able to sustain it," Lue said. "I thought we did a good job in the first half of being physical, fighting over screens and even competing when we weren't making shots. And that third quarter we wasn't making shots. That let our defense down and we can't do that. The margin for error for us is too small right now to give in to that."

Ever the optimist, Lue felt there were some positives Wednesday night. He thought, aside from the costly third quarter, the Cavs were physical with the Nets and some of their defensive tweaks yielded desired results. Giving up 102 points after such horrible showings on that end in the first three games was a huge accomplishment. Lue also thought the loss against Brooklyn was "way better" than Sunday.

From that standpoint, he's probably right. But that's an awfully low bar, isn't it? 

After trying to explain a fourth straight defeat, the Cavs hopped on a plane for a quick flight to Detroit. Their next chance to start turning this ugly season around come fast. 

"We can't let it fester, we're professionals," Lue said. "The good thing about the NBA, we got another one tomorrow."

The Cleveland Cavaliers, still in search of their first win this season, will play the second game of a back-to-back against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers, still in search of their first win this season, will play the second game of a back-to-back against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night. 

When: 7 p.m. 

Where: Little Caesars Arena

TV: FoxSports Ohio

Radio: WTAM 1100 AM; WMMS 100.7 FM, La Mega 87.7 FM.

Online: FoxSports Go apps

Last meeting: The Cavs lost to the Pistons 125-114 in Detroit on Jan. 30, 2018. 

Cavs minute: The Cavs have trailed by at least 20 points in every game, the only team in the NBA to have that nasty designation. ... The Cavs went 3-1 against the Pistons last season, with the lone loss coming in Detroit. The two teams have split the last 12 meetings (6-6) over the previous three seasons. ... Kevin Love reached double figures in scoring once again Wednesday night, giving him nine straight double-digit games in the regular season -- a stretch that dates back to Game 76 against New Orleans last March. ... The Cavs have allowed over 100 points in every game. ... Cleveland has made the second-fewest 3-pointers, leading only the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have played just three games. 

Pistons minute: The Pistons are one of three undefeated teams remaining in the Eastern Conference. ... Blake Griffin tallied 50 points, 14 rebounds and six assists during Tuesday's win against Philadelphia. Griffin has now eclipsed 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists in all three games. ... Andre Drummond has recorded a double-double in three straight. ... He piled up a career-high 18 consecutive double-doubles from Jan. 24 - March 3, marking the second-most consecutive double-doubles in Pistons history.

Probable starters

Cavs

F Cedi Osman

F Kevin Love

C Tristan Thompson

G Rodney Hood

G George Hill

Pistons

F Reggie Bullock

F Blake Griffin

C Andre Drummond

G Stanley Johnson

G Reggie Jackson

See Cavs stats

See Pistons stats

The blatant mistakes being made by NFL officials this season is inexcusable. It also is dangerous to the players and turns off the fans. Watch video

CLEVELAND -- I hate writing about officials.

I absolutely, positively despise all the grumbling, griping and finger-pointing players, fans and media members do when it comes to officials.

But after the non-call on the obvious helmet-to-helmet hit on Baker Mayfield, I just lost it.

Not simply because Mayfield plays for the Browns and my job is more fun when they win.

It's because the Browns' rookie quarterback was smashed in the head.

A flag was thrown.

The hit was almost a rulebook example of what the NFL wants to avoid, and not just for quarterbacks.

In the age of concussions and all the brain damage being sustained by NFL players, Mayfield is blessed not to have suffered a serious injury.

When the officials threw flags (there were more than one), I expected two penalties.

The first would have been on Tampa's Jordan Whitehead, who drilled Mayfield in the head.

The next would have been on Mayfield for taunting, because he jumped up and screamed at the Tampa player.

Instead, both flags were picked up.

And given the severity of the hit, I probably would not have flagged Mayfield for taunting.

No matter what, Whitehead had to be penalized. You can't allow hits like that on any player.

If the NFL does, someone is going to die on the field. Or at least be paralyzed.

After a ridiculously long conference, official Shawn Hochuli explained to the fans: "The quarterback is still a runner, and therefore is allowed to be hit in the head. He had not yet begun his slide. There is no foul."

Since when is any player "allowed to be hit in the head" like that?

If it was Hochuli who made the decision to overturn the penalty, he should be fined and suspended for a game. The NFL reportedly is reviewing the play.

NO EXCUSE

I've been hearing how the NFL has a lot of young officials, so that explains the blown calls.

I can understand inexperience making it difficult for some officials to figure out what is a holding call in the NFL. I've been watching it for 40 years, and I still have no clue.

Some guys are allowed to wrestle pass rushers to the ground. Others barely seem to be permitted to use their hands to block.

That's different. It's hard, like calling fouls on many plays in the NBA.

But when a linesman misses an obvious offsides call that would have been flagged in any CYO game, you wonder what these guys are watching.

Disclaimer: This happened in the Browns 38-14 spanking by the L.A. Chargers. The officials had no impact on that game.

But the league has to be alarmed when it looks at Charger tackle Russell Okung moving a full second before the ball is snapped. It was an obvious false start.

But no flag.

Charger quarterback Philip Rivers fired a 29-yard TD pass to Tyrell Williams near the end of the first half on that play.

The play didn't determine the outcome.

But it did bring into question how many officials missed it.

That's not the product of inexperience. It's incompetence and the NFL should be ashamed of mistakes like these.

THINGS MUST CHANGE

The Browns have their own list of calls.

The NFL admitted Browns defensive end Myles Garrett should not have been flagged for a roughing the passer penalty in the opening game.

That flag set up a Pittsburgh TD in a game that eventually ended 21-21.

That was a minor misdemeanor compared to the major malfeasance with some of the calls.

And it was very poor decision by the officials.

The NFL claims it trains officials well and video reviews show the vast majority of calls are correct.

It's a fast, violent game. That's why it's easy to miss some calls such as pass interference, holding, blocks to the back and some roughing of the passer.

But an obvious false start?

A helmet-to-helmet hit in the open field?

Things officials at almost any level of football would notice and throw a flag?

That can't be tolerated by the NFL. The fans have had a right to complain this season because the league seems so lost on this subject.

Check here for video highlights from NBA games of Wednesday, Oct. 24. Steph Curry scored 51 in the Warriors' victory over the Wizards.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors defeated the Washington Wizards, 144-122; LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers toppled the Phoenix Suns, 131-113; and Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 123-108, as part of the NBA schedule from Wednesday, Oct. 24.

Curry scored 51 in 32 minutes as the Warriors improved to 4-1 overall, 3-0 at home. Curry was 15-of-24 from the field, including 11-of 16 from 3-point range, and 10-of-10 from the line. He did not play in the fourth quarter.

LeBron had 19 points and 10 assists, and six teammates scored in double-digits led by Lance Stephenson's 23, as the Lakers won their first game of the season. They are 1-3 overall, 1-1 on the road.

Giannis notched a triple-double -- 32 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists -- as the Bucks remained perfect (4-0).

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers were dump-trucked by the Brooklyn Nets, 102-86, at The Q. The Cavs have been outscored, 482-424, en route to 0-4.

Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans on Thursday night and Patriots at Bills on Monday Night Football.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Sunday's game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles had Super Bowl preview signs all over it before the season.

That was based on the Eagles as defending Super Bowl champions and the Jaguars as a team that came one game short of playing in the Super Bowl last year.

But that was last season. Now the Eagles are trying to recapture the magic they had last season and the Jaguars just hope to sustain some type of rhythm in the AFC South standings race, where they're only one game behind Houston (4-3).

Sunday's game in London could work to the Jaguars' advantage. This is their fourth straight game in Europe and they've won their last three here.

The L.A. Rams (7-0) should receive their biggest test on Sunday against  quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers (3-2-1). Rodgers is still recovering from a hurt knee suffered in Week 1. It has affected his mobility but he's still good enough to pull off the upset.

The Packers have the No. 2 passing offense in the league - by yardage. The Rams, under quarterback Jared Goff, are fourth.

NFL Schedule

Thursday

Miami at Houston, 8:20 p.m., FOX/NFL Network

Sunday

Philadelphia at Jacksonville, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network

Baltimore at Carolina, 1 p.m., CBS

N.Y. Jets at Chicago, 1 p.m., CBS

Tampa Bay at Cincinnati, 1 p.m., FOX

Seattle at Detroit, 1 p.m., FOX

Denver at Kansas City, 1 p.m., CBS

Washington at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m., FOX

Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m., CBS

Indianapolis at Oakland, 4:05 p.m., CBS

San Francisco at Arizona, 4:25 p.m., FOX

Green Bay at L.A. Rams, 4:25 p.m., FOX

New Orleans at Minnesota, 8:20 p.m., NBC

Monday

New England at Buffalo, 8:15 p.m., ESPN

Former Browns QBs who are current NFL backups:

Kevin Hogan (DEN #2)
Colt McCoy (WAS #2)
Cody Kessler (JAX #2)
Derek Anderson (BUF #2)
DeShone Kizer (GB #2)
Brandon Weeden (HOU #2)
Brock Osweiler (MIA #2)
Brian Hoyer (NE #2)
Josh McCown (NYJ #2)
Robert Griffin (BAL #3)

-- Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) October 24, 2018

2018 Receiving Yards Leaders! (Through Week 7) pic.twitter.com/EhVljdDzAb

-- NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2018

Check here for the live first-round leaderboard for the PGA Tour's Sanderson Farms Championship 2018 on Thursday, Oct. 25, in Mississippi.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Silver Lake native Ryan Armour, a product of Walsh Jesuit and Ohio State, is defending his title at the PGA Tour's Sanderson Farms Championship 2018 this week in Mississippi. Last year's victory was Armour's first on the PGA Tour.

• SANDERSON FARMS TEE TIMES

• SANDERSON FARMS LEADERBOARD

Among others in the field: Chris Kirk, Bill Haas, Harold Varner III, Patrick Rodgers and Lucas Glover.

PGA TOUR
SANDERSON FARMS CHAMPIONSHIP
Site: Jackson, Miss.
Course: Country Club of Jackson. Yardage: 7,421. Par: 72.
Purse: $4.4 million. Winner's share: $792,000.
Television: Thursday-Sunday, 2:30-5:30 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Defending champion: Ryan Armour.
FedExCup leader: Marc Leishman.
Last week: Brooks Koepka won the CJ Cup in South Korea.
Notes: The winner gets a spot at Kapalua and the PGA Championship, but not the Masters. ... Armour last year had the best world ranking of any winner in Mississippi since it moved to the fall. He was at No. 321. ... Bill Haas in 2010 is the last player to be ranked inside the top 100 when he won the tournament. ... The tournament began in 1986. Paul Azinger and Nick Faldo were runner-up each of the first two years. ... Norman Xiong is playing on a sponsor exemption. He has yet to make the cut in six starts on the PGA Tour and one on the European Tour. ... Retief Goosen is making his first start since he was selected for the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Next week: Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Online: www.pgatour.com
(Fact box for Associated Press.)

Haden finds himself the linchpin of Pittsburgh's revamped secondary.

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The end came quickly in Cleveland for Joe Haden, a stark reminder that the NFL is a business. The Browns were rebuilding again in the summer of 2017, and having a cornerback in his late 20s making eight figures didn't exactly fit the plan, fiscally or otherwise.

For the first time in his football life, Haden felt adrift.

The two-time Pro Bowler understood his final two seasons in Cleveland were marred by injury and inconsistent play.

Still, getting cut loose -- even a split as amicable as the one between Haden and the Browns -- thrust his long-range plans into serious jeopardy.

"When I first got in the league I was thinking I'd play 15 years," Haden said.

Less than halfway there, Haden was willing to settle for just one more to prove something to Cleveland and -- if he's being honest -- himself too.

Funny how things work out. Fast forward 14 months and Haden finds himself the linchpin of Pittsburgh's revamped secondary. The 29-year-old is in a sweet spot of sorts. The speed that helped make him the seventh overall pick in the 2010 draft is still there, joined by the smarts accumulated from nearly a decade shadowing the league's best receivers.

"Joe's athletic ability is still pretty sharp," defensive backs coach Tom Bradley said. "Mentally he gets better as time goes on. I think he understands what people are trying to get done."

While the first-place Steelers (3-2-1) remain very much a work in progress heading into Sunday's visit from the Browns (2-4-1) -- particularly at the cornerback spot opposite Haden, where Artie Burns, Coty Sensabaugh and Cam Sutton remain in a rotation until one of them takes firm ownership of the position -- Haden's steadying presence has provided a much-needed lift.

Three weeks ago he kept Atlanta star wide receiver Julio Jones without a catch until the fourth quarter when the game was well in hand. Two weeks ago in Cincinnati, he held A.J. Green out of the end zone. Haden's reward? A quick trip to Los Angeles during Pittsburgh's bye to check in on buddy LeBron James.

Now a rematch with the Browns -- who fought to an ugly 21-all tie with Pittsburgh in the season opener -- awaits. It's a game that doesn't feel nearly as personal as it did last season, when Haden found himself lining up against his former teammates just days after Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert sprinted to sign him after being released by Cleveland.

While Haden was pretty sure he'd land a job after getting let go, he admits the fervency with which the Steelers went after him during their very brief courtship gave him a jolt of confidence.

"Coach Tomlin and Kev just really helped me out through the process of getting here, just showing me how much they wanted me, how much they loved me," Haden said. "They were like 'Joe, listen, we need you here.'"

Perhaps even more than Tomlin and Colbert knew. The Steelers signed Haden to a three-year, $27 million contract last August and he spent much of last season trying to fit in for a team that raced to its second straight AFC North title. Then Pittsburgh cut veterans Mike Mitchell, William Gay and Robert Golden in March, leaving Haden as the elder statesman.

"He's a guy that in the secondary, for us to be young, we can rely on and feel good with him out there," said second-year nickel back Mike Hilton. "He has become more vocal because he knows he's the guy in the room."

Haden developed a tightknit relationship with Burns -- like Haden a former first-round pick -- and his experience in Cleveland grounded him in a way. The Browns didn't win much during Haden's seven seasons in town. The atmosphere and the stakes are higher in Pittsburgh, where the losses are fewer but also more consequential. His message to the rest of the group that includes eight players with less than four years of NFL experience: relax.

"If we're winning or if we're losing, we still have the same amount of little corrections," Haden said. "It's just that one spot where you have to make a play or they have to make a play. It's never really that bad."

A season ago he appeared to be at a crossroads. Now his teammates believe Haden is once again among the league's elite. While Haden will leave that for others to decide, he's still open to the idea that his best football remains in front of him as 30 approaches.

"You hear people say 'Oh yeah, the game is slowing down,'" Haden said. "But I was like, 'I don't know.' Now I finally feel like literally, I feel like the game is slowing down."

Even as Haden insists that he's not.

NOTES: Burnett (groin) and LB L.J. Fort (ankle) were full participants on Wednesday. ... WR Darrius Heyward-Bey and TE Xavier Grimble (concussion) were limited. ... RT Marcus Gilbert (knee) did not practice.

Yuandale Evans, graduate of Shaw High School, fights Alberto Machado for the WBA super featherweight title in Madison Square Garden. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The biggest fight of Yuandale Evans' career arrives sometime after 10 p.m. Saturday in Madison Square Garden.

Evans (20-1) will fight Alberto Machado (20-0) for the WBA super featherweight title, shown live on HBO.

The fight's on the undercard of the Daniel Jacobs vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko bout for the vacant IBF middleweight title.

Evans, out of East Cleveland, will fight for the first time since winning the WBC Continental Americas featherweight title last November in Cleveland.

It's a fight with contrasting and similar styles. Machado vs. Evans pits southpaw vs. southpaw. At 5-foot-10, Machado towers over the shorter Evans.

The height difference often means the taller boxer will fight from the outside, but that's not the case for Machado, who seeks knockouts (16) over decisions. This works in favor of Evans, who will attack the body and neutralize Machado's power by fighting on the inside.

Once Machado figures a knockout is no longer an option, he'll likely try to earn points from the outside, but Evans will continue his inside assault that will result in a wild finish and unanimous decision in his favor.

Watch Party

Experience the Evans-Machado fight at the Velvet Rope (2445 St. Clair, near downtown Cleveland) at 10 p.m. on Saturday. 

Quick jabs

• What does it mean for Manny Pacquiao to sign with Al Haymon?
• Deontay Wilder says his status is not built on Anthony Joshua rivalry.
• Former champ George Foreman celebrates '68 gold medal in Mexico City.
• Luis Ortiz and other heavyweights will join Wilder-Fury card.
• A Danny Jacobs victory on Saturday could set up a date with Canelo Alvarez.
• UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov wants Floyd Mayweather in Moscow.

This week in boxing history

Oct. 26, 1970: Muhammad Ali defeats Jerry Quarry by KO in round 3. It's Ali's first fight since 1967.

5 p.m., Saturday (ESPN+):

• Kubrat Pulev vs. Hughie Fury, IBF heavyweight eliminator

• Savannah Marshall vs. Yanina Orozco, female middleweights

• Bogdan Dinu vs. Tom Little, heavyweights

• Tervel Pulev vs. Leonardo Bruzese, cruiserweights

9 p.m., (DAZN):

• Regis Prograis vs. Terry Flanagan, junior welterweights, World Boxing Super Series quarterfinals

• Ivan Baranchyk vs. Anthony Yigit, for vacant IBF junior welterweight title, World Boxing Super Series quarterfinals

• Subriel Mattias vs. Fernando David Saucedo, junior welterweights

• John Ryder vs. Andrey Sirotkin, WBA super middleweight eliminator

• Ted Cheeseman vs. Asinia Byfield, for vacant British junior middleweight title

10 p.m., (HBO):

• Sergiy Derevyanchenko vs. Daniel Jacobs, for vacant IBF middleweight title

• Alberto Machado vs. Yuandale Evans, for Machado's WBA super featherweight title
  

• Heather Hardy vs. Shelly Vincent, rematch, for vacant WBO women's featherweight title

Boxing used to be the unrivaled king of combat sports in the United States, but a challenger has risen to capture the attention of fight fans. Watch video

Boxing used to be the unrivaled king of combat sports in the United States, but a challenger has risen to capture the attention of fight fans -- mixed martial arts. MMA started as a no-holds-barred brawl with little to no rules but bloomed into one of the premier sports in the country. UFC fighters are now household names. While boxing can still lean on its history, MMA's variety and star power have made it a threat to knockout boxing as the country's premier combat sport. What do you think?

PERSPECTIVES

If you want to watch a sport with brutes in a cage fight, you can go watch MMA. If you want to watch a sport fought with unsurpassed technical fighting skills, welcome to the world of boxing.

There is no unfair advantage gained by using your other limbs or going to the ground to fight. The only weapons you have are your hands. Every punch, parry, and guard must be precise to protect yourself and damage your opponent. That's why they call it the "sweet science."

Mixed martial arts is a disjointed mess fought by undisciplined people who will literally claw their way to a fight. There is no art in what they do. Watching two opponents hugging one another on the mat is about as entertaining as watching paint dry.

Real fighters fight standing up, face to face. That's why boxing is the superior sport.

Let's face it. Boxing is dying.

No one wants to watch two people dance around each other jabbing for 45 minutes. The real fight is in the cage with MMA warriors.

To the untrained eye, mixed martial arts looks like a desperate street fight. But there is a certain elegance hidden beneath the brutality. The technical skills are still there, like in boxing, but they are multiplied dramatically. Not only do you have to be precise with your hand strikes, but you must also be well versed in using and defending against elbows, knees and feet.

In a grapple, you must be aware of where you are, as well as how you're using leverage. And within all that "boring" hugging on the ground is a beautiful dance of hand and feet placement to get in perfect position for a barrage of strikes or a submission hold.

MMA isn't the street fight it used to be. Weight classes and rules are in place, and with that has come legitimacy. Leagues like the UFC have consistently churned out better fight cards from the bottom up than boxing does nowadays.

The best combat sport is MMA and it's not even close.

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Love, who had a noticeable limp following Wednesday's 16-point loss against the Brooklyn Nets, will be sidelined with left foot soreness.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers' horrible start to the season has gotten a bit worse with the news that All-Star power forward Kevin Love will miss tonight's game against the Detroit Pistons. 

Love, who had a slight limp following Wednesday's 16-point loss to the Brooklyn Nets, will be sidelined with left foot soreness.

There is no word on his status for Saturday's matchup against the Indiana Pacers. 

It's the same foot that caused Love to miss the final three preseason games. He was able to return to practice ahead of the regular season opener on Oct. 17 in Toronto. But it's clear the soreness hasn't completely subsided.

On Wednesday night, Love didn't walk with his normal pace from the trainer's room to his locker on the opposite end of the Cavaliers' locker room.

Love traveled with the team to Detroit late Wednesday night. But the Cavs made the official determination to hold him out on Thursday afternoon. 

Love scored 14 points Wednesday against the Nets.

Cleveland's leading scorer, Love is averaging 19.0 points on 32.3 percent from the field, including 29.2 percent from 3-point range to go with 13.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in his first season since signing a $120 million contract extension. He has recorded a double-double in three straight games.

The Cavs (0-4) are seeking their first win of the season in Detroit against the undefeated Pistons.