The Cavaliers feed off the energy of Anderson Varejao and finally end a 10-game losing streak, topping the Knicks 109-102 in overtime.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Tough times call for harsh words and desperate actions, and Saturday it meant the owner of the Cavaliers appealed to the masses to stay true to their team, while the team itself dug deep to find the heart that has been missing for weeks while losses have mounted.
Led by the emotional fire of the team sparkplug, forward Anderson Varejao, and the steady hand of guard Mo Williams, the Cavaliers finally rediscovered the will to win in a 109-102 overtime victory over the New York Knicks. The win snapped the Cavaliers; 10-game losing streak and sent the Knicks on a losing streak of their own that now totals three straight.
The first sign the Cavaliers had endured enough of the losing arrived before the ball was even tipped off between at The Q, when owner Dan Gilbert made his presence felt via the Internet, though he wasn't watching the game courtside.
"CavsFans are the best fans on the planet," Gilbert wrote from his Twitter account just before tipoff. "Your support in this challenging time is more than appreciated. We will get this right. Stay tuned."
It didn't come in Comic Sans this time, but it was a declaration, nonetheless. The Cavaliers' 10-game losing streak was being monitored from the top. Opponents had been shooting 50.6 percent against the Cavaliers in 10 losses.
A team that needed heart turned to the player who displays an excess of it nightly: Varejao. The Cavaliers' springy-haired center was asked to defend the Knicks' All-Star big man, Amar'e Stoudemire, solo. Varejao would have no help in slowing down the 6-10 Stoudemire, who averages 26.6 points per game.
Varejao defended Stoudemire it the way he typically does: with lots of energy, lots of physical play and lots of hair flying in all directions.
And it worked. Stoudemire had just six points at halftime on 2-for-5 shooting. And though he finished with 23 points on 8-for-19 shooting, he also had eight turnovers and was, in general, harassed from start to finish.
"He brings a different element to the game when he plays," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. "It's almost that never-say-die attitude; every time he steps on the floor you know you're going to get 110 percent from him. Other guys see that and they feed off that. He's our emotional leader."
It was the kind of effort that energized his teammates, when they were down by nine early, down, 52-49, at half, and down, 93-89, with 52.9 seconds remaining.
From there, the Cavaliers dug deep as forward Antawn Jamison knocked in a driving layup after a timeout, Varejao grabbed a rebound on a Danilo Gallinari missed jumper, and Williams sank the tying jumper with 3.7 seconds left.
"I just wanted to make sure I had a good angle. I wanted to get it to the rim as soft as I could," Williams said.
It fell, and once the Cavaliers were in overtime, they never trailed. Williams had six points in the extra period, finishing with 23 points and 14 assists. Varejao had four points in overtime, capping a 14-point, 17-rebound performance. Varejao also added four blocks, two assists and two steals.
All five Cavaliers starters scored in double-digits, finally displaying the heart that has been missing for so long during their 10-game losing streak.
Inspired by Varejao? It's not far-fetched to believe the Cavaliers stole some of his heart for one night.
"You don't want to get shown up because you see this guy giving his body, energy and just playing the game the way it's supposed to be played," Jamison said. "As an opponent it's frustrating as I don't know what, but as a teammate you admire that and it makes you want to go out and do the same thing as well."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jvalade@plaind.com, 216-999-4654