The young Cavaliers are learning valuable lessons – some more painful than others – on a nightly basis. Friday’s lesson was the importance of closing quarters on the road.
The Lakers closed the second and third periods on big runs, stealing the momentum from a scrappy Cleveland team and snapping its win streak at three – taking the 113-101 decision on Friday night at the STAPLES Center.
L.A. held the Wine and Gold to just 16 points in the fourth quarter and shot 55 percent from long-range after intermission, getting 45 points off its bench – including 24 from Carmelo Anthony, who hit three back-breaking triples in the fourth quarter.