Cavaliers (46-30), Pelicans (43-33)
CLEVELAND – New Orleans rode a tremendous first-half performance by its bench, then built a 13-point second-half lead, but couldn’t finish off Friday’s key interconference matchup in the final period. Cleveland outscored its guests 33-22 in the third period, a pivotal frame that turned the momentum in the hosts’ favor and got the sold-out crowd at Quicken Loans Arena back into it.
The Pelicans, who finished 21-9 against the Eastern Conference this season, have only six games remaining in the regular season, with Sunday’s a critical one against close-in-the-standings Oklahoma City.