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Irving-less Cavs declaw Grizzlies

By Associated Press in Cleveland | China Daily | Updated: 2016-12-15 07:28

"It's going to be tough," he said. "But we have good players and we will figure it out, hopefully. Everybody has to be themselves - nobody can be LeBron, Ky and Kev. Should be fun."

Memphis rested center Marc Gasol for the first of back-to-back games against the defending NBA champions, but the 7-foot-1 star was expected to play on Wednesday.

Zach Randolph replaced Gasol in the starting lineup and scored 18 points to lead the Grizzlies, who beat Golden State by 21 on Saturday.

Smith came in shooting a career-low 31 percent from the field and 32 percent on 3s, the lowest mark since his rookie season with New Orleans in 2004.

He also has been slowed by a sore left knee, which he hyperextended last week, causing him to miss two games.

But Smith got it going early, dropping four 3-pointers in the first half. His fourth put the Cavs ahead 56-34, and he was 6 of 8 at halftime. He missed his first six shots in the third quarter and finished 8 of 17 - 6 of 10 on 3s.

"I joked with him that he should have had 30," Love said.

"There were so many shots that went in and out."

Cleveland seemed disinterested after halftime and Memphis managed to stay within striking distance, but the Grizzlies didn't have enough firepower without Gasol and Mike Conley, who is expected to miss another month with a back injury.

The Grizzlies were still within eight when James scored on a layup and hit a cutting Love for an easy bucket to make it 90-74 with 5:11 left.

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