Hudson, reserves lead Cavs over Charlotte

By Mary Schmitt Boyer

Cleveland Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND

So much for his predictions.

After watching newcomer Lester Hudson score 23 points on Friday in Toronto and 26 on Sunday in New Jersey, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott was asked what he expected of Hudson on Tuesday against Charlotte in The Q.

The coach smiled and said, “29, I guess.”

Hudson only had 25, but he led a strong bench effort that enabled the Cavs to rest their starters and cruise to an easy 103-90 victory before a crowd that included Indians manager Manny Acta and players Josh Tomlin, Jason Kipnis, Michael Brantley and Aaron Cunningham, who walked across the street after their game with Chicago was postponed.

“I’m a little disappointed that he missed a couple of shots that would have gotten him to 29,” Scott said of Hudson after the game.

“It would have been great,” Hudson said when told of his coach’s prediction. “I just had 25. The big thing is, we won. It’s great for me, a great feeling. I just want to come through. If I’m on the floor and I have an opportunity to make a play for my team and my teammates, I want to come through for our team.”

All kidding aside, Scott is thrilled with how Hudson is performing.

“The young man’s playing great basketball, and he’s doing it all in the system, which is great,” Scott said as his team improved to 19-36, winning at home for the first time since March 11. “He’s not taking bad shots or anything. He’s not forcing anything. He’s doing an excellent job on the defensive end as far as rebounding for a guard. He’s really getting in there and helping out our bigs. But, obviously, tonight again he got it going offensively and made the best of the situation.”

Anthony Parker and Antawn Jamison scored 19 and 17 points, respectively, to stake the Cavs to a 72-71 lead after the third quarter, but the reserves broke things open with a 23-4 run to start the fourth.

“The second unit tonight I thought was fantastic,” Scott said. “They played great together, shared the ball.”