Sessions, Cavaliers clip Los Angeles

By TOM REED

Cleveland Plain Dealer

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The Cleveland Cavaliers won despite having their teen phenom, Kyrie Irving, sit in the trainer’s room all night after being diagnosed with a concussion.

They beat Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers, 99-92, despite seeing their relentless rebounder, Anderson Varejao, land twice on his tailbone, the first time needing the assistance of the training staff to walk to the locker room.

They regained their balance after blowing a 15-point, third-quarter lead thanks to 35-year-old power forward Antawn Jamison, playing on a gimpy ankle, and backup point guard Ramon Sessions, who supplied a remarkable performance in his first start of the season.

These Cavaliers, considered by many a draft lottery lock before season’s start, are proving to be a tough out for many opponents. Even their public address announcer, Olivier Sedra, removed from The Q on a Saturday with an apparent back injury, was back behind the mic on Wednesday calling Daniel Gibson’s 3-point basket with 1:20 remaining.

“You can respond one of two ways,” coach Byron Scott said. “You can feel sorry for yourself and say one of our best players is out and go in the tank or you can respond like we did.”

The Cavaliers (10-14) toppled one of the Western Conference elite on a night they learned Irving would miss the game about 40 minutes before tipoff. They stood up to the physical Clippers and Blake Griffin, showing a brand of resilience that endeared them to 17,100 fans in attendance.

Jamison scored a season-high 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds while playing 38 minutes a night after tweaking an ankle and hurting an Achilles tendon in a loss at Miami.

Sessions provided season highs in points (24) and assists (13) in replacing Irving.