Irving helps Cavs top Grizzlies

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Interim general manager David Griffin said before the Cavaliers’ game Sunday night that he’d like to see a few more smiles from his team.

Following Cleveland’s 91-83 overtime win over Memphis, there were happy faces all around the locker room.

“The game is fun,” said Kyrie Irving, who scored 28 points as Cavaliers won back-to-back games for the first time in a month. “Being out there, just competing at the highest level. At the end of the day, it’s just a game.”

The Cavaliers, who broke a six-game losing streak Friday night against Washington, have won both games since general manager Chris Grant was fired last week.

Irving scored the final four points in regulation to tie it. Luol Deng’s 3-pointer on the first possession of overtime put Cleveland ahead for good, 81-78.

“Everybody was putting too much pressure on themselves,” Irving said. “We needed to go out there and play basketball. Going out there the last two games, whether the game gets tight or gets away from you, it should be fun.”

Nick Calathes scored 17 points to lead Memphis.

Deng began the overtime scoring with a 3-pointer from the corner as the shot clock was winding down. Baskets by Dion Waiters and Anderson Varejao, sandwiched around a 3-pointer by Calathes, left Cleveland with an 85-81 lead. A resounding dunk by Waiters and four free throws by Irving put the game away.