Cavaliers pick up first win under new coach

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The Cavaliers played unselfishly, aggressively and together for the first time this season.

They almost always do for Larry Drew.

Rodney Hood scored a season-high 26 points, Cedi Osman added 20 and Cleveland ended its six-game losing streak to start the season, beating the Atlanta Hawks 136-114 on Tuesday night in the Cavs’ first game since coach Tyronn Lue was fired.

Cleveland came in as the NBA’s only winless team, and Lue paid the price for club’s slow start in its first season since LeBron James left the Cavs for the second time.

But with Drew serving as their “acting” coach while he tries to get the team to restructure his contract, the Cavs played a complete game — Cleveland had seven players in double figures — and avoided their first 0-7 start since 1995-96.

“I really didn’t know what was going to happen tonight,” Drew said. “I just wanted these guys to try and put the first six games behind them as quickly as they could and be ready to turn the chapter with a new season. They came out and took the challenge.”

The Cavs improved to 10-1 in the past two years under Drew, who filled in last season while Lue battled health issues.

Before the game, Drew said he was “very disappointed” the Cavs had not yet agreed to his request to redo his deal if he’s going to lead them through what promised to be a challenging season. If Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert or GM Koby Altman needed further proof that Drew has his players’ attention, they got it.

“L.D. always has had a voice,” Hood said. “Not as big a voice, but he’s a guy who’s been through the wars and he knows how to put guys in position to be successful. I think it was more about us forgetting the first six games and coming out, just playing well. Regardless of the results, let’s just play well. Tonight was a good step in that.”

George Hill and rookie Collin Sexton scored 17 apiece, and Tristan Thompson had 13 rebounds for Cleveland.