CLEVELAND — The Andrew Bynum experiment appears over for the Cavaliers.
CLEVELAND — The Andrew Bynum experiment appears over for the Cavaliers.
The team indefinitely suspended the enigmatic center Saturday for “conduct detrimental to the team” and banned him from all team activities.
Bynum, who signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Cavs in July, did not travel with the club to Boston for Saturday’s game and it’s likely he has played his final game for Cleveland. The Cavs will try to trade him.
The suspension is not a shock considering he has not played consistently and has appeared uninterested while on the floor. Earlier this season, the 7-footer, who did not play a second last season for Philadelphia because of knee injuries, talked openly about retirement and said his medical issues have been a challenge.
“It’s a terrible situation internally with our team,” All-Star guard Kyrie Irving said before the Cavs faced the Celtics. “It’s something we have to get over.”
When asked after the Cavs’ 103-100 loss to Boston if there was any fallout from the suspension, Cleveland coach Mike Brown said “No,” shaking his head to make his answer clear.
Brown has been a huge supporter of Bynum. The two were together in Los Angeles and their relationship was one reason the Cavs risked signing him. Brown was asked before the game if Bynum’s days with the Cavs were over.
“He’s on an indefinite suspension and I’m not trying to be funny, but you know what indefinite means,” Brown said. “We’ve got 14 guys in that locker room who are very focused and determined and ready to take on any challenge that’s in front of them. They’re great guys, they’re focused guys and they know how to play the game the right way and that’s what I’m focused on, just helping those guys win.”
Pacers 105, Nets 91
INDIANAPOLIS — Paul George scored 24 points and Lance Stephenson added 23 to lead Indiana over Brooklyn on Saturday.
George Hill finished with 21 points for the Pacers, who put five players in double figures and pulled away with a third-quarter burst.
Roy Hibbert scored 11 and David West 10 for Indiana, which leads the Eastern Conference at 23-6. Stephenson also had nine rebounds and seven assists.
Paul Pierce scored 18 points for the Nets (10-20).
Raptors 115, Knicks 100
TORONTO — Kyle Lowry had a season-best 32 points and 11 assists, Terrence Ross made a career-high seven 3-pointers and Toronto beat short-handed New York for the second straight night.
Lowry came within two rebounds of a triple-double and Ross had 23 points as Toronto won for the fourth time in five games. DeMar DeRozan added 20 points for the Raptors, who overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half to beat the Knicks 95-83 at Madison Square Garden on Friday.
Wizards 106, Pistons 82
WASHINGTON — John Wall had 20 points and 11 assists, Marcin Gortat added 16 points and Washington routed Detroit.
Trevor Ariza and Bradley Beal each had 15 points for Washington, which snapped a three-game home losing streak. The Wizards have won four of five overall.
Hawks 118, Bobcats 116, OT
ATLANTA — Paul Millsap had a season-high 33 points, Lou Williams scored 10 of his season-best 28 in overtime and Atlanta rallied to beat Charlotte.
Al Jefferson had 24 points and a season-high 23 rebounds, and Gerald Henderson added 22 points for the Bobcats.
Mavericks 105, Bulls 83
CHICAGO — Monta Ellis had 22 points and Dallas took control early in coasting to a victory over Chicago.
Dirk Nowitzki and Vince Carter added 18 points apiece for the Mavericks, who led by as many as 32 while bouncing back from a home loss to San Antonio on Thursday.
Joakim Noah led Chicago with 20 points and 10 rebounds, but the Bulls had their modest two-game winning streak snapped. Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson each added 13.
The Mavericks took command with a 15-2 run to end the first quarter. Carter, who entered just before the surge started, had seven points during the spurt.
Grizzlies 120, Nuggets 99
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Zach Randolph scored 20 points and Memphis got 62 points from its bench against Denver.
Six Grizzlies finished in double figures and Memphis shot 52 percent while sending the Nuggets to their sixth straight loss. Ed Davis led the reserves with 17 points, and Jerryd Bayless had 15. Mike Conley and James Johnson scored 14 apiece, and Mike Miller added 11.
Rockets 107, Pelicans 98
HOUSTON — Dwight Howard had 24 points and 17 rebounds, and James Harden scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter in Houston’s comeback win over New Orleans.
Chandler Parsons added 19 points and seven rebounds, and Terrence Jones had 17 points and eight rebounds to help the Rockets win their third straight game and snap New Orleans’ winning streak at two.
Timberwolves 117, Bucks 95
MILWAUKEE — Kevin Love had 33 points and 15 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double, and Minnesota climbed back to .500 by routing Milwaukee.
Kevin Martin scored 20 points, Nikola Pekovic added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Love hit four of Minnesota’s 11 3-pointers. Perimeter defense was once again a huge problem for the Bucks, who have allowed opponents to hit at least 10 3s in seven consecutive games.
Suns 115, 76ers 101
PHOENIX — Miles Plumlee scored a career-high 22 points to go with 13 rebounds, and Phoenix bounced back from its worst loss of the season to beat Philadelphia.
Goran Dragic added 21 points and Eric Bledsoe 20 for the Suns, who have won nine of 11. Marcus Morris made three fourth-quarter 3-pointers and scored 18.
By wire sources