DS Talk » deficit to 112-107 with 54.8 ticks on the clock. Luke Ba

New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) - The New Orleans Pelicans handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their second straight loss, but LeBron James was on the floor this time. The Pelicans were the ones without their star player. Tyreke Evans had a season-high 31 points with 10 assists as the Pelicans defeated the Cavaliers 119-114 on Friday night. Anthony Davis left in the first quarter with a chest contusion and did not return. To beat a team like that without AD (Davis) and have as many contributions across the board was special, Pelicans coach Monty Williams said. Ryan Anderson poured in 30 points off the bench, while Jrue Holiday added 16 points and eight assists for New Orleans, which has won three of its last four games on the heels of a 1-5 stretch. James recorded 19 of his 41 points in the opening frame. Kevin Love supplied 21 points and seven rebounds and Kyrie Irving provided 17 points and seven helpers for the Cavaliers. James sat out Thursdays contest against Oklahoma City due to left knee soreness. The Thunder proceeded to snap Clevelands eight-game winning streak. Cleveland trailed by as many as 19 late in the third, but Irving nailed a triple and fadeaway jumper on consecutive possessions to pull the Cavs within 106-99 with 3:46 left. The Pelicans, though, netted the next six. Back-to-back Evans buckets preceded a Holiday floater to cap the spurt and extend their advantage to 112-99 with 2:17 to play. Cleveland responded again, however, as Irving recorded a three-point play and hit a pull-up jumper before James Jones knocked down a right wing 3-pointer to whittle the deficit to 112-107 with 54.8 ticks on the clock. Luke Babbitt provided the dagger with 39.1 seconds remaining at the other end with a straightaway triple. The Pelicans took their commanding third-quarter advantage following a 12-2 surge during the latter stages of the period. Earlier, the game was tied 33-33 following a quarter of play, but a 12-5 swing during the latter part of the second helped New Orleans to a 64-59 margin heading into the break. Game Notes Davis had eight points on 4-of-4 shooting prior to departing ... The Cavaliers fell to 2-6 against the Western Conference this year. One of those wins came against New Orleans earlier this season ... The Pelicans shot 55.7 percent (44-of-79) from the floor. Kyrie Irving Jersey . Though the 26-year-old said he was able to participate, coach Dwane Casey kept Johnson out as a precaution. Ante Zizic Jersey . -- Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh says he isnt going to change what he does on the field. http://www.cavaliersbasketballpro.info/b...valiers-jersey/. - While he appreciates suggestions from Packers fans of remedies for his sore left calf, Aaron Rodgers is not necessarily going to listen to the advice. John Henson Cavaliers Jersey . -- Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo is going to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks. Tristan Thompson Jersey . The Marlies centre set up three goals, including the game-winner, as Toronto cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons in American Hockey League action.St. Paul, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Pekka Rinne came up with 36 saves while Calle Jarnkrok and Colin Wilson scored in the third period and Nashville took out Minnesota by a 3-1 count at Xcel Energy Center. Mike Fisher added an early score for the Predators, who reclaimed the top spot in the Western Conference with 60 points, two ahead of idle Anaheim. Were going to have our off-nights, but when we have those kind of games we still find a way to win. Thats why were at where were at, Wilson said. Charlie Coyle potted the lone goal for the Wild, who have dropped four in a row and three straight on home ice. Niklas Backstrom made 24 stops in the loss. When youre losing games the way we are, everything is an issue, said embattled Minnesota head coach Mike Yeo. Its been something different every game. Were just spinning our tires. Minnesotas Zach Parise returned after a two-game absence to deal with the death of his father, former NHLer J.P. Parise, who died Wednesday at the age of 73 from cancer. Jarnkrok gave Nashville the lead for good at 3:48 of the third by cleaning up an Olli Jokinen rebound, and Wilsons backhander in the slot off a Minnesota turnover gave the vvisitors a 3-1 edge at 8:47.dddddddddddd It was just a bad bounce. Im going to try that play every single time. It was just a bad break, said Wild defenseman Justin Faulk, guilty of the miscue. Rinne backed up that margin with 14 third-period saves. The game was not without controversy in the late going. Wild forward Matt Cooke cross-checked Predators defenseman Shea Weber in his face shield during a scrum with 2:05 left in regulation. When Weber dropped the gloves, Cooke provided no resistance, though both were given fighting majors. Fisher put the Preds on the board at 4:01 of the first with a backhander that grazed the crossbar before settling over the goal line, then Coyle equalized at 14:14 for the Wild by converting a Christian Folin centering pass. Both goaltenders stopped nine shots in a scoreless second frame. Game Notes Nashville returns home on Tuesday to face the Canucks, while Minnesota begins a three-game road trip at Chicago on Sunday ... The Wild fell to 1-3-4 since Dec. 17 on home ice ... Rinne and Weber were tabbed to represent the Predators in the All-Star Game, scheduled for Jan. 25 in Columbus. ' ' '