Cavaliers notebook: Guard Jared Cunningham earns first career NBA start

INDEPENDENCE: It took him four years and five different teams, but Cavaliers guard Jared Cunningham finally earned his first career start Friday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Cunningham started in place of the injured J.R. Smith, who missed his second game with a knee injury. Coach David Blatt went to Cunningham after using Richard Jefferson against the New York Knicks on Wednesday, but Blatt made it clear he wanted Jefferson to defend Carmelo Anthony so LeBron James didn’t have to do it all night.

Cunningham, 24, began the night averaging 4.2 points and shooting 50 percent from the floor in limited time this year. He quickly became a favorite of Blatt’s because he defends well and…