Lakers' Third-Quarter Surge Sinks Cavs in L.A.

Wrap-Up -- It doesn’t take Dr. James Naismith to figure out exactly where the Wine & Gold’s recent rash of injuries are hurting the team most.

Playing once again without Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love – not to mention Cedi Osman and Rodney Hood – the Cavaliers couldn’t overcome a 51-37 rebounding edge and were once again bullied in the paint, dropping their second straight contest in Los Angeles, a 127-113 decision to the Lakers on Sunday night at STAPLES Center.

The Cavaliers got off to a slow start but seemed to right the ship after intermission, erasing the Lakers’ eight-point edge and tying the game at 72-apiece with 7:11 to play in the third. But things fell apart near the end of the…