Pacers end Cavaliers eight game win streak

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Indianapolis Pacers got double
figure efforts from six players including a 21 point
performance by Ron Artest to bring the Cleveland Cavaliers
eight game win streak to a juttering halt with an 98-76 win.

Sarunas Jasikevicius chipped in with 17 points and Jermaine
O’Neal added 15 points and nine rebounds as the Pacers extended
their own winning run to three games.

While Artest led the game in scoring his biggest
contribution may have come on defense holding LeBron James to
just 19 points and 10 rebounds.

An out of sorts James missed his first eight shots and was
just 6-of-20 from the field.

The Pacers took control in the opening quarter jumping out
to 25-15 lead and never trailed taking 47-30 advantage into the
intermission.

Through the second half the listless Cavaliers could get no
closer than 13 points trailing 68-52 entering the final
quarter.

In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant hit 29 of his 34 points in the
second half rallying the Lakers past the Seattle SuperSonics
108-96.

The Lakers trailed 51-43 at the half before Bryant took
charge after the intermission with scoring 14 in the third
quarter and 15 in the fourth to lead the comeback.

Lamar Odom contributed 23 points, 12 rebounds and six
assists for the Lakers who won for just the second time in
seven games.

Rashard Lewis had 32 points and Ray Allen added 19 in the
loss for the Sonics.