James has big night as Cavaliers cool off hot Pistons

NEW YORK (Reuters) – LeBron James had 30 points, seven
rebounds and seven assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers cooled
off the red-hot Detroit Pistons, downing them 97-84 in National
Basketball Association play on Saturday in Cleveland.

James celebrated his 21st birthday on Friday and followed
it up with a strong performance Saturday, also blocking four
shots as Cleveland ended Detroit’s nine-game winning streak.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 18 points for the Cavaliers, who
handed the Pistons just their fourth loss of the season as
Detroit fell to 24-4.

“We knew we had to bring our ‘A’ game and that’s what we
did,” James told reporters afterwards.

Drew Gooden added 12 points and picked up 13 rebounds for
the Cavs and said his team knew the importance of getting a win
over the NBA’s best team to date.

“That’s the best team in the league,” Gooden said.

Larry Hughes chipped in with 16 points for the Cavaliers,
who are 13-3 at home and have beaten the Pistons at their last
three meetings, and at four of the last five, as they try to
keep them within sight in the Central Division standings.

The Pistons shot a season-low 36 percent and trailed by 19
points in the first half and by as many as 20 in the third
quarter before a late rally made the score a little more
respectable.

Cleveland improved to 18-10 with the win, leaving the Cavs
six games behind the Pistons in the Central as Detroit
continues one of the best starts to a season in NBA history.

Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace both had 21 points to
lead the Pistons, who made just four of their 20 3-point
attempts.

Ben Wallace hauled down 18 rebounds and scored 11 points
for the Pistons, while Chauncey Billups scored 14 points.