• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

James has big night as Cavaliers cool off hot Pistons

Posted on: Saturday, 31 December 2005, 20:03 CST

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.

Source: REUTERS

More News in this Category