James has big night as Cavaliers cool hot Pistons
Posted on: Sunday, 1 January 2006, 02:15 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.
MAVERICKS BEST HORNETS
In Oklahoma City, Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points as the Dallas Mavericks got by the New Orleans Hornets 95-90.
Jason Terry and Josh Howard both added 20 points for the Mavericks, who beat the Hornets for the 16th straight time.
David West led the Hornets with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
In Chicago, Shawn Marion scored 28 points, eight of them in overtime, to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 107-98 win over the Bulls.
Marion added 16 rebounds for the Suns, winners of four straight, and Raja Bell chipped in with 19 points and Steve Nash had 14 points and 10 assists.
Kirk Hinrich scored 25 points for the Bulls, who have lost six straight.
In Houston, Baron Davis had 23 points and seven assists as the Golden State Warriors got past the Rockets 94-89.
Jason Richardson added 22 points for the Warriors, who won despite shooting just 38 percent.
Tracy McGrady had 32 points and 10 rebounds in a losing cause for Houston.
In Salt Lake City, Mehmet Okur had 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Utah Jazz edged the Philadelphia 76ers 108-102, despite 37 points from Allen Iverson.
In Seattle, Pau Gasol had 22 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the SuperSonics 100-96.
In Denver, Tim Duncan had 25 points and 10 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Nuggets 98-88.
In Los Angeles, Ricky Davis scored 20 points as the Boston Celtics beat the Clippers 111-92.
Source: REUTERS
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