James inspires Cleveland victory over Bobcats

NEW YORK (Reuters) – LeBron James drained the game-winning
shot at the overtime buzzer and finished with a triple-double
to help lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 120-118 victory over
the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday.

The basket was the all-star’s first winning shot of his
career and capped off a brilliant night in which he contributed
37 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds.

It was also his ninth triple-double and helped lift the
Cavaliers to their third straight win after the same number of
consecutive losses.

Ronald Murray and Drew Gooden each added 19 points for
Cleveland while Zydrunas Ilgauskas chipped in with a
double-double, 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Bobcats had six players in double figures, led by a
30-point performance from rookie Raymond Felton, but Charlotte
still slipped to their fifth loss in six games.

Jumaine Jones and Alan Anderson each had 17 points while
Bernard Robinson had 15 points and 14 rebounds.

James has been criticized for not attempting big shots when
the game is on the line, but he took charge with score tied
118-118 by dribbling into the key, loading up and firing a
fade-away jumper that sent the Cleveland crowd into raptures.

In Philadelphia, Allen Iverson returned to the line-up to
score a game-high 29 points and lead the 76ers past the Atlanta
Hawks 115-106.

The NBA’s second leading scorer had missed four games with
a sprained ankle and the 76ers struggled in his absence, losing
all four contests to drop them into a battle for the Eastern
conference’s final playoff spot.

With Iverson back on the court, the 76ers played with more
typical energy as Kyle Korver made his first seven shots on the
way to a 23 point night, while Chris Webber added 21 points and
10 rebounds and Andre Iguodala 17 points and 12 boards.

Josh Smith paced Atlanta with 22 points as the Hawks
slipped to their sixth loss in seven games.

The 76ers put this one out of reach early, leading 67-48 at
the half and 96-74 heading into the final quarter.

In Auburn Hills, Chauncey Billups had 24 points and dished
out 10 assists and Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince each
chipped in with 17 points guiding the league leading Detroit
Pistons past the Miami Heat 82-73.

Shaquille O’Neal, back in the Heat line-up after missing
Tuesday’s game with a sore thumb, had 27 points while Dwyane
Wade was held to just 13 as the Heat lost their second in a
row.