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James steers Cleveland to fifth straight win

Posted on: Sunday, 26 March 2006, 23:38 CST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - LeBron James scored 36 points, including the go-ahead basket in overtime, as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Houston Rockets 104-102 for their fifth straight National Basketball Association win on Sunday.

The Cavaliers improved to 41-29 with the victory in Houston and now sit fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, 10 games ahead of ninth-place Chicago, with 12 games left to play.

Those numbers put Cleveland on the verge of clinching its first playoff spot since 1998, leaving Cleveland coach Mike Brown pleased with where his team is and how the club played Sunday.

"Going through games like this should really help us to be able to close it the right way," Brown told reporters.

"To execute it offensively and defensively at the end is huge."

Cleveland never trailed in overtime after James forced the extra period with a lay-up with 22 seconds left, followed by a free throw after he was fouled by Yao Ming.

Yao then had a chance to win the game in the dying seconds of regulation, but he lost the ball outside the lane while under heavy pressure.

James was 0-5 against Houston in his career before the win and turned in another stellar performance just four days after hitting the game-winning basket in a 120-118 overtime win over the Charlotte Hornets.

Houston led after all of the first three quarters, taking a 47-45 lead at the half and enjoying a three-point lead heading to the fourth quarter, but still lost for the seventh time in its past eight games.

Damon Jones added 22 points for the Cavs, who also got 21 points and eight rebounds from Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who did a strong job covering Yao for most of the game as well.

Donyell Marhall chipped in with 12 points for the Cavaliers, who won despite shooting just 43 percent from the field to 49 percent for the Rockets.

Yao had 27 points and seven rebounds to lead the Rockets, who sit 12th in the Western Conference and appear set to miss the post-season this year.

Rafer Alston had 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the Rockets, while Keith Bogans added 18 points.

In Indianapolis, Stephen Jackson scored 23 points as the Indiana Pacers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 92-79.

Peja Stojakovic scored 18 points and Danny Granger added 17 points for the Pacers.

Allen Iverson scored 26 points and Chris Webber added 24 points for the 76ers.

In Milwaukee, Michael Redd scored 35 points as the Bucks beat the Toronto Raptors 125-116 in overtime.

Charlie Bell scored 18 points and had 11 assists and Joe Smith scored 19 points for the Bucks.

Rookie Charlie Villanueva scored 48 points and Mike James added 11 points and had 10 assists for the Raptors.

In Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett scored 26 points and had 15 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the New York Knicks 98-94.

In Boston, Luol Deng scored 20 points as the Chicago Bulls beat the Celtics 101-97.

Source: REUTERS

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