The AP reports: Kobe Bryant and LeBron James tussled to a virtual standoff Monday night, but Bryant’s supporting cast was far more effective, and that was the difference as the Lakers beat Cleveland 105-88 to snap a five-game losing streak to the Cavaliers. Bryant had 20 points, six rebounds and 12 assists in 41 minutes despite dislocating the ring finger on his shooting hand less than two minutes into the game… Pau Gasol shot 11-of-13 and led Los Angeles with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Andrew Bynum and Sasha Vujacic scored 14 points each and Derek Fisher added 11 for the Lakers, whose 32-8 record is tops in the Western Conference. James had 23 points and nine rebounds, but shot just 9-of-25. Mo Williams added 16 points, six rebounds and five assists and Sasha Pavlovic scored 12 for the Cavaliers (31-8), who absorbed their most one-sided loss of the season.
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LeBron, Cavaliers sting Hornets 92-78
The AP reports: LeBron James shook off one of his worst games this season and a blow to his shooting arm to flirt with a triple-double, and the Cavaliers, using a small lineup that had James playing center for a long stretch, extended their home winning streak to 20 by beating the New Orleans Hornets 92-78 on Friday night. James finished with 29 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists one night after he went 8-of-28 and had eight turnovers in an overtime loss against the Bulls. For most of the second half, James was on the floor with four other guards as Brown went with an undersized lineup that flustered the Hornets and led to the ejections of Chris Paul and James Posey… Sasha Pavlovic, making his first start this season, added 19 points, Mo Williams had 17 and Wally Szczerbiak 15 for the Cavs in their final game before going on a four-game trip out West. David West scored 23 and Paul 18 for New Orleans, which was whistled for five technical fouls. Paul and James Posey were both ejected in the final two minutes.
Delonte West out 5-6 weeks
Cavaliers guard Delonte West was injured in last night’s game in Chicago vs. the Bulls. He was re-evaluated at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health today by Dr. Peter Evans in Cleveland. X-rays and an MRI confirmed a non-displaced fracture of his right wrist. He is projected to be Out the next five to six weeks. His status will be updated as appropriate.
Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas was re-evaluated yesterday at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health and today in Baltimore at The Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy Medical Center by Dr. Mark Myerson, and in consultation with Cavaliers Head Team Physician Dr. Richard Parker. Both evaluations showed that his left ankle was progressing as expected. He is cleared to progress in his rehabilitation work and return to court activity next week in continued preparation for a return to the active roster after that. His status will be updated as appropriate.
Delonte West breaks right wrist
The Cleveland Plain Dealer (Brian Windhorst) reports: Delonte West, a major cog in the Cavs’ success over the last three months, suffered a nasty fall in the first quarter defending a Rose shot attempt. He suffered a non-displaced fracture of his right wrist on the rough landing in addition to opening a gash over his left eye that needed two stitches. He will have an MRI at the Cleveland Clinic this morning to determine the extent of the damage but is likely looking at being out at least 2-3 weeks. “I’ve been punched in the face many times before, I shook that off,” West said. “We’re on a roll here, we can’t have no pity party for me. I’m going to try not to feel sorry for myself, it hurts but I can still wear my pinky ring.”
Deng, Rose lead Bulls over Cavs in OT, 102-93
The AP reports: Derrick Rose scored 16 points after a slow start and Luol Deng added 22 to lead the Chicago Bulls to a surprising 102-93 overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night after LeBron James missed a jumper at the end of regulation. Tied at 87 through regulation after James’ 21-footer banged off the rim, the Bulls scored 12 of the first 13 points in OT to avoid a four-game sweep by the Cavaliers… LeBron James (28 points) then hit 1 of 2 free throws, but Deng put the Cavaliers away with back-to-back 3-pointers from the left corner—the second bouncing straight up off the rim before dropping through the net to make it 99-88… Mo Williams scored 26 points for the Cavaliers, hitting 5 of 10 3-pointers. But it was a rough night for James, who shot 8-for-28 and hit 1 of 6 3-pointers. He also committed a season-high eight turnovers in what he said was “probably my worst game of the season.”
Note: Delonte West broke his right wrist.
Daniel Gibson getting his groove back
The Cleveland Plain Dealer (Brian Windhorst) reports on Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson: Overall, this has been a choppy season for Gibson, statistically the poorest of his career. He’s making just 35 percent of his 3-pointers, a steep decline from last season. His scoring, assists and even minutes are down, too. It should be easy to explain. He had a rather severe shoulder surgery last May, which knocked him out of the playoffs early. Then ankle surgery in June, which wasn’t major, but it kept him from doing his normal shooting work for a month. When he finally seemed to be getting back to the dead-eye spot-up shooter that turned him into a fan favorite in mid-December, he suffered a toe injury that ruined his rhythm and forced him to learn how to shoot without tweaking it when he returned after a 10-day absence. Over the last couple of weeks, though, Gibson again seems to be getting back into the groove he was establishing in December. Over the last five games, Gibson has made 10 of 14 3-pointers.
Kobe Bryant commits to Team USA
The Orange County Register (Kevin Ding) reports: “The best player on the planet,” as Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called Kobe Bryant late Wednesday night, can’t wait to make the Earth move some more in 2010 and ’12. Bryant said Wednesday night he is willing to commit to play for USA Basketball in 2010 at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey in an attempt to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London, where Bryant expects to go for the gold again. “The chance to represent your country, that’s not even a thought-process for me,” Bryant said Wednesday. “If they want me to be on it, I’m all game.” Bryant’s words should stabilize the U.S. ship at a time when many of Bryant’s teammates from the 2008 Olympic gold-medal team are choosing to be future international men of mystery.
LeBron triple-double carries Cavs in Memphis
The AP reports: LeBron James had 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his second triple-double of the season, leading the Cavaliers to a 102-87 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night. With Zydrunas Ilgauskas sidelined by a fractured left ankle and Ben Wallace out with the flu, Cleveland was missing 40 percent of its starting lineup… Delonte West added 19 points and Mo Williams 16 for the Cavs. Anderson Varejao was held to seven points and four rebounds after averaging 16 points and eight boards the past four games in place of Ilgauskas… Kyle Lowry led the Grizzlies with a career-high 25 points, including 15 from the free throw line, and reserve Hakim Warrick had 16 points and seven rebounds. Rookie guard O.J. Mayo was limited to six points, a season-low. The Grizzlies also got 13 points in 13 minutes from Darius Miles, who signed a 10-day contract Saturday and is one game away from reaching the 10 appearances that would put the remaining $18 million of his salary back on Portland’s payroll.
Cavaliers sign Jawad Williams to 10-day contract
The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Jawad Williams to a 10-day contract, Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry announced today.
Williams (6-9, 220 pounds) has played in three games this season with the Cavaliers. In four total minutes, Williams scored two points and recorded one steal. He was waived by the Cavaliers on January 7th.
The Cavaliers roster now stands at 15.
LeBron takes active scoring lead from Iverson
The Rocky Mountain News (Chris Tomasson) reports (via blog): After more than four years, Allen Iverson finally has been toppled from his throne. With the Detroit guard scoring just 11 points Saturday night at Utah, he relinquished the career active scoring average lead he had held since early in the 2004-05 season. The NBA’s active career scoring average is now Cleveland forward LeBron James, averaging 27.36 points per game. Iverson’s average dropped Saturday to 27.35. Early in the 2004-05 season, Iverson, then with Philadelphia, seized the active scoring average lead from Shaquille O’Neal, then with Miami. O’Neal had taken it over after Michael Jordan, the all-time leader, retired following the 2002-03 season.