The AP reports: While LeBron James made it look easy early on, tying his team record by scoring 24 of his 34 points in the first quarter, the Chicago Bulls eventually found a clear path to the rim and beat Cleveland 100-95 on Friday night… Luol Deng led the Bulls with 21 points. Tyrus Thomas added 20 points and 14 rebounds, Joakim Noah chipped in 17 and 11 for Chicago, and both delivered ferocious dunks that left James and coach Mike Brown saying they were embarrassed… James, who finished 13-for-21 from the field, wowed the crowd midway through the first quarter when he drove up court and past Thomas for a hard dunk, and the acrobatics continued.
Category: Cleveland Cavaliers Blog
Cavs blog – Cleveland Cavaliers blog, blogging Cavs news, rumors and more
Apr. 9: Cavs 104, Nets 83
The AP reports: So much for LeBron James’ aching back. After missing two days of practice because of back spasms, James scored 33 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat the New Jersey Nets, 104-83, Wednesday night… He was 11-of-21 from the field, made 10-of-13 from the line, grabbed seven rebounds and had eight assists… Zydrunas Ilgauskas 13 for the Cavaliers. Daniel Gibson and Delonte West scored 12 apiece. Carter scored 19 points and Richard Jefferson added 15 to lead New Jersey, which won the first three meetings this season against Cleveland.
Apr. 5: Magic 101, Cavs 86
The AP reports: Hedo Turkoglu scored 23 points, Rashard Lewis added 21 and the Magic, one of this season’s biggest surprises, locked up the Eastern Conference’s No. 3 playoff seed Saturday with a 101-86 win over the staggering Cleveland Cavaliers. The Magic, who have sat behind Boston and Detroit in the standings for much of the season, won despite getting only four points on 1-of-8 shooting from All-Star center Dwight Howard—17 below his average. Orlando’s defense, though, was the difference… Howard had 12 rebounds, Jameer Nelson had 16 points and 9 assists and reserve Pat Garrity had 13 points for the Magic (48-28), who won 40 games last season and are now two victories from their first 50-win season since 1995-96— when they lost in the conference finals… Delonte West scored 19 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas 18 for Cleveland, which has dropped five of seven and is staggering toward the regular-season finish line.
Cavs sign Lance Allred
The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed center Lance Allred for the remainder of the season and for the 2008-09 season. He was signed to a 10-day contract on March 13 and to his second 10-day contract on March 25. Allred has played in two games this season for the Cavaliers.
Apr. 3: Bulls 101, Cavs 98
The AP reports: Ben Gordon made five clutch free throws down the stretch and Larry Hughes scored 19 of his 25 points in the second half against his former team, rallying the Bulls to a 101-98 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night. The Bulls, with nothing to play for in the season’s final weeks, overcame a 17-point deficit in the second half and snapped a six-game road losing streak… Hughes, traded by the Cavaliers to Chicago at the Feb. 21 deadline, added nine assists and eight rebounds in 45 minutes. Gordon scored 24 points and Luol Deng and Andres Nocioni had 15 each… Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 23 points for the Cavaliers, who are trying to nail down the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Apr. 2: Cavs 118, Bobcats 114
The AP reports: Entering the night, LeBron James had been disqualified twice in 417 games in his five-year career. But after scoring 29 points, James was called for his sixth foul when he reached in on Charlotte’s Jason Richardson at the top of his drive to the basket with Cleveland leading 104-101 with 3:56 left… Devin Brown finished with 20 points, Anderson Varejao made eight of nine shots and added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 16 points and 12 rebounds for Cleveland… Jason Richardson had 31 points, Emeka Okafor matched a season high with 25 and Gerald Wallace scored 21 for the Bobcats, who lost their second straight game amid questions of coach Sam Vincent’s future.
Mar. 30: Cavs 91, Sixers 88
The AP reports: LeBron James made a twisting bank shot with 19.3 seconds left to put Cleveland ahead to stay and the Cavaliers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 91-88 on Sunday night. James, who finished with 26 points, took the ball at the top of the key, drove through the lane and put Cleveland up 90-88. After a Philadelphia miss, Cleveland forward Joe Smith was fouled and made one free throw. Andre Iguodala, who led the 76ers with 19 points, missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Trailing 86-82, Cavaliers guard Delonte West hit two 3-pointers to tie the game at 88 with 1:13 to play. West finished with 18 points. James, who made 4-of-17 shots in Saturday’s loss to Detroit, was 11-of-18 from the field with nine rebounds and nine assists.
Mar. 29: Pistons 85, Cavs 71
The AP reports: Richard Hamilton returned to Detroit’s lineup and scored 14 points, leading the Pistons to an 85-71 win over the injury-riddled Cavs… “You want to get better and it’s tough when you can’t practice much,” said LeBron James, who had a lackluster night with 13 points on 4-of-17 shooting with five assists and five turnovers. Daniel Gibson was healthy enough to play for the first time since Feb. 20, when he sprained his left ankle. He scored only one point in 18 minutes. The Cavs chose to rest guard Delonte West, who has been slowed by left ankle tendinitis… Chauncey Billups and reserve Jason Maxiell each scored 13 while Tayshaun Prince and Antonio McDyess had 12 points apiece for the Pistons, who have won three of four… After missing his first eight shots, Cleveland’s Zydrunas Ilgauskas finished with 11 points. Reserve Devin Brown scored 11 points and Joe Smith, who was acquired last month from Chicago along with Wallace, had 10 points off the bench.
A midget lives in beard of Drew Gooden
I have determined why Drew Gooden has such wildly inconsistent games even moreso lately than ever. It’s because a midget has secretly moved into Gooden’s giant beard. Even Drew doesn’t know he’s there. And sometimes, before games, the midget takes a nap, forgets to sneak out before tipoff, and has to stay hidden in there during the game, weighing Gooden down and causing him to play badly. But when the midget sneaks out before the game, Gooden is lighter, more agile and puts up big stats.
Gooden was fairly inconsistent in the past, and I have no secret explanation for that.
Mar. 26: Hornets 100, Cavs 99
The AP reports: David West calmly dropped a 17-foot jumper—coming on Paul’s 20th and most impressive assist—with 0.6 seconds remaining to give the New Orleans Hornets their fifth straight win, 100-99 over Cleveland on Wednesday night. LeBron James’ driving layup had given the Cavaliers a 99-98 lead with 7.7 seconds left before Paul and West, the Hornets’ All-Star duo, teamed up for the game-winner… Peja Stojakovic scored 25 points — 18 on 3-pointers — David West added 20 points and Chris Paul 15 for the Hornets, who came in with the Western Conference’s best record and improved to 2-0 on a six-game road trip against Eastern Conference teams… Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored a season-high 29 points with 15 rebounds. LeBron James had 21 points and eight assists, but wasn’t able to get a defensive stop in the closing seconds against Paul, one of his closest friends. Anderson Varejao added 15 rebounds for the Cavaliers.