James, defense get Cavs by Sixers 97-91
November 21, 2009
CLEVELAND (AP)—There’s one thing—other than LeBron James(notes), of course—thatthe Cleveland Cavaliers can always count on when things get tough.
In a pinch, they turn to their defense.
“That’s where we make our mark at,” James said. “On the defensive end. Wejust lock down.”
James scored 32 points, Mo Williams(notes) added 18 and the Cavaliers clamped downdefensively in the fourth quarter for the second straight game, holding thePhiladelphia 76ers to 10 points over the final 12 minutes for a 97-91 victory onSaturday night.
Philadelphia 76ers' Elton … AP – Nov 21, 10:20 pm EST Cleveland Cavaliers' J.J. … AP – Nov 21, 10:17 pm EST
Philadelphia 76ers' Andre … AP – Nov 21, 10:14 pm EST
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBro… AP – Nov 21, 10:11 pm EST
Cleveland Cavaliers' Jamar… AP – Nov 21, 10:09 pm EST
Philadelphia 76ers coach Eddie… AP – Nov 21, 8:56 pm EST
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBro… AP – Nov 21, 8:40 pm EST
Philadelphia 76ers' Louis … AP – Nov 21, 8:40 pm EST
Cleveland Cavaliers' J.J. … AP – Nov 21, 8:39 pm EST
Philadelphia 76ers' Andre … AP – Nov 21, 8:38 pm EST
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James added nine assists, seven rebounds and delivered a resounding dunkwith 2:41 left that effectively put away the Sixers.
The Cavaliers, who have been guilty of lapses at both ends of the floor sofar this season, trailed by six entering the fourth. But they held Philadelphiato 4 of 23 shooting from the field in the final quarter to win for the 10th timein 12 games after an 0-2 start.
“We just turned it up,” James said of Cleveland’s air tight man-to-man.“When we’re playing defense like that at a high level, it’s hard to beat us.”
On Friday, the Cavs held Indiana to just 13 points on 4 of 18 shooting inthe fourth in a 105-95 win. Cleveland needs to be more consistent on defense,but the Cavs are beginning to play with the same intensity that has made themone of the NBA’s stingiest teams the past few seasons.
“Defensively, everyone was on a string,” Cavs coach Mike Brown said.“Everyone helped one another. Everyone trusted one another. It was great tosee.”
Lou Williams scored 22 and Thaddeus Young(notes) had 21 for the Sixers. AndreIguodala(notes) had 12 but was 6 of 22 from the field—only 1 of 7 in the fourth.
“We had them against the ropes,” Iguodala said. “We couldn’t make shotsand finish the game off.”
Playing their fourth game in five nights and without center Shaquille O’Neal(notes)for the fifth straight game, the Cavs could have been excused for being tireddown the stretch.
But they dug down and found some needed energy to hold off the scrappySixers, who took an 81-75 lead into the fourth.
James, who scored 40 at Indiana, was on the bench when the Cavs caught theSixers at 83-all on a jumper by Williams. The score was tied at 85 when Jamesreturned, and the superstar didn’t need long to help the Cavs open somebreathing room after an uneven performance through three periods.
After Zydrunas Ilgauskas(notes) scored on a putback, James fed Jamario Moon(notes) for analley-oop dunk to make it 89-85. Mo Williams then hit Moon on a bounce pass foranother dunk, and James, who had his headband knocked off, scored to cap an 18-4run that made it 93-85.
Nothing was clicking for Philadelphia on offense, mostly because the Cavsfinally decided to work hard with their backs to the basket. Moon wasinstrumental in slowing down Iguodala, the Sixers’ leading scorer.
“We missed some open shots and they got into us a little bit more,” saidSixers coach Eddie Jordan, who had criticized his team’s lackluster effort in ahome loss on Friday to Memphis. “Credit their defense. They’re a good defensiveteam when they want to be.”
Philadelphia ended a nearly five-minute drought with four straight points,but James drove the lane and blasted a two-handed dunk to put the finishingtouches on Cleveland’s win. The slam came moments after his headband wasretrieved.
“I didn’t even know who I was when my headband got knocked off,” Jamessaid. “I couldn’t function without it.”
The Cavs’ early season has been a streaky one. They are essentially restingO’Neal for the second half and a title push, and the team is still trying tofigure out what to do with guard Delonte West(notes), who has been working throughpersonal and legal issues.
“They’re going for the gold, man,” Jordan said. “They’re doing what theythink is necessary to win the championship.”
And for the Cavs, it all starts with defense.
NOTES: In his last eight games, James is averaging 32.6 points on 55 percent(88 of 159) shooting, 8.3 assists and 6.1 rebounds. … West played just fourminutes. … Allen Iverson’s(notes) toughness and scoring touch once symbolized theSixers. However, the guard remains without a team, a fact James findsunfortunate. “He’s a person I watched growing up,” James said. “It’s kind ofstrange not having him. It doesn’t seem right.” Iverson was recently releasedby Memphis. On Friday, the Knicks announced they would not sign him. … SixersG Jason Kapono(notes) sat out with a sprained left ankle. … Ilgauskas played in his721st career game, second most in Cavs history behind general manager DannyFerry’s 723.