Subscribe
Jobs
Cars
Real Estate
Apts
Classifieds
Shop
INDIANAPOLIS – Cleveland’s offense was stagnant, and the Indiana Pacers had turned a five-point halftime deficit into a five-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Cavaliers went back to their tried-and-true formula – LeBron, LeBron and more LeBron – and it got the usual result. James scored 10 of his season-high 40 points in the final 7:07, and Cleveland beat the Pacers 105-95 on Friday night.
“When you have a guy as talented as him, sometimes your best coaching on the offensive end of the floor is staying out of his way,” Cleveland coach Mike Brown said.
James also had nine rebounds and seven assists for Cleveland (9-4).
Cleveland center Shaquille O’Neal missed his fourth straight game with a strained right shoulder. He did not travel with the team, and Brown didn’t give a timetable for his return.
Danny Granger had 19 points and nine rebounds, and Dahntay Jones added 17 points for the Pacers (5-5), who lost their second in a row. Indiana forward Troy Murphy played after missing six games with a bruised lower back. He finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds in 24 minutes.
“Offensively, we got some decent looks, but they played good defense and pushed us to the shot clock,” Granger said. “We really didn’t get that many shots in rhythm.”
MAGIC 83, CELTICS 78: Vince Carter scored 26 points and Rashard Lewis had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead visiting Orlando. Dwight Howard grabbed 15 boards and Mickael Pietrus added 14 points for the Magic, who won the rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference semifinal for its fourth consecutive victory.
Paul Pierce scored 21 for Boston, which has lost three of its last four.
HAWKS 105, ROCKETS 103: Josh Smith soared through the lane to drop in a missed shot with 0.7 seconds remaining and host Atlanta won its seventh in a row to maintain the NBA’s best record at 11-2.
Marvin Williams scored a season-high 29 points, but it was Smith who came through at the end.
RAPTORS 120, HEAT 113: Chris Bosh had 29 points and 12 rebounds, Andrea Bargnani had 24 points and 10 rebounds and host Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak.
Dwyane Wade shook off a recent slump to score 30 points for the Heat, who have lost three straight and four of five.
GRIZZLIES 102, 76ERS 97: In
Philadelphia, Rudy Gay tied his season high with 33 points, including a clutch jumper with 19 seconds remaining, Zach Randolph added 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Memphis registered its first road win of the season.
MAVERICKS 104, KINGS 102: Jason Terry scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as host Dallas got 52 points from its bench in its fifth straight win.
Sacramento rookie Tyreke Evans had 29 points, seven rebounds and a season-high 10 assists.
BUCKS 95, BOBCATS 88: Rookie Brandon Jennings scored 29 points to help host Milwaukee hand Charlotte its seventh straight loss.
Stephen Jackson scored 22 points in his third game with the Bobcats.
THUNDER 127, WIZARDS 108: Kevin Durant scored 35 points and Russell Westbrook added 26 as Oklahoma City had its highest-scoring output of the season in a home win over Washington.
Caron Butler scored 24 for the Wizards, who have lost seven of eight.
