LeBron’s return helps Cleveland clip LA
Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
(Saturday, February 2nd)
Final Score: Cleveland 98, LA Clippers 84
Cleveland, OH - LeBron James returned from a one-game absence due to a sprained left ankle and finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers downed the ailing Los Angeles Clippers, 98-84.
The Clippers, who have played their entire season without forward Elton Brand and guard Shaun Livingston, were without the services of their two leading scorers — forward Corey Maggette and center Chris Kaman. Both were sidelined with the flu.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Cleveland, which has won three of four. Drew Gooden had 14 points and 12 boards for the Cavs, who have won 12 of 15 in 2008.
Al Thornton came off the bench to score 23 points and rake in seven rebounds for the Clippers, who have lost two in a row and five of six. Cuttino Mobley scored 19 points, and Tim Thomas added 15 points for LA.
Cleveland opened the fourth quarter with seven straight points to pull away. James sank three free throws on the run, the last boosting the Cavs to an 80-69 lead with 9:13 remaining.
LA pulled to within six points midway through the quarter, but James answered with a driving layup and two free throws, pushing the Cleveland lead back to 86-76 with 5:31 to play. LA never threatened down the stretch.
“Not as strong as I want to be right now, but I knew I could play,” said James of his ankle. “I felt pretty good. It’s been better, but it didn’t get worse, and that’s the big thing.”
The depleted Clips hung tight early, with Mobley and Josh Powell scoring eight points each in the first quarter, combining for 16 of LA’s 23 in the frame. The Clips took a 23-19 lead into the second quarter.
Devin Brown drained a three-pointer, opening the second quarter and cueing a 10-2 Cleveland run, with the last eight points all by Ilgauskas, and the Cavs took a 29-25 edge. The Clippers edged back on top, but a Daniel Gibson three- pointer in the final seconds of the quarter cut Cleveland’s deficit to 47-45 at the break.
The Cavs jumped in front early in the third quarter, and took a 73-69 lead into the fourth.
“We did a nice job moving the basketball, we did a nice job moving bodies. But at the end of the day for us it’s about defense and rebounding,” said Cavs head coach Mike Brown. “We had three guys in double-digits in rebounds; it makes it a lot easier for us when that happens.”
Game Notes
Powell, who got the start in place of the ailing Kaman, tied a career high with 13 points…Cleveland dominated the glass, outrebounding the Clippers 50-35…The Cavs shot 47.3 percent from the field, but made only 6-of-22 three pointers (27.3 percent). LA only made 3-of-12 threes (25 percent).
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