The Cleveland Cavaliers built up a head of steam to take a 29-point fourth-quarter lead and then held off the Detroit Pistons in their Eastern Conference play-off game. LeBron James led Cleveland to a 94-82 victory with 29 points and 13 rebounds as the Cavaliers took a 2-0 lead in their play-off series.
"We played great basketball for three quarters," James said. "In the fourth quarter we got a little content and we can't do that in the play-offs. We can't allow ourselves to not close games out." The Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers also recorded victories on Tuesday. The Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 119-109 to take a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference series. Kobe Bryant had 26 points and Pau Gasol 22 for Los Angeles. Deron Williams scored 35 for Utah, who host game three today.
Portland edged the Houston Rockets 107-103 as Brandon Ray scored 42 points and LaMarcus Aldridge had 27 and 12 rebounds. Aaron Brooks led Houston with 23 points and Von Wafer added 21. Yao Ming was held to 11. The Trail Blazers' win levelled the Western Conference series at 1-1 before it moves to Houston tomorrow. Cleveland's led 79-50 after the opening seconds of the fourth quarter before a 27-5 run brought the Pistons within seven points with 3:51 to play.
James then slotted two free throws to launch an 8-0 streak to secure the victory. Despite the way the Cavaliers finished, James said he was disappointed with the team's fourth quarter. "We did not play with the aggression we have been playing with," he said. "I was very disappointed with our team." Mo Williams scored 21 points and Delonte West added 20 for Cleveland, who travel to Detroit for game three tomorrow.
Detroit's scoring was more balanced. Richard Hamilton led with 17, Rodney Stuckey added 14 and Will Bynum had 13. James did not play the first 4:45 of the fourth quarter, but the Cavaliers needed him to close out the Pistons as Bynum scored 11 points and made three assists in the first five minutes. "Our mindset is still positive," Hamilton said. "They did what they were supposed to do. This isn't anything new, we know what it takes to win."
* Reuters