Cleveland Cavaliers Team Report - February 26

(Basketball News) - The Cleveland Cavaliers were defeated by the Houston Rockets, 90-84, on Wednesday at the Toyota Center.

Jeff McInnis and Zydrunas Ilgauskas each poured in 17 points in defeat as the Cavaliers had a three-game winning streak halted. Carlos Boozer added 16 points and 18 rebounds, while LeBron James scored 11 despite going 1-of-6 from the field in the first half.

McInnis put Cleveland up 67-66 on a baseline jumper with 8:53 left in the game, but the Rockets reeled off the next six points, including four from Clarence Weatherspoon, to go up five.

Houston pushed its lead out to seven at 81-74, but Boozer hit a hook shot on Cleveland’s next possession and McInnis followed the next time down the floor with a three-point play to trim the deficit to two with 1:28 to go.

Cuttino Mobley stopped Cleveland’s spurt with a baseline fade-away jumper and Yao Ming threw down a dunk to put the Rockets up 85-79 with 40 ticks left on the clock.

Ilgauskas hit an off-balance three-pointer with 30 seconds left to cut the Rockets’ lead in half, but the Cavaliers were forced to foul intentionally after that. Houston sealed the win by making 5-of-6 free throws in the final 24 seconds.

In his last 10 games, Ilgauskas is averaging 16.6 points and 10.2 rebounds. He has scored in double digits in 11 straight contests.

The Cavs are off until Friday when they visit the Orlando Magic. Cleveland is 1-1 against Orlando this season. The Cavs lost to the Magic on December 25, 2003 at TD Waterhouse Centre, while Cleveland beat Orlando, 99-98, on January 26, 2004 at Gund Arena.