James’ big game continues Cavs’ streak

01.29.2006

Cleveland, OH (Basketball News) - LeBron James erupted for 44 points and 11 rebounds as Cleveland downed Phoenix, 113-106, at Quicken Loans Arena.

Aleksandar Pavlovic scored 15 points, while Donyell Marshall netted 14. Damon Jones scored 11 points, Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 10, and Drew Gooden added 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who notched their fifth straight victory.

Steve Nash scored 24 points, while Shawn Marion posted 22 points and seven rebounds to pace the Suns, who had a two-game winning streak stopped. James Jones notched 20 points and Eddie House added 16 in the loss.

Phoenix appeared to pull away early in the third quarter with a 12-0 run to take a 72-55 lead.

But, James scored 16 points in the period to keep Cleveland close, eight of which occurred in less than a minute. After a 29-13 Cleveland run, the Cavs trailed just 87-84 heading into the fourth.

Cleveland took its first lead, since the first quarter, 93-91 on a fadeaway jumper by James with 8:18 to go, part of a 21-8 Cleveland run. The Cavs continued to control the game for its duration.

The score stayed close through the first quarter until Jones and Nash scored two straight three-pointers for a six-point lead, 24-18, with 3:15 on the clock. With 13 first-quarter points, Nash continued to lead Phoenix on a 14-4 run for a 32-22 score heading into the second quarter.

The Suns retained control in the game after the start of the second quarter, augmenting their earlier spurt into a 24-4 run. Cleveland responded with an 8-0 run to stay close behind Phoenix, 42-32 after Ilgauskas hit a jumper with 8:19 on the second-quarter clock. James split two Phoenix defenders and scored a finger-roll layup with two ticks left on the clock to cut Cleveland’s halftime deficit to 60-51.

The Suns outscored the Cavs 20-4 in first-half fastbreak points.

Game Notes

The Suns, who will conclude a six-game road trip with stops in Philadelphia and Boston, are 12-9 away from home this season...Phoenix and Cleveland have split the season series of two games...Phoenix has won six of the last eight meetings...Raja Bell did not play because of a calf injury, after starting 43 straight games for Phoenix.

CLE PHO

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