LeBron leads Cavs to eighth straight win

03.17.2007

Cleveland, OH (Basketball News) - LeBron James posted 24 points, a season-high 17 rebounds and nine assists, as the Cleveland Cavaliers continued their hunt for the Eastern Conference’s top spot with an 82-73 victory over the Utah Jazz at Quicken Loans Arena.

Sasha Pavlovic scored 21 points for the Cavaliers, who have won a season-high eight games in a row to keep the conference lead in reach. However, it is the Pistons who refuse to cooperate. Detroit has won five straight and holds a two-game lead over Cleveland for the top spot in the Central Division and the Eastern Conference.

Drew Gooden posted 14 points and 12 boards for Cleveland, which has won six straight at home and is 26-8 at Quicken Loans Arena this season. The club next hits the road for a game in Charlotte on Tuesday.

Carlos Boozer, playing in his first game back in Cleveland since leaving nearly three years ago for more money in Utah, notched 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Jazz, who dropped four straight on a four-game road swing.

Mehmet Okur also scored 19 points and grabbed eight boards, while Deron Williams added 12 points and seven assists for Utah, which fell to 18-16 on the road this season and will host Golden State on Tuesday.

Utah attained an early 20-12 advantage after an 8-2 spurt capped by a Boozer slam with about five minutes left, but Cleveland scored the only two buckets down the stretch for a 20-17 deficit heading into the second.

The Cavs opened the second on a 10-2 run finished by an Ira Newble layup at 6:59 for a 27-22 lead, but Utah regained control down the stretch. The Jazz edged a 32-31 halftime advantage.

The Jazz bolstered their lead on an 11-2 burst capped by a pair of Okur free throws just past the midway point of the third, but Cleveland answered on a 12-5 run down the stretch and James’ free throw in the final minute put the Cavs ahead 58-56 heading into the fourth.

The Jazz cut their deficit to 77-73 on a Williams layup with 1:44 on the clock. However Cleveland scored five straight down the stretch to hold off Utah for the win.

Game Notes

The Cavs have swept the season series with the Jazz the past two seasons, but fell in defeat to Utah in their other meeting so far this season in February...The Jazz have lost three straight and five of seven in Cleveland.

CLE UTA

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