NBA Capsules
February 7th, 2010 Posted in NBA basketball newsCLEVELAND -LeBron James scored 47 points, including 24 straight for Cleveland in the first half, and the Cavaliers held off the New York Knicks 113-106 on Saturday night for their 11th straight victory.
James, who historically has saved some of his best performances for the Knicks, set a franchise record with 35 points in the first half thanks to his remarkable streak. He finished one point shy of his season high while adding eight rebounds and eight assists.
He needed just 5:29 to score 24 straight – 16 in a row to end the first quarter and eight straight to start the second. He closed the first quarter with four 3-pointers in the final two minutes, including a pair from 32 feet in the final 37 seconds.
Nate Robinson, in his second start at point guard this season, had 26 points for New York. David Lee finished with 20 points.
Shaquille ONeal scored 19 points for Cleveland, which is two shy of tying the franchise record for consecutive wins it set last season.
Jazz 116, Nuggets 106
SALT LAKE CITY – Andrei Kirilenko scored 22 points and Carlos Boozer had 19 points and 13 rebounds in his return to the lineup as Utah earned its eighth straight victory.
The Jazz pulled within two games of the Nuggets in the Northwest Division and avoided a four-game sweep by Denver, which was without Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups for the second straight visit to Utah.
Even without their top two players, the Nuggets were able to cut a 17-point deficit to three early in the fourth quarter before Utah put the game away.
Deron Williams added 22 points, nine assists and three blocks for the Jazz.
Ty Lawson led Denver with 25 points.
Anthony and Billups, who scored a career-high 39 the night before in a win over the Lakers in Los Angeles, were both out with sprained ankles.
Bulls 95, Heat 91
CHICAGO – Luol Deng scored 25 points, Derrick Rose added 24 and Chicago snapped a three-game losing streak.
After blowing a fourth-quarter lead the previous night at Atlanta, the Bulls showed the poise that led to five straight wins before this skid and prevailed even though they were missing the injured Joakim Noah and suspended Tyrus Thomas.
Jermaine ONeal tied season highs with 24 points and 16 rebounds, Dwyane Wade added 20 points, but the Heat fell for the seventh time in eight games.
Thomas sat out after he was suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team.
Hornets 104, Bobcats 99
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Darren Collison scored a career-high 24 points filling in for Chris Paul, David West added 21 points, and New Orleans gave Emeka Okafor a victory in his return to Charlotte.
In the first regular-season meeting since the July trade that sent Okafor to New Orleans for Tyson Chandler, the Hornets rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to snap a three-game losing streak since Paul was sidelined with a left knee injury. Okafor, the Bobcats first draft pick, had 16 points and seven rebounds.
Stephen Jackson scored 26 points and Nazr Mohammed added all of his 15 in the first half for Charlotte, which has lost three straight.
Timberwolves 109, Grizzlies 102
MINNEAPOLIS – Al Jefferson rallied Minnesota to its season-high fourth straight victory by scoring 16 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter.
Jefferson was quiet all night against steadily improving big man Marc Gasol, until the Grizzlies stretched their lead to seven points with 8 minutes left. Jefferson found his touch, scoring 12 straight and giving the Timberwolves the final push they needed to avoid their first season sweep by the Grizzlies franchise.
Jefferson went 8 for 8 from the field in the fourth from all over the floor.
Rudy Gay finished with 27 points and eight rebounds for the Grizzlies. Zach Randolph had 14 points and 13 boards.
76ers 102, Rockets 95
HOUSTON – Reserve Thaddeus Young scored 17 points, Willie Green added 15 and Philadelphia overcame a 13-point deficit to earn its fourth straight victory.
The 76ers hadnt won four in a row since last March 11-17.
Aaron Brooks scored 34 points for Houston. Kyle Lowry had 14 points and Carl Landry finished with 13.
Houston was in control much of the game, building a 60-47 lead early in the third quarter. But the 76ers took the lead for good on a basket by Andre Iguodala that made it 90-88 with 4:42 to play.
Iguodala had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Philadelphia, and Elton Brand added 13 points.
Bucks 93, Pacers 81
MILWAUKEE – Andrew Bogut scored 21 points and Luc Mbah a Moute had 18 to lead Milwaukee to the victory.
One night after departing in the first quarter against the New York Knicks with a migraine headache, Bogut dominated inside. He hit 9 of 15 shots and grabbed eight rebounds to help the Bucks win for the fifth time in six games.
T.J. Ford led the Pacers with a season-high 20 points and Danny Granger added 14.
The Pacers were within six in the fourth quarter after Mike Dunleavy hit two free throws with 5:42 remaining. But Brandon Jennings answered with a 3-pointer, his first points of the game after missing his first five shots.
Pistons 99, Nets 92
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Jonas Jerebko scored 20 points on 9-for-9 shooting, and the Pistons snapped a five-game home losing streak.
Detroit has won only two of its last eight, both in the last five days over New Jersey. The Nets lost their 14th straight on the road and are 1-26 away from home this season.
Richard Hamilton added 17 points for Detroit. Rodney Stuckey had 10 points and 11 assists.
Devin Harris led New Jersey with 21 points, and Brook Lopez added 20.
The Nets lost two players in the final minute when Harris and Jarvis Hayes collided going for a loose ball. Hayes bruised his left shin and Harris sprained his left shoulder. X-rays were negative, and neither is expected to miss significant time.
