NBA Capsules
February 26th, 2010 Posted in NBA basketball newsBOSTON – LeBron James had 36 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, Mo Williams scored 14 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, and the Cleveland Cavaliers surged past the Boston Celtics 108-88 on Thursday night.
James kept the Cavaliers in it for three quarters on a night they lost Shaquille ONeal (sprained right thumb) in the first half, then Williams made four 3-pointers when Cleveland blew by the Celtics in the fourth, outscoring them 35-14.
Unable to stop Rajon Rondo or the Celtics in the first quarter, the Cavaliers turned up the defense in the fourth, limiting the Celtics to three baskets.
Ray Allen scored 21 points, and Rondo had 19 points and 11 assists for the Celtics, who badly missed injured All-Star Paul Pierce (right thumb) when their offense went stagnant in the final 1 1/2 quarters.
Cleveland improved to 20-10 on the road, tying Boston for the best in the NBA, and avenged a 95-89 home loss on opening night.
Nuggets 127, Warriors 112
OAKLAND, Calif. – Chauncey Billups had 37 points and nine rebounds, Carmelo Anthony added 27 points and Denver beat Golden State in the Nuggets first game without coach George Karl since he revealed he has throat cancer.
Karl, who disclosed he has cancer Feb. 16, stayed in Denver to receive treatment but is expected back Friday night at home against Detroit. Assistant Adrian Dantley directed the team against the Warriors.
J.R. Smith had 25 points while helping the Nuggets set a season high with 16 3-pointers. Smith hit seven 3-pointers, and Billups made six.
Stephen Curry had 30 points and 13 assists for Golden State, which has lost 13 of its last 16 to drop to 16-41.
Bucks 112, Pacers 110
INDIANAPOLIS – John Salmons scored 20 points, and Brandon Jennings had 18 points and seven assists to help Milwaukee win its fifth straight game.
Andrew Bogut added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks, 29-28 overall and 3-0 against the Pacers this season. Danny Granger had 21 points for Indiana. The Pacers have dropped three straight and seven of eight to fall to 19-39.
