GAME THREAD: NBA: CLEVELAND (8-3) at DETROIT (9-2)

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

NBA PLAYOFFS
CLEVELAND 76
DETROIT 75 0:32 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

NBA PLAYOFFS
CLEVELAND 76
DETROIT 79 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CLEVELAND 16 34 13 13 76
DETROIT 20 18 22 19 79 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: CLE - LEBRON JAMES 19, ANDERSON VAREJAO 14,
ALEKSANDAR PAVLOVIC 14
DET - RASHEED WALLACE 16, JASON MAXIELL 15,
TWO PLAYERS WITH 13</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

** CONFIRMED **
NBA
CLEVELAND 76
DETROIT 79 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

CLEVELAND (76) AT DETROIT (79)

CLEVELAND

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

L JAMES F 44:40 7-19 5-7 0 6 6 7 1 3 6 19
D GOODEN F 16:57 2-4 0-0 0 1 1 3 2 1 2 4
Z ILGAUSKAS C 27:06 1-6 1-2 0 7 7 1 2 0 2 3
S PAVLOVIC G 30:36 7-10 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 14
L HUGHES G 37:36 2-9 0-0 1 2 3 3 1 2 2 4
A VAREJAO 30:57 5-11 4-6 7 7 14 0 3 1 2 14
D GIBSON 19:58 3-8 0-0 2 2 4 3 3 1 0 9
D MARSHALL 20:46 2-5 0-0 1 3 4 0 4 0 0 6
DA JONES 11:08 1-3 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3
E SNOW 0:16 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 30-75 10-15 11 28 39 17 18 11 15 76
(.400) (.667) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 15 (18 PTS)

DETROIT

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

T PRINCE F 41:07 0-8 1-2 1 3 4 4 1 0 1 1
R WALLACE F 33:00 7-10 1-2 2 9 11 3 4 2 2 16
C WEBBER C 24:00 4-13 1-2 3 4 7 5 2 2 2 9
R HAMILTON G 36:49 5-14 2-4 1 1 2 3 4 2 3 13
C BILLUPS G 43:21 4-7 3-3 0 1 1 6 1 0 5 13
A MCDYESS 16:11 2-5 0-0 2 2 4 1 1 0 2 4
J MAXIELL 21:50 7-9 1-6 2 4 6 0 2 1 1 15
L HUNTER 5:03 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
R MURRAY 7:22 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
C DELFINO 11:17 2-4 0-0 0 2 2 1 1 0 0 6

TOTALS 240:00 32-72 9-19 11 26 37 23 16 7 18 79
(.444) (.474) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 18 (18 PTS)

CLEVELAND 16 34 13 13 - 76
DETROIT 20 18 22 19 - 79

BLOCKED SHOTS: CLEVELAND - A VAREJAO 2, D GIBSON 2. DETROIT - R WALLACE 2,
J MAXIELL 2, A MCDYESS, C WEBBER.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: CLEVELAND 6-19 (.316), L JAMES 0-1, S PAVLOVIC 0-
3, A VAREJAO 0-1, D GIBSON 3-7, D MARSHALL 2-4, DA JONES 1-3. DETROIT 6-
11 (.545), R WALLACE 1-3, R HAMILTON 1-3, C BILLUPS 2-2, C DELFINO 2-
3.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BERNIE FRYER, JIM CLARK, MARK WUNDERLICH.
A - 22,076. T - 2:40.</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

CLEVELAND (76)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
L James 44:40 7-19 5-7 0-6 7 1 19
D Gooden 16:57 2-4 0-0 0-1 3 2 4
Z Ilgauskas 27:06 1-6 1-2 0-7 1 2 3
S Pavlovic 30:36 7-10 0-0 0-0 0 1 14
L Hughes 37:36 2-9 0-0 1-3 3 1 4
A Varejao 30:57 5-11 4-6 7-14 0 3 14
D Gibson 19:58 3-8 0-0 2-4 3 3 9
D Marshall 20:46 2-5 0-0 1-4 0 4 6
Da Jones 11:08 1-3 0-0 0-0 0 1 3
E Snow 0:16 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 30-75 10-15 11-39 17 18 76
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.400, FT-.667. 3-Point Goals:
6-19, .316 (L James 0-1, S Pavlovic 0-3, A
Varejao 0-1, D Gibson 3-7, D Marshall 2-4, Da
Jones 1-3). Team Rebounds: 12. Blocked
Shots:4 (A Varejao 2, D Gibson 2).
Turnovers:15 (L James 6, Z Ilgauskas 2, L
Hughes 2, D Gooden 2, A Varejao 2, S
Pavlovic). Steals: 11 (S Pavlovic 3, L James
3, L Hughes 2, D Gooden, A Varejao, D
Gibson).


DETROIT (79)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
T Prince 41:07 0-8 1-2 1-4 4 1 1
R Wallace 33:00 7-10 1-2 2-11 3 4 16
C Webber 24:00 4-13 1-2 3-7 5 2 9
R Hamilton 36:49 5-14 2-4 1-2 3 4 13
C Billups 43:21 4-7 3-3 0-1 6 1 13
A McDyess 16:11 2-5 0-0 2-4 1 1 4
J Maxiell 21:50 7-9 1-6 2-6 0 2 15
L Hunter 5:03 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
R Murray 7:22 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 2
C Delfino 11:17 2-4 0-0 0-2 1 1 6

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 32-72 9-19 11-37 23 16 79
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.444, FT-.474. 3-Point Goals:
6-11, .545 (R Wallace 1-3, R Hamilton 1-3, C
Billups 2-2, C Delfino 2-3). Team Rebounds:
12. Blocked Shots:6 (R Wallace 2, J Maxiell
2, A McDyess, C Webber). Turnovers:18 (C
Billups 5, R Hamilton 3, A McDyess 2, L
Hunter 2, R Wallace 2, C Webber 2, T Prince,
J Maxiell). Steals: 7 (R Wallace 2, C Webber
2, R Hamilton 2, J Maxiell).

-------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND 16 34 13 13 - 76
DETROIT 20 18 22 19 - 79
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 22,076. T: 2:40.
Officials: Bernie Fryer, Jim Clark, Mark
Wunderlich.</div>

 

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- LeBron James took the ballto the basket this time, but it didn't matter.

Rasheed Wallace collected 16 points and 11 rebounds and JasonMaxiell added 15 points off the bench for the Detroit Pistons,who swallowed up James on his team's final possession for thesecond game in a row en route to a 79-76 victory over theCleveland Cavaliers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference finalson Thursday.

Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups scored 13 points apiecefor the Pistons, who took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-sevenmatchup with their second straight close victory.

James was criticized in Game One for his passive play down thestretch, taking just three shots in the fourth quarter. Trailingby two with 36 seconds left in that contest, the superstarforward drove on Pistons defensive specialist Tayshaun Princebefore kicking to a wide-open Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who missed ajumper.

After an offensive rebound by Larry Hughes, James quickly drovepast Prince - looking like he had a clear path to the basket -and whipped a pass to Donyell Marshall, who missed a 3-pointerfrom the right corner in the waning seconds of the 79-76 defeat.

After Wallace nailed a fadeaway jumper to make it 77-76 with24.3 seconds left, James was put in the same predicament withthe game on the line. The superstar forward took the ball rightat the smaller Hamilton, powered his way to the basket but notgetting a foul called by the referee as he flailed in the lane.

Hughes then missed a short follow jumper and Anderson Varejao'stip with one second left bounced out. Cavaliers coach MikeBrown had to be restrained by his assistant coaches and pickedup a technical arguing the call near midcourt.

Both squads battled through each possession in the fourthquarter with bodies careening to the hardwood as the actionbegan to resemble a contest on the gridiron. The rough play mayhave affected the Cavaliers, who committed five consecutiveturnovers at one point in the fourth.

The Pistons went on a 9-0 run during that span, capped byHamilton's step-back jumper to make it 74-69 with 5:05 left.Wallace scored seven of the nine points during the spurt.

But Detroit could not create any separation with Cleveland guardSasha Pavlovic eventually regaining the lead for Clevelandafter Pistons forward Antonio McDyess goaltended his transitionlayup to make it 75-74.

Wallace and James then each split a pair of free throws as theCavaliers held on to a one-point lead in the waning secondsbefore Wallace's clutch shot. James finished with 19 points on7-of-19 shooting.

But it was a different story early on Thursday for James, whomade a concerted effort to take the ball to the basket. In thefirst half, the superstar forward showed off his repertoire ofdazzling dunks, slamming home several eye-popping jams in acrowd.

Detroit was a bit shorthanded in the first quarter after Wallacegot into foul trouble and McDyess took an elbow to the face.However, Maxiell came in and provided the Pistons a huge lift.

The burly forward scored seven points on 3-of-3 shooting fromthe field, including two vicious dunks - highlighted by arousing follow jam over James which riled up the crowd at thePalace of Auburn Hills.

Trailing by four points after the opening quarter, the Cavalierscame out on fire in the second period, outscoring the Pistons,34-18, in the stanza to take a 50-38 lead at halftime.

James scored scored 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting in the openinghalf but he could not do much after halftime. Pavlovic andVarejao scored 14 points apiece for the Cavaliers, who will hostGame Three on Sunday.

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

CLEVELAND (76) AT DETROIT (79)

CLEVELAND

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

L JAMES F 44:41 7-19 5-7 0 6 6 7 1 3 6 19
D GOODEN F 16:56 2-4 0-0 0 1 1 3 2 1 2 4
Z ILGAUSKAS C 27:04 1-6 1-2 0 7 7 1 2 0 2 3
S PAVLOVIC G 30:35 7-10 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 14
L HUGHES G 37:36 2-9 0-0 1 2 3 3 1 2 2 4
A VAREJAO 30:57 5-11 4-6 7 7 14 0 3 1 2 14
D GIBSON 19:59 3-8 0-0 2 2 4 3 3 1 0 9
D MARSHALL 20:48 2-5 0-0 1 3 4 0 4 0 0 6
DA JONES 11:08 1-3 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3
E SNOW 0:16 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
S POLLARD DNP - COACH'S DECISION
I NEWBLE DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 30-75 10-15 11 28 39 17 18 11 15 76
(.400) (.667) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 15 (18 PTS)

DETROIT

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

T PRINCE F 41:06 0-8 1-2 1 3 4 4 1 0 1 1
R WALLACE F 32:57 7-10 1-2 2 9 11 3 4 2 2 16
C WEBBER C 24:00 4-13 1-2 3 4 7 5 2 2 2 9
R HAMILTON G 36:49 5-14 2-4 1 1 2 3 4 2 3 13
C BILLUPS G 43:21 4-7 3-3 0 1 1 6 1 0 5 13
A MCDYESS 16:11 2-5 0-0 2 2 4 1 1 0 2 4
J MAXIELL 21:52 7-9 1-6 2 4 6 0 2 1 1 15
L HUNTER 5:03 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
R MURRAY 7:22 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
C DELFINO 11:19 2-4 0-0 0 2 2 1 1 0 0 6
D DAVIS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
N MOHAMMED DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 32-72 9-19 11 26 37 23 16 7 18 79
(.444) (.474) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 18 (20 PTS)

CLEVELAND 16 34 13 13 - 76
DETROIT 20 18 22 19 - 79

BLOCKED SHOTS: CLEVELAND - A VAREJAO 2, D GIBSON 2. DETROIT - R WALLACE 2,
J MAXIELL 2, A MCDYESS, C WEBBER.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: CLEVELAND 6-19 (.316), L JAMES 0-1, S PAVLOVIC 0-
3, A VAREJAO 0-1, D GIBSON 3-7, D MARSHALL 2-4, DA JONES 1-3. DETROIT 6-
11 (.545), R WALLACE 1-3, R HAMILTON 1-3, C BILLUPS 2-2, C DELFINO 2-
3.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BERNIE FRYER, JIM CLARK, MARK WUNDERLICH.
A - 22,076. T - 2:38.</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

CLEVELAND (76)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
L James 44:41 7-19 5-7 0-6 7 1 19
D Gooden 16:56 2-4 0-0 0-1 3 2 4
Z Ilgauskas 27:04 1-6 1-2 0-7 1 2 3
S Pavlovic 30:35 7-10 0-0 0-0 0 1 14
L Hughes 37:36 2-9 0-0 1-3 3 1 4
A Varejao 30:57 5-11 4-6 7-14 0 3 14
D Gibson 19:59 3-8 0-0 2-4 3 3 9
D Marshall 20:48 2-5 0-0 1-4 0 4 6
Da Jones 11:08 1-3 0-0 0-0 0 1 3
E Snow 0:16 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
S Pollard DNP - COACH'S DECISION
I Newble DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 30-75 10-15 11-39 17 18 76
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.400, FT-.667. 3-Point Goals:
6-19, .316 (L James 0-1, S Pavlovic 0-3, A
Varejao 0-1, D Gibson 3-7, D Marshall 2-4, Da
Jones 1-3). Team Rebounds: 12. Blocked
Shots:4 (A Varejao 2, D Gibson 2).
Turnovers:15 (L James 6, Z Ilgauskas 2, L
Hughes 2, D Gooden 2, A Varejao 2, S
Pavlovic). Steals: 11 (S Pavlovic 3, L James
3, L Hughes 2, D Gooden, A Varejao, D
Gibson).


DETROIT (79)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
T Prince 41:06 0-8 1-2 1-4 4 1 1
R Wallace 32:57 7-10 1-2 2-11 3 4 16
C Webber 24:00 4-13 1-2 3-7 5 2 9
R Hamilton 36:49 5-14 2-4 1-2 3 4 13
C Billups 43:21 4-7 3-3 0-1 6 1 13
A McDyess 16:11 2-5 0-0 2-4 1 1 4
J Maxiell 21:52 7-9 1-6 2-6 0 2 15
L Hunter 5:03 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
R Murray 7:22 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 2
C Delfino 11:19 2-4 0-0 0-2 1 1 6
D Davis DNP - COACH'S DECISION
N Mohammed DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 32-72 9-19 11-37 23 16 79
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.444, FT-.474. 3-Point Goals:
6-11, .545 (R Wallace 1-3, R Hamilton 1-3, C
Billups 2-2, C Delfino 2-3). Team Rebounds:
12. Blocked Shots:6 (R Wallace 2, J Maxiell
2, A McDyess, C Webber). Turnovers:18 (C
Billups 5, R Hamilton 3, A McDyess 2, L
Hunter 2, R Wallace 2, C Webber 2, T Prince,
J Maxiell). Steals: 7 (R Wallace 2, C Webber
2, R Hamilton 2, J Maxiell).

-------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND 16 34 13 13 - 76
DETROIT 20 18 22 19 - 79
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 22,076. T: 2:38.
Officials: Bernie Fryer, Jim Clark, Mark
Wunderlich.</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

NBA CLEVELAND AT DETROIT
NOTE: RESENDING BOX SCORE TO CORRECT MINUTES AND TIME OF
GAME.</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CLEVELAND 16 34 13 13 76
DETROIT 20 18 22 19 79 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: CLE - LEBRON JAMES 19, ANDERSON VAREJAO 14,
ALEKSANDAR PAVLOVIC 14
DET - RASHEED WALLACE 16, JASON MAXIELL 15,
TWO PLAYERS WITH 13

HIGH REBOUND: CLE - ANDERSON VAREJAO 14, ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS
7, LEBRON JAMES 6
DET - RASHEED WALLACE 11, CHRIS WEBBER 7,
JASON MAXIELL 6

HIGH ASSISTS: CLE - LEBRON JAMES 7, THREE PLAYERS WITH 3
DET - CHAUNCEY BILLUPS 6, CHRIS WEBBER 5,
TAYSHAUN PRINCE 4

ATT: 22,076</div>

 

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- LeBron James took the ballto the basket this time, but it didn't matter.

Rasheed Wallace collected 16 points and 11 rebounds and JasonMaxiell added 15 points off the bench for the Detroit Pistons,who swallowed up James on his team's final possession for thesecond game in a row en route to a 79-76 victory over theCleveland Cavaliers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference finalson Thursday.

Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups scored 13 points apiecefor the Pistons, who took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-sevenmatchup with their second straight close victory.

"I thought it was like (the movie) 'Groundhog Day,'" Pistonscoach Flip Saunders said. "I thought it was almost the samegame as before and the scoring ends up the same. I thought howthe teams played, it was just a matter of who was going to makea few plays down the stretch."

James was criticized in Game One for his passive play down thestretch, taking just three shots in the fourth quarter. Trailingby two with 36 seconds left in that contest, the superstarforward drove on Pistons defensive specialist Tayshaun Princebefore kicking to a wide-open Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who missed ajumper.

After an offensive rebound by Larry Hughes, James quickly drovepast Prince - looking like he had a clear path to the basket -and whipped a pass to Donyell Marshall, who missed a 3-pointerfrom the right corner in the waning seconds of the 79-76 defeat.

"We knew (James) was going to be more aggressive attacking thebasket, and we did that," Billups said. "We had guys helpingand guys in position to be there and help. He still did a goodjob."

After Wallace nailed a fadeaway jumper to make it 77-76 with24.3 seconds left, James was put in the same predicament withthe game on the line. The superstar forward took the ball rightat the smaller Hamilton, powered his way to the basket but notgetting a foul called by the referee as he flailed in the lane.

"I believe there was some contact, but there's been a lot ofcontact throughout this series," James said. "We're a no-excuseteam, you know, and we can't look at the last play as why welost. We've just got to get better. But I do feel there wassome contact."

Hughes then missed a short follow jumper and Anderson Varejao'stip with one second left bounced out. Cavaliers coach MikeBrown had to be restrained by his assistant coaches and pickedup a technical arguing the call near midcourt.

Though visibly upset, Brown would not blame the loss on thefinal play.

"The officials get paid a lot of money, and that's their job,"Brown said. "If they don't see anything, they don't seeanything. We're a no-excuse team. We've got to get ready forGame Three."

Both squads battled through each possession in the fourthquarter with bodies careening to the hardwood as the actionbegan to resemble a contest on the gridiron. The rough play mayhave affected the Cavaliers, who committed five consecutiveturnovers at one point in the fourth.

"I thought both teams played hard, and I think the whole seriesis going to be like this," Saunders said. "I don't think anyoneis going to run away from either team. Right now, I think thefirst team to 80 is going to win because no one really seems tobe able to get there right now."

The Pistons went on a 9-0 run during that span, capped byHamilton's step-back jumper to make it 74-69 with 5:05 left.Wallace scored seven of the nine points during the spurt.

But Detroit could not create any separation with Cleveland guardSasha Pavlovic eventually regaining the lead for Clevelandafter Pistons forward Antonio McDyess goaltended his transitionlayup to make it 75-74.

Wallace and James then each split a pair of free throws as theCavaliers held on to a one-point lead in the waning secondsbefore Wallace's clutch shot.

"Sheed has been, as I said since we started the playoffs, he'sbeen extremely locked in, extremely motivated, and down thestretch, he wanted the ball in a lot of situations to makeplays," Saunders said.

"Sheed was mad. I tell people all the time, when Sheed getsmad, he's the best in the world at his position," Hamilton said."I just love when he gets all excited and jumping up and downand things like that. He demanded the ball tonight and he madeplays."

James finished with 19 points on 7-of-19 shooting. But it was adifferent story early on for the superstar forward, who made aconcerted effort to take the ball to the basket. In the firsthalf, the superstar forward showed off his repertoire ofdazzling dunks, slamming home several eye-popping jams in acrowd.

Detroit was a bit shorthanded in the first quarter after Wallacegot into foul trouble and McDyess took an elbow to the face.However, Maxiell came in and provided the Pistons a huge lift.

"I just told Jason that this might have been his best game allyear," Wallace said. "Even though he's had some pretty biggames throughout the regular season, had a big game inMilwaukee, but I don't think the meaning of that game was likethe one tonight.

"He showed up big tonight, a couple rebounds and blocks, wasrunning the floor, got a couple offensive rebounds for dunks,got some open dunks."

The burly forward scored seven points on 3-of-3 shooting fromthe field, including two vicious slams - highlighted by arousing follow jam over James which riled up the crowd at thePalace of Auburn Hills.

"(Maxiell) was big. He brings a lot of energy," Hamilton said."He made plays for us, got a lot of putbacks, a lot of offensiverebounds, gave us a couple extra possessions. He was huge."

Trailing by four points after the opening quarter, the Cavalierscame out on fire in the second period, outscoring the Pistons,34-18, in the stanza to take a 50-38 lead at halftime.

"You're fortunate you're up because I thought they played well,"Saunders said. "They took control of the game as far as in thefirst half and got off to a great lead. But we have done twothings - We've really defended the second half of both games,and (Thursday) we gave up 13 and 13 in the third and fourthquarter, and we put the onus on them to try to make plays."

James scored 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting in the opening halfbut did not do much after halftime.

"I played pretty good. I can play a lot better," James said."At the end of the day, we didn't win. You know, we gaveourselves a chance to win the game, when it came down to thefinal possessions and we can't make the right plays, and wedidn't get the stop that we needed to win the ballgame."

Pavlovic and Varejao scored 14 points apiece for the Cavaliers,who will host Game Three on Sunday.