GAME THREAD: NBA: CLEVELAND (9-6) at DETROIT (8-5)

NBA: CLEVELAND (9-6) at DETROIT (8-5)

<h3>Cavaliers, Pistons meet for first time since conference finals</h3>

<div class="pre">Cleveland (9-6) at Detroit (8-5) 7:30 pm EST</div>

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) - The Cleveland Cavaliers andDetroit Pistons renew their budding rivalry on Wednesday.

Last season, the Cavaliers knocked off the Pistons in six gamesto in the Eastern Conference finals.


LeBron James gave the Cavs the edge in the series in ascintillating performance in Game Five here, when he scored 48points - his team's final 25 - in a 109-107 double-overtimetriumph.


James is red-hot entering this contest, averaging 37.3 points,9.3 assists and 8.7 rebounds over his last six games. Thefifth-year phenom scored 11 of his 38 points in overtime andadded 13 assists as Cleveland claimed a 109-104 victory over theBoston Celtics on Tuesday for its fourth straight win.

The Pistons are completing a four-game homestand. Detroit is4-1 overall on its home floor this season.


Detroit's lone home loss came during a 103-93 setback to the UtahJazz on Sunday. The Pistons had no answer for Carlos Boozer,who scored 36 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.


The Pistons were without Rasheed Wallace, who has missed the lasttwo contests with a sore left knee. However, he is expected toreturn for this contest.

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND AT DETROIT - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


CLEVELAND DETROIT

F LeBron James F Tayshaun Prince
F Drew Gooden F Antonio McDyess
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas C Rasheed Wallace
G Daniel Gibson G Richard Hamilton
G Aleksandar Pavlovic G Chauncey Billups

OFFICIALS: Ron Garretson
Violet Palmer
Mark Ayotte</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND VS DETROIT - INACTIVES

CLEVELAND DETROIT

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
D MARSHALL SPRAINED RIGHT WRIST R DUPREE COACH'S DECISION
L HUGHES BONE BRUISE, LEFT AN R STUCKEY HAND INJURY
C SIMMONS ANKLE INJURY C SAMB COACH'S DECISION</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 6
DETROIT 6 8:41 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 7
DETROIT 10 6:02 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 15
DETROIT 18 2:38 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 22
DETROIT 23 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CLEVELAND 22 22
DETROIT 23 23 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

CLE - LEBRON JAMES 11, DREW GOODEN 5,
ALEKSANDAR PAVLOVIC 4
DET - RICHARD HAMILTON 8, ANTONIO MCDYESS 5,
TWO PLAYERS WITH 4</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 29
DETROIT 31 8:54 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 29
DETROIT 37 5:44 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 36
DETROIT 43 3:03 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 43
DETROIT 48 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CLEVELAND 22 21 43
DETROIT 23 25 48 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

CLE - LEBRON JAMES 15, ALEKSANDAR PAVLOVIC 9,
DREW GOODEN 5
DET - RICHARD HAMILTON 12, ANTONIO MCDYESS 10,
TAYSHAUN PRINCE 8</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 47
DETROIT 52 9:08 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND AT DETROIT
NOTE: CLEVELAND FORWARD LEBRON JAMES HAS LEFT THE GAME
WITH A SPRAINED LEFT INDEX FINGER AND WILL NOT
RETURN.</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 53
DETROIT 61 5:41 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 57
DETROIT 69 2:35 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 59
DETROIT 77 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CLEVELAND 22 21 16 59
DETROIT 23 25 29 77 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

CLE - LEBRON JAMES 15, ALEKSANDAR PAVLOVIC 13,
DREW GOODEN 9
DET - RICHARD HAMILTON 18, TAYSHAUN PRINCE 16,
ANTONIO MCDYESS 14</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at DETROIT

<div class="pre">NBA CLEVELAND 62
DETROIT 86 8:38 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>