NBA ROUNDUP: LeBron powers past Rockets
Published 9:42 pm Monday, December 27, 2010
CLEVELAND — Once LeBron James and the Cavaliers adjusted to being back home, the Houston Rockets quickly wore out their welcome.
Cleveland looked sluggish through the first few minutes following a West Coast trip, but quickly recovered with a flurry of 3-pointers and stifling defense to beat the Rockets 108-83 Sunday night.
LeBron James scored 29 points and Mo Williams added 20 for Cleveland (24-8), which has won four straight and nine of 10. They have won 10 straight at home, the league’s longest active winning streak.
“It’s tough when you’re coming off the West Coast,” Williams said. “I don’t know why, and I’ve been in the league seven years. When you’re coming off the West Coast, the energy is not there. The third quarter we came out with a lot of energy and got it rolling.”
James and Williams combined to make five 3-pointers in less than three minutes early in the third quarter, stretching Cleveland’s lead to 68-53. The margin didn’t dip below 15 the rest of the way.
Aaron Brooks had 23 points for Houston, but only five in the second half. Trevor Ariza scored 11 points, but went 2 of 10 from the floor and is now mired in a 10-for-48 slump. Ariza injured his shin late in the game and a team spokesman said he was taken for precautionary X-rays. Carl Landry added 11 points.
Tracy McGrady missed his second-straight game for the Rockets (18-13), who sent their disgruntled star home prior to Saturday’s win at New Jersey. McGrady, working his way back from microfracture surgery on his left knee, is unhappy with his diminished role. The situation is expected to be revisited this week after Houston returned home from the weekend trip.
Clippers 92, Celtics 90
LOS ANGELES — Baron Davis hit a fallaway jumper at the buzzer, and the Los Angeles Clippers snapped the Boston Celtics’ nine-game road winning streak with a 92-90 victory on Sunday night.
Rajon Rondo scored 20 points for the Celtics, but missed two potential go-ahead free throws — actually three, including another that was waved off — with 1.5 seconds left in just the Celtics’ second loss in 16 games.
Davis had 24 points and 13 assists for the Clippers.
Spurs 95, Knicks 88
NEW YORK — Tony Parker scored 22 points, Manu Ginobili added 17, and the duo made the key plays in the final minutes to power the San Antonio Spurs over the New York Knicks.
Tim Duncan finished with 13 points while being outplayed by David Lee, but Parker and Ginobili combined for all of San Antonio’s points after the game was tied at 84 with under 3½ minutes remaining. The Spurs won for the eighth time in 10 games.
Raptors 102, Pistons 95
TORONTO — Chris Bosh had 25 points and 16 rebounds, Jarrett Jack scored 17 points and the Raptors extended their winning streak to a season-high four games.
Heat 114, Pacers 80
MIAMI — Dwyane Wade scored 25 points in only 28 minutes, Jermaine O’Neal added 19 points on six of seven shooting against his former team and the Miami Heat enjoyed their largest victory margin this season by topping the Indiana Pacers.
Mavericks 104, Nuggets 96
DENVER — Drew Gooden scored 19 points and Dirk Nowitzki hit a clutch 3-pointer late in the game, lifting the Mavericks to a win.
Billups out 2 games
DENVER — Denver Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups will miss two games to give his strained left groin time to heal. Billups injured the groin on Dec. 16 against Houston and sat out three straight games. The All-Star point guard returned on Christmas Day at Portland, but didn’t play in the second half.
