No Help Needed
Cleveland,Oh – The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t get LeBron James any additional help at the trade deadline. If his performance in their latest game is any indication, he doesn’t need any.
James will look to deliver an encore to his 55-point effort Sunday night when the Cavaliers host the sputtering Detroit Pistons, who are trying to avoid their first six-game losing streak in more than five years.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Heat Cavaliers -10 point spread favorites for Wednesday’s game against the Pistons. Current NBA Public Betting Information shows that 57% of more than 223 bets for this game have been placed on the Cavaliers -10.
General manager Danny Ferry decided to stand pat at Thursday’s trade deadline, figuring Cleveland (42-11) would be in good shape to earn the Eastern Conference’s top seed with its current roster.
The Cavaliers played their first game after the All-Star break without power forward Ben Wallace, who had a lacerated arm, and Delonte West, who had been out since Jan. 15 with a fractured wrist.
Wallace returned Friday and West is due back soon – though he’ll likely miss Sunday’s game – but all Cleveland mostly needed in Milwaukee was James. The NBA’s leading scorer had a season-high 55, hitting 8 of 11 3-pointers and adding nine assists, as the Cavaliers beat the Bucks 111-103.
"Just got in the zone, man,” James said after finishing a point shy of his career high. "I saw a few go down, so I just kept going at it, man. Every shot that I made tonight, every shot that we all made tonight, we needed."
He nearly outscored Milwaukee by himself in the third quarter, pouring in 24 points – 16 in one 2:50 stretch – as Cleveland turned a six-point halftime deficit into a lead with a 35-25 edge.
"LeBron’s performance was unbelievable," coach Mike Brown said. "I’m really speechless with what he did out there in the third quarter."
James’ biggest help offensively all season has been point guard Mo Williams, and Williams has been an excellent second option during the Cavaliers’ current three-game winning streak. Williams has averaged 28.0 points on 61.1 percent shooting.
Williams had 25 points in Cleveland’s first meeting with the Pistons, a 96-89 loss in Detroit on Nov. 19.
It looked like the Pistons (28-27) would get the best of the Cavaliers at The Palace again on Feb. 1 as they led by eight after three quarters. But with James on the bench to start the fourth, Williams sparked a 15-2 run and Cleveland eventually cruised to a 90-80 win.
James had 33 and Williams 22.
"It makes it easier for (James) because you can’t leave Mo," Pistons guard Allen Iverson said.
Detroit won consecutive games after that loss, but has lost its last five. Iverson’s 31 points couldn’t help it top San Antonio in an 83-79 loss on Thursday.
The Pistons dropped to 2-10 at home since Jan. 13, and face a road trip that includes games at Boston, New Orleans and Orlando after Sunday’s visit to Cleveland.
"We lost again," guard Rodney Stuckey said. "I don’t know. I really can’t explain anything anymore. We just keep losing, and now we’ve got some great teams to play.”
Detroit hasn’t lost six straight since Feb. 3-17, 2004.
Coach Michael Curry has moved Richard Hamilton to the bench while Stuckey starts, and the second-year guard’s play has hampered Detroit during its losing streak. Stuckey has averaged 8.2 points during the five-game skid, and has totaled five points in his last two games.
Hamilton, meanwhile, had averaged 26.2 points in his last five games before scoring four points on 2-of-10 shooting against San Antonio.
The Cavaliers, who own the NBA’s best home record at 24-1, have lost four of five to Detroit at Quicken Loans Arena.
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Posted: 2/22/09 4:550AM ET