Cavs' big combo has winning tune
CLEVELAND - LeBron James scored 27 points, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers win their third straight game by beating the Washington Wizards last night, 102-90.
Shaquille O'Neal added a season high of 21 while wearing out Washington's big men.
The Cavs trailed by 18 points in the second quarter before turning up their defense and relying on their superstar combo of James and O'Neal.
Mo Williams scored 15 points and Daniel Gibson 14 for the Cavs, who made nine three-pointers in the second half - four in the fourth quarter when James was out. Williams and Gibson were a combined 7 for 9 on treys.
Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas scored 22 apiece to lead the Wizards.
O'Neal had easily his best game since coming to Cleveland. He made seven of nine field-goal attempts and seven of 10 free throws, grabbed eight rebounds, and put Washington's front line in foul trouble.
He also endeared himself to Cleveland fans by flattening Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson on a drive in the first half. Stevenson has been a pest to the Cavs, having engaged in a war of words with James in the playoffs two years ago.
Washington 31 23 19 17 – 90
Cleveland 17 33 28 24 – 102
FG FT Reb
WASHINGTN Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts
Butler 37:57 7-18 7-8 2-6 0 1 22
Oberto 24:57 1-2 1-2 0-1 2 2 3
Haywood 26:42 3-8 2-2 3-9 0 6 8
Arenas 38:42 7-18 7-11 0-7 5 2 22
Miller 34:35 2-3 7-8 1-8 3 5 12
Blatche 25:09 3-7 1-2 4-8 1 4 7
Stevenson 17:39 0-4 3-4 0-2 0 2 3
McGee 11:26 0-1 2-2 2-5 0 4 2
Foye 19:34 3-7 0-0 0-1 1 1 7
