Cavaliers top Pacers (111-107)

Sat, Nov 8, 2008 By Tariq Ali

The Cavaliers started the game Friday night against the Indiana Pacers sluggish thinking the Pacers (1-3) will go away with not much efforts. But for two and a half quarters the Pacers had more lively legs and they led for most of the game. The Cavaliers who had back-to-back blowout victories just went through the motion until mid through the third when they realized the Pacers were very hungry for a win.

Mid through the third quarter, the Pacers were leading 61-53, James decided to take over. It started with a hanging dunk for a three-point play. Then came a fast-break dunk. Then a driving up-and-under layup. Then a pass to an open Ilgauskas for a jumper. And then a heat-check jumper to put the Cavs ahead 64-63.

Lebron James put up27 points, 20 of them in the second half, with nine rebounds, eight assists and four blocks.James hit his first 3-pointer of the season, and then came the highlight of the game in the final 1:15 of the game when he chased T.J. Ford and soared from behind to block uncontested layup on a fast break.

“I don’t give up on plays,” James said. “I was able to chase him down, I’ve been doing that since high school.”

For the first time this season, the Cavaliers were outrebounded (44-30).

“You are not going to be able to play the way you want to play every night,” Cavs coach Mike Brown said.

“I thought our group kind of figured out a way to win a ballgame. I don’t think we would’ve won a game like this in the past.”

The Cavs put up 40 points in the fourth quarter. Mo Williams scored 10 of his season-high 21 points and Wally Szczerbiak had seven of his 11 points in the fourth.he Cavaliers went to the line 28 times, making 24, while the Pacers were 11-of-11.

“I just shake my head,” O’Brien said. “Incredible, absolutely incredible. I can’t believe that. To take it to the basket as hard as we do and cut as hard as we do, and to get only 11 foul shots. I’m just completely dumbfounded.”

Ben Wallace had 0 rebound and no points for the third straign game.

NBA Highlights for November 7th: