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LeBron takes over late to lead Cavs past Bulls 92 - 85
March 19, 2010
Then LeBron James reentered the game. James scored 13 points in the final seven minutes and the Cavaliers won their sixth straight game, 92-85, handing the Bulls their 10th consecutive loss in the process. James finished with 29 points (including his 15,000th career point) and 11 rebounds and helped the Cavaliers survive a game in which they had 17 turnovers and shot just 41 percent from the field. "We are real lackadaisical of late at the start of the game," Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. "I'm a little concerned. We have to find a way, no matter who is in front of us, to play the right way in terms of trying to get better." Mo Williams added 18 points for the Cavaliers (55-15), who have won 12 of their last 13. The Bulls (31-37) played once again without injured starters Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and Derrick Rose, although coach Vinny Del Negro hinted that Rose and Noah could return perhaps as soon as Saturday in Philadelphia. Deng is expected to miss at least two more weeks with his strained calf, and reports suggested he could miss the rest of the season. Taj Gibson led the Bulls with 20 points and 13 rebounds, while James Johnson had an impressive game with 16 points and eight rebounds playing most of the game against LeBron James.
"Our guys battled,'' Del Negro said. "Taj was solid and we got some good performances. We just didn't make enough shots." The Bulls were 33-of-84 from the field, and 4-for-22 from 3-point range. They were outrebounded 53-41, and outscored from the free throw line 24-15. So what were they doing in the game at all? In the second quarter, the Bulls experienced the kind of moment that can only happen to a team that is in the midst of a long losing streak and down on their luck in multiple ways. With the Cavaliers winning 52-44, James went to the floor to pick up a loose ball and Kirk Hinrich reached down to get his hands on the ball and force a tie-up. Instead, Hinrich was called for a foul, and walked away rather than risk another suspension two days after serving a suspension for bumping a referee. Still, the Bulls trailed by only eight points at halftime and got back to within two points near the end of the third quarter. Then with James out of the game at the start of the fourth quarter the Bulls finally pulled ahead 73-72 on a steal and basket by Flip Murray. "We played hard,'' Hinrich said. "We weren't giving up. Defensively, we got back to our game a little bit. But with LeBron and the shooters around him it was a tough task."
James came back in and immediately scored on an alley-oop dunk to put Cleveland up 74-73. After Hakim Warrick converted a three-point play for the Bulls, James hit a game-tying jump shot, followed with another after a Bulls' 3-point miss, then found Anthony Parker for a 3-pointer. When LeBron converted a three-point play with 2:28 left the Cavaliers led 88-80. "We were executing alright but just missed a lot of easy shots,'' James said. "That is what allowed them to stay in the game. It's very difficult (for the Bulls) to play and win with starters out like they have had." Bulls fans clearly were conflicted by hosting James Friday, wanting to show their appreciation and let him know they wanted him to lose at the same time. The Bulls are going to be involved in the free agent chase this summer, and James is expected to be the most popular free agent on the market. As a result, James was cheered loudly as he was introduced in pre-game ceremonies by the United Center crowd, hoping to help lure him to Chicago and the Bulls.
But James was booed regularly during the game. "I am well-respected here,'' James said. "They like their basketball and how I play. They have seen greatness with what has gone on here the last 15 years with the greatest basketball player. It is very humbling for me for them to respect my game as well." After the game, Rose said he hopes to play in Philadelphia, assuming the Bulls get there. Their plane was reported inoperable after the game and the team was scurrying to get to the city of Brotherly Love. "Before the game, I was shooting well, but dribbling was hard,'' said Rose, who injured his wrist in a recent game against Orlando. "I'm going to try to push for (Saturday). I'll basically be a right-handed player throughout the game."