LBJ Gets Fourth Triple-Double Cleveland Beats Indy 111-106

The Cleveland Cavaliers surrendered a 14 point lead to the Indianapolis Pacers Sunday. But LeBron James fourth triple-double of the season was enough to put Cleveland back on track and rallied to defeat the Pacers 111-106. Cavaliers coach Mike Brown was happy with the victory, but was quite perturbed about Cleveland’s defensive lapse in the third quarter. The Pacers went on a 12-2 run, mainly because with James on the bench the rest of the Cavaliers took the contest too lightly. Brown said his players needed to show more respect for the game.

When LBJ took a seat on the bench late in the?third quarter, Cleveland led Indiana 71-63, at the end of the quarter the Pacers led 75-73. The Cavaliers looked like a semi-pro team on the floor of the Canseco Field House, committing 5 turnovers and taking? only two shots. Marquis Daniels who had 25 points in the game, scored 6 of the Pacers 12 points during the run.

But James returned at the top of the final period, for the? Cavaliers and restored order. James ended with 30 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals, and 1 blocked shot. Drew Gooden also had a big game scoring 23 points and grabbing 12 boards, while Sasha Pavlovic had his best game of the season with 22 points, and 5 assists. Cleveland shot 54.2 % from behind the arc going 13-24. James now has 14 triple-doubles in his career.

Daniels led the Pacers with 25, while Jamal Tinsley had a double-double 24 points, and 10 assists, and 9 rebounds. Danny Granger had 21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and David Harrison scored 11 points coming off the bench and had 7 boards. Indiana now falls to 6-8, while Cleveland winners of their last three are 8-6.