Dec

17

LBJ Puts On One Man Show As Cavaliers Stop Sixers 108-101!

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap 

 

Back at the beginning of the decade it was a big night when the Philadelphia 76ers played in Cleveland. At that point the Cleveland Cavaliers were a Lottery-bound team  every season and did not draw big crowds. However when the Sixers came to town the stands would be filled with fans mostly wearing Philadelphia jerseys. The cheers that Allen Iverson heard in then what was known as Gund Arena were probably as enthusiastic as the applause he heard at his home arena.

Well as we fast-forward to December  16, 2009 we notice that the NBA landscape has changed quite a bit in the ensuing years. Wednesday night at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia it was the team from Cleveland and reigning NBA MVP LeBron James who drew the crowd and LBJ put on a show. The Cavaliers All-Star forward scored a game high 36 points and Cleveland defeated the Sixers 108-101.

The victory was the fourth straight ffor the Cavaliers and their second  in consecutive nights after beating New Jersey on Tuesday. Andre Iguodala led the team from Philadelphia with 26 points  in the loss. Thaddeus Young and Iverson would each score 16 points for the Sixers as Young had himself a double-double.

The game was tight through out and would not truly be decided until late in the fourth quarter. Cleveland would start the game out with a strong offensive effort in the first and would be on top 32-26 at the end of the quarter. With 3:01 remaining in the second quarter Andre Iguodala would drain a 26 foot trey and Philadelphia trailed by just a deuce at 51-49. But the Cavaliers would get momentum back at the end of the period and would lead 60-55 as the game reached the half.

The Sixers hung tough in the second half taking the lead at various times in the third but as the two opponents would head into the fourth quarter Cleveland would still be ahead with the score 83-80. Philadelphia and the Cavaliers would battle through out the final period and the game would be deadlocked at 96-96. However  Cleveland point guard would hit an outside jumper and then followed that up with 2:41 left to play knocking down a 26 foot trey and the Cavaliers led 101-96. The Sixers never could  regroup and Cleveland held on for the win.

LeBron James led all players with 36 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals  and 1 block in the Cavaliers victory. Mo Williams scored 12 points, 4 assists, 1 rebound and 1 steal while Anderson Varejao came off the bench with 11 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists. Shaquille O’Neal added 10 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and 1 steal while J.J. Hickson also put up 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block.

Andre Iguodala led the Sixers with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. Thaddeus  Young recorded a double-double with 16 points, 10 boards, 1 assist and 1  steal while Allen Iverson also had 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal. Marreese Speights came off the injured list and got 14 points coming off the bench while Elton Brand also playing off the bench added 11 points in the loss. Cleveland now has  a record of 19-7 and will host the Milwaukee Bucks Friday night while Philadelphia is now 6-19 and will be in Boston Friday to face the Celtics.

© Copyright 2009 thesackattack


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