October 11th, 2010 
Matt Loede 
Posted in 
The Cavs played a little comeback ball on Sunday night against the Houston Rockets, pulling out a 99-93 win to improve to 2-1 on the preseason. The Rockets drop to 2-2.
J.J. Hickson led Cleveland with 18 points and 11 rebounds, Christian Eyenga hit two late 3-point baskets and ended the night with 10 points. Five Cavs ended the night in double digits.
“What I liked tonight was the defensive effort and I’m looking at a team that started to show a lot more trust in each other at both ends of the floor,” Cavs coach Byron Scott said. “Anytime you can come into this building, no matter who they have on the court, and hold them to 42%, we’ve done a pretty good job.”
Trailing 72-67 to start the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers went on a 21-8 run and took an 88-80 lead with 6:10 to play. Manny Harris had eight points in the Cleveland surge and the Rockets never regained the lead.
The Cavs led 89-86 when Eyenga hit consecutive 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter to extend the lead for the wine and gold. Ramon Sessions had 15 points for Cleveland. Harris finished with 14 points.
Chase Budinger led Houston with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jared Jeffries was the only other Rocket in double figures with 12 points.
The Cavaliers took a 47-45 halftime lead, but the Rockets rallied in the third quarter for a 72-67 lead going into the final period.
Budinger helped out with 11 straight Rockets points in the quarter and rookie first-round pick Patrick Patterson hit two baskets in the final minute to keep Houston ahead.
Neither team could get a clear advantage in the first half. The Cavaliers took a 47-45 lead at intermission on a short jumper by Sessions in the final second.
Hickson led Cleveland with 16 first-half points, including eight over the final 2:44 of the second period. Backups played much of the first quarter and the Rockets emerged with a 23-19 edge.
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