LeBron James returned from injury to score 17 points and help
the Cleveland Cavaliers end a six-game losing streak on Tuesday
with a 118-105 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron
James (L) drives to the basket while defended by Indiana Pacers
Danny Granger (33) during the first half of their NBA basketball
game in Cleveland, Dec. 11, 2007.
James, who played 22 minutes off the bench, missed five games
with a sprained left index finger. Cleveland lost all five
games.
"It felt like we were in a good groove," said James, who wore a
protective glove. "Everyone knows each other. We know what we like
and dislike, so it felt like it did last year when we were playing
our best basketball."
Larry Hughes also came off the Cleveland bench in his second
game back after injury and recorded a season-high 36 points, while
Anderson Varejao made his season debut, also off the bench, after
ending a contract holdout.
Mike Dunleavy led the Pacers with 23 points while Jermaine
O'Neil had 18 and Troy Murphy posted 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Toronto guard T.J. Ford scored 26 points in his side's 100-88
victory over Atlanta but was taken to hospital after being fouled
by Atlanta rookie Al Horford.
Ford hit his head on the floor when fouled by Horford, which
provoked an angry reaction from Toronto coach Sam Mitchell, and was
carried off on a stretcher and later taken to hospital.
The Los Angeles Clippers recorded their first win in New Jersey
in almost 10 years by beating the Nets 91-82 in a battle of
slumping teams.
The Clippers had lost eight of their last nine games while the
Nets have now lost eight of their last nine home games.
Caron Butler scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while
Roger Mason Jr. scored 17 points as the Washington Wizards overcame
Craig Smith's career-high 36 points to beat the Minnesota
Timberwolves 102-88.
(Agencies via China Daily December 13, 2007)
