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Blazers can't handle LeBron's late surge

Associated Press
Published December 29, 2003

CLEVELAND - LeBron James scored 32, including 12 in a 14-2 spurt that closed the Cavaliers' 86-74 victory over Portland Sunday night.

James also had 10 rebounds and nine assists, dominating the final seven minutes. The rookie outscored the Trail Blazers all by himself in the fourth quarter 12-8.

James scored six straight points to put Cleveland ahead 78-72 with 5:48 to play, then capped the 14-2 run with the final six points of the game - the last two on a resounding dunk with 34 seconds to play.

James shot 15-for-23 from the field as the Cavaliers won their 10th game - something that didn't happen last season until Feb.5.

Zach Randolph scored 20 points and Rasheed Wallace added 17 for the Trail Blazers, the only NBA team without a road win (0-10). Portland's eight-point fourth quarter was the lowest-scoring final quarter in team history.

James started the game-ending spurt by hitting an off-balance jumper from the corner, then drove aggressively to the basket 50 seconds later. Leading 76-72, the rookie called for the ball on the left baseline and posted up against Randolph. When Damon Stoudamire came over to help defensively, James spun to his right and split the double-team to score.

Darius Miles scored six points as Cleveland opened the fourth quarter with an 8-2 run.

Miles, who had not played in four games before scoring 11 off the bench in a loss to Chicago on Friday night, started at forward in place of Ira Newble and scored 10. Coach Paul Silas said the move was to counteract Portland's large frontline.

Cleveland's starting center, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, shot 3-for-4 and blocked two shots in the first 10 minutes - then did not play again. Before the game, Silas said he wanted to see a better defensive effort from the 7-foot-3 Ilgauskas.

Team officials said Ilgauskas was not injured and his lack of playing was Silas' decision.

RAPTORS 94, CLIPPERS 88: Vince Carter took over on offense and took a charge on defense to help visiting Toronto win in the West for the first time in almost 13 months.

Carter scored seven of his 22 points in the final 3:44 and drew a key late offensive foul on Quentin Richardson.

Carter had a short running jumper, a three-point play and a 20-foot fadeaway for a 90-85 lead with 1:02 left.

The Clippers staged a last-minute rally as Richardson hit a layup and Elton Brand blocked a shot by Alvin Williams, but a layup by Richardson was waved off as he was called for an offensive foul against Carter. Williams sank three of his four free throws in the final 17.6 seconds to ice it.

SPURS 89, BUCKS 74: Manu Ginobili scored 25 and San Antonio's defense held visiting Milwaukee to a season-low point total in the Spurs' 13th straight win.

Milwaukee trailed 66-63 with more than 10 minutes remaining before the Spurs held the Bucks without a basket for nearly six minutes while scoring 14. By the time Michael Redd drove for a layup with 4:38 left, San Antonio's lead was 80-67.

Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Hedo Turkoglu each scored 12 for the Spurs. Duncan had 15 rebounds and Turkoglu grabbed a season-high 12.

San Antonio broke the Bucks' three-game winning streak despite making only five of its 16 free-throw attempts in the second half, including six straight misses by Duncan.

The Bucks' low-scoring game was 82 on Nov. 23 in Toronto, but that night they came away with a win.

The Spurs have held opponents to an average of less than 78 points during their winning streak, the longest in the NBA this season. San Antonio has limited opposing teams to 80 points or less 15 times in 32 games.

Redd led Milwaukee with 22 points and Tim Thomas had 13.

Former University of Texas star T.J. Ford, in his first pro game in the state, had six points, six assists and five fouls in 29 minutes.

KINGS 98, JAZZ 89: Peja Stojakovic scored 20 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter, helping host Sacramento snap a two-game losing streak.

After a subpar three quarters, Stojakovic made three 3-pointers and a three-point play during a productive four-minute stretch to help the Kings pull away.

Mike Bibby scored 23 for Sacramento, which has defeated the Jazz five straight times. Doug Christie added nine points and nine rebounds.

Andrei Kirilenko had 21 points and 11 rebounds and Carlos Arroyo scored 15 for Utah. Arroyo had six of Utah's 20 turnovers.

The Kings finally took control with a 10-0 fourth-quarter run fueled by Stojakovic, who gave the Kings the lead with a 3-pointer, then hit another one for a 79-71 lead with 5:47 remaining.

Late Saturday WOLVES 104, SONICS 86: Kevin Garnett had 28 points and 14 rebounds and Trenton Hassell shut down Ray Allen as visiting Minnesota bounced back from a 101-92 loss in Portland Friday night that ended the team's six-game winning streak.

Sam Cassell scored 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, Fred Hoiberg scored 14 and Latrell Sprewell added 12 for Minnesota.

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