Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (C) shoots as Miami Heat forward Jamario Moon (L) looks on in the fourth quarter during their game in Miami on Monday.SD-Agencies
?LEBRON JAMES won his personal duel with Dwyane Wade in helping the Cleveland Cavaliers rally for a 107-100 win over the Miami Heat on Monday, the showdown between the NBA’s top scorers highlighting an enthralling encounter.
James lies second behind Wade in the individual scoring standings but was able to outscore his rival by a single point with a 42-point haul.
“We’re two of the better competitors in this league, and we always try to put our teams in position to win,” James told reporters.
“But there definitely is a rivalry. Being good friends and seeing each other a lot in the summertime, we don’t want the other to have bragging rights, so we definitely go at it,” said James, who had eight rebounds and four assists.
Wade would have preferred a different outcome.
“I don’t like these games if I’m going to keep coming out on the ‘L’ (losing) side of them,” the Heat guard said.
“An exciting game for the fans, of course, but I’d love to come out on the other side.”
A 12-0 run fueled by Mo Williams’ eight points brought the Cavaliers back from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit before the visitors took the lead for good on consecutive three-pointers by James, the second with 2:47 to play.
His one-handed dunk over Jermaine O’Neal with 42 seconds to play made sure.
“I was able to turn the corner and split back to my right hand,” said James, who found no one in front of him at the basket. “Once I get into the lane, I’m able to finish with force.”
The win pushed the Cavaliers (47-12) a game ahead of the idle Boston Celtics for the Eastern Conference lead. Miami (31-28) remains fifth.
Williams had 17 of his 30 points in the final quarter with Zydrunas Ilgauskas also contributing for the winners with 12 points and 15 rebounds.
Wade backed up his impressive points tally with nine assists, seven rebounds and seven steals.
His teammate O’Neal added 16 points and Mario Chalmers had 15.
(SD-Agencies)