Clippers Can't Keep Up with Cavs

The Los Angeles Clippers fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers 87-83, their 49th loss of the season. LA had a 19 point lead at one point in the third quarter, but lost in the fourth 35-14. The Clips held Cleveland under 20 points in each of the first three quarters, and to 39% shooting in the entire game. Chris Kaman made his return after missing 48 games with an injury to his left foot. Zach Randolph and Al Thornton led the Clips with 20 points each, 9 rebounds for Thornton and 12 for Randolph. Eric Gordon added 14 points. LeBron James had his second straight triple with 32 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, and Mo Williams hit a game-winning 3-pointer with just 6.6 seconds left in the game.

Lakers Ruin Cavs' Home-Cooking

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-91, dealing Cleveland their first home loss of the season. The Lakers improved to 41-9 and took a game-and-a-half lead over the Cavs for the best record in the league. LA held Cleveland to just 30 points in the second half while scoring 50 points in the half, not long after the Cavaliers had a 10 point lead at halftime. Cleveland shot .391 from the field, but 11-for-23 from three-point range. The Lakers shot .489 but 3-for-20 from behind the arc. Kobe Bryant fought the flu to score 19 points, but Lamar Odom stole the show. Odom scored a season-high 28 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, including 15 points in the third quarter to help give LA a permanent lead. Pau Gasol had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Derek Fisher finished with 13 points. LeBron James was shut down for the entire game, scoring just 16 points on 5-for-20 shooting. Zydrunas Ilgauskus had 22 points and 9 rebounds, and Mo Williams added 19 points. With the victory, the Lakers went 6-0 on their road-trip, despite the absence of Andrew Bynum in four of those games.

Clips Can't Handle the King

The Los Angeles Clippers were defeated by the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-95, the Clips' 18th loss in 20 games. Cleveland is undefeated at home, with a 22-0 record. The Cavs had a .494 shooting percentage, and went 14-for-26 from 3-point range. LA was out-rebounded 45-35, and had a .402 shooting percentage. The King - LeBron James - had 25 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists and Mo Williams backed him up with 23 points. Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 20 points for Cleveland. Eric Gordon continues to shine, leading the Clippers with 27 points and 7 rebounds. Steve Novak came off the bench to score 19 points, including five 3-pointers. Al Thornton scored 14 points, and Ricky Davis came off the bench with 11.

Lakers Take Care of LeBron, Cavs

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-88, snapping a 5-game losing streak against the Cavs. Kobe Bryant almost went down after dislocating his right ring finger in the first quarter, but managed to stick it out and stay in the game. The Lakers held Cleveland to just 16 points in the third quarter, and to 43% shooting during the game. LA shot .524 to take the win. Bryant's sheer will helped him nab 20 points and 12 assists, and Pau Gasol led with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Sasha Vujacic came off the bench to score 14 points with a blocked shot, and Lamar Odom added 8 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots. LeBron James was quieted by the Lakers, shooting 9-for-25 with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Mo Williams followed with 16 points and 6 rebounds.