Top > Sport > 2006 > April > 2006-04-03

Cleveland Takes Out Miami

Cleveland wins over Miami at Quicken Loans Arean, 106-99. The game was a close one, with both teams at a 92 deadlock four minuets left to the game. The win for Cleveland is their seventh straight win, and gives them a solid lead for the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

James, who finished the day 16-of-25 from the field, out-dueled Miami`s Dwyane Wade, who finished with a season-high 44 points, in an offensive showcase. The Heat played without superstar center Shaquille O`Neal, who sat out the game with a hyper-extended knee. Wade finished with the 44 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for Miami, which lost for the first time in three games and remains in the second slot of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Cavs had a rough end of the game while Wade continued to keep the pressure on, however. The swingman got loose underneath for a three-point play that deadlocked things at 99 with the clock showing 1:24.
The Cavs finally grabbed some breathing room with back-to-back buckets. James nailed another running jumper and, after a rare Wade miss, Donyell Marshall scored on a dunk to make the score 103-99 with 37 ticks left. Antoine Walker then missed a wide open look from beyond-the-arc and the Cavs made enough free throws in the final seconds to secure the win. The Cavaliers took a slim 26-24 advantage after the first 12 minutes. The Heat came back with an excellent second quarter and took a 53-44 edge into intermission. Wade had 19 points to lead the Heat at the half while James paced Cleveland with 19 of his own.