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Cavs in control, Jazz tie with Nuggets
Source: Agencies |
April 21, 2010, Wednesday
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LEBRON James scored 15 of his 40-point haul in a spectacular fourth quarter display as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Chicago Bulls 112-102 on Monday to seize a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference playoff series.
James added eight rebounds and eight assists in helping the Cavs retain homecourt advantage in the best-of-seven first round series over a determined Bulls team. "(The Bulls) kept scrapping and every time they would do that (we) would hit a big shot," James told reporters after making 16-of-23 shots from the field.
"In Game 1, I was feeling out the defense too much and they were giving me the jump shot. I had to take it."
The score was tied 77-77 at the end of the third quarter before the Cavaliers scored five unanswered points at the start of the fourth. The Bulls twice pulled within three points in the final few minutes but Cleveland responded with three-pointers from James and Jamario Moon, who finished with 12 points.
The Cavaliers were strong from long range the entire game and shot 56 percent from the field while making 10-of-20 three pointers.
Joakim Noah scored 25 points and made 13 rebounds for Chicago, while Derrick Rose scored 23 and made eight assists.
Game 3 is in Chicago tomorrow.
In the Western Conference, the weakened Utah Jazz outlasted the Denver Nuggets 114-111 to even their best-of-seven series 1-1.
Deron Williams finished with 33 points and 14 assists while Carlos Boozer added 20 and 15 rebounds to overcome the absence of key injured players Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko.
Off the court, the Toronto Raptors' future looked as clouded as the skies over Iceland as general manager Bryan Colangelo delivered a season-ending post-mortem that included a well worn sales pitch to Chris Bosh.
With Bosh, the franchise leader in points and rebounds, set to test the free agent waters it looks an anxious time for Toronto fans as they wait to see what the All-Star will do on July 1 when the wheeling and dealing begins.
Opportunities
Colangelo has made it his No. 1 goal to have Bosh back in a Raptors uniform next season but the player has made it equally clear he wants to see what other opportunities may be out there for an Olympic gold medal-winning forward.
"I still fully intend to talk about him staying a Raptor and the things that might happen with this team should he stay, the success we could have here and why Toronto is the right place for Chris Bosh," Colangelo told reporters.
"That's the big unknown. He negotiated for the flexibility, he's got it as do others and they are going to take their time. We remain Chris Bosh's best option to maximize his contract potential.
"Whether or not he signs a maximum deal to stay here or goes out on the market and still gets that maximum deal and we work out a sign and trade.
"It's not often a young athlete walks away from a significant amount of money."
After missing the playoffs for a second straight season, Bosh has placed a premium on winning and fans are about to find what price the man known as "CB4" puts on a championship. If Bosh re-signs with the Raptors he can earn an extra US$30 million over the life of a six-year contract.
James added eight rebounds and eight assists in helping the Cavs retain homecourt advantage in the best-of-seven first round series over a determined Bulls team. "(The Bulls) kept scrapping and every time they would do that (we) would hit a big shot," James told reporters after making 16-of-23 shots from the field.
"In Game 1, I was feeling out the defense too much and they were giving me the jump shot. I had to take it."
The score was tied 77-77 at the end of the third quarter before the Cavaliers scored five unanswered points at the start of the fourth. The Bulls twice pulled within three points in the final few minutes but Cleveland responded with three-pointers from James and Jamario Moon, who finished with 12 points.
The Cavaliers were strong from long range the entire game and shot 56 percent from the field while making 10-of-20 three pointers.
Joakim Noah scored 25 points and made 13 rebounds for Chicago, while Derrick Rose scored 23 and made eight assists.
Game 3 is in Chicago tomorrow.
In the Western Conference, the weakened Utah Jazz outlasted the Denver Nuggets 114-111 to even their best-of-seven series 1-1.
Deron Williams finished with 33 points and 14 assists while Carlos Boozer added 20 and 15 rebounds to overcome the absence of key injured players Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko.
Off the court, the Toronto Raptors' future looked as clouded as the skies over Iceland as general manager Bryan Colangelo delivered a season-ending post-mortem that included a well worn sales pitch to Chris Bosh.
With Bosh, the franchise leader in points and rebounds, set to test the free agent waters it looks an anxious time for Toronto fans as they wait to see what the All-Star will do on July 1 when the wheeling and dealing begins.
Opportunities
Colangelo has made it his No. 1 goal to have Bosh back in a Raptors uniform next season but the player has made it equally clear he wants to see what other opportunities may be out there for an Olympic gold medal-winning forward.
"I still fully intend to talk about him staying a Raptor and the things that might happen with this team should he stay, the success we could have here and why Toronto is the right place for Chris Bosh," Colangelo told reporters.
"That's the big unknown. He negotiated for the flexibility, he's got it as do others and they are going to take their time. We remain Chris Bosh's best option to maximize his contract potential.
"Whether or not he signs a maximum deal to stay here or goes out on the market and still gets that maximum deal and we work out a sign and trade.
"It's not often a young athlete walks away from a significant amount of money."
After missing the playoffs for a second straight season, Bosh has placed a premium on winning and fans are about to find what price the man known as "CB4" puts on a championship. If Bosh re-signs with the Raptors he can earn an extra US$30 million over the life of a six-year contract.
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