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LA fans vent ire as Cavs crush Lakers
Source: Agencies |
December 27, 2009, Sunday
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THE Cleveland Cavaliers crushed the Los Angeles Lakers 102-87 in Friday's Christmas Day showdown between two of the National Basketball Association's top teams, leaving Lakers fans to litter the court in frustration.
Mo Williams scored 28 points and LeBron James 26 for the Cavaliers while Kobe Bryant managed 35 for the Western Conference-leading Lakers, who had won each of their past 11 games at home.
"It wasn't about sending a message to them," James told reporters.
"It was sending a message to ourselves and seeing how we match up with the best team in the NBA at this point."
Williams finished with seven assists, six rebounds and was three-of-three from three-point range while James had nine assists.
Reserve Jamario Moon also added 13 points on six-of-seven shooting and center Shaquille O'Neal had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Cavaliers, who lead the Central Division.
"Mo made some big plays. He was great from the field, made threes," James said.
"Jamario's length and defensively his athleticism helped us a lot, especially on Kobe.
"And then Shaq, the fact that he puts their bigs in foul trouble, that helps us a lot."
Elsewhere, it was: Celtics 86, Magic 77; Trail Blazers 107, Nuggets 96; Suns 124, Clippers 93; Heat 93, Knicks 87.
In Los Angeles, Cleveland built a 19-point second-quarter advantage and remained in control throughout, shooting a hot 54.3 percent from the floor and holding the Lakers to 36.5.
"They came out and just worked us, it's a good wake-up call for us," said Bryant, who just missed a triple double with nine rebounds and eight assists despite making just 11-of-32 shots.
Ron Artest (13) and Pau Gasol (11) were the only other Lakers to reach double figures as the team's disgruntled fans vented their frustration by throwing debris on the court.
"I have never seen a Los Angeles crowd act like this before," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "(I) liked their enthusiasm, but I didn't like their demonstrative act.
"It was not a well-refereed game and it was not a well-played game and so as a response the crowd was unhappy about it."
The crowd lost its Christmas spirit with four minutes left when an ejection and another technical on the Lakers' bench prompted many fans to throw their pregame presents onto the court.
Mo Williams scored 28 points and LeBron James 26 for the Cavaliers while Kobe Bryant managed 35 for the Western Conference-leading Lakers, who had won each of their past 11 games at home.
"It wasn't about sending a message to them," James told reporters.
"It was sending a message to ourselves and seeing how we match up with the best team in the NBA at this point."
Williams finished with seven assists, six rebounds and was three-of-three from three-point range while James had nine assists.
Reserve Jamario Moon also added 13 points on six-of-seven shooting and center Shaquille O'Neal had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Cavaliers, who lead the Central Division.
"Mo made some big plays. He was great from the field, made threes," James said.
"Jamario's length and defensively his athleticism helped us a lot, especially on Kobe.
"And then Shaq, the fact that he puts their bigs in foul trouble, that helps us a lot."
Elsewhere, it was: Celtics 86, Magic 77; Trail Blazers 107, Nuggets 96; Suns 124, Clippers 93; Heat 93, Knicks 87.
In Los Angeles, Cleveland built a 19-point second-quarter advantage and remained in control throughout, shooting a hot 54.3 percent from the floor and holding the Lakers to 36.5.
"They came out and just worked us, it's a good wake-up call for us," said Bryant, who just missed a triple double with nine rebounds and eight assists despite making just 11-of-32 shots.
Ron Artest (13) and Pau Gasol (11) were the only other Lakers to reach double figures as the team's disgruntled fans vented their frustration by throwing debris on the court.
"I have never seen a Los Angeles crowd act like this before," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "(I) liked their enthusiasm, but I didn't like their demonstrative act.
"It was not a well-refereed game and it was not a well-played game and so as a response the crowd was unhappy about it."
The crowd lost its Christmas spirit with four minutes left when an ejection and another technical on the Lakers' bench prompted many fans to throw their pregame presents onto the court.
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