The Cavaliers won their 10th consecutive game Thursday night torching the Heat 102-86. Point guard LeBron James led the charge with 36 points 7 rebounds and 8 assists. No you didn’t misread, I said point guard LeBron James.
The Cavaliers already had a depleted backcourt missing Mo Williams and Delonte West with injuries, and Thursday night Daniel Gibson was scratched from the starting lineup while at the hospital tending to his pregnant fiancée, singer Keyshia Cole.
This forced the ball into James’ hands even more than usual, but let’s be honest is that really ever a bad thing? The game was tight throughout the first half with the Cavs holding a 56-52 lead at the break. After three quarters the Cavs held an 8 point lead but then busted it wide open outscoring the Heat 10-3 in the opening moments of the fourth. Not only have the Cavs won 10 in a row but their average margin of victory is 10.9.
Shaq not only contributed with 13 points and 8 rebounds but he also stood tall in the paint knocking D Wade hard to the floor on two seperate occassions. J.J. Hickson is also emerging as a young star scoring 12 points including a posterizing dunk right on top of Wade.
After showing up right before halftime Daniel Gibson poured in 12 second half points including two key 3’s. The Cavaliers are the NBA’s first team to 40 wins, but don’t think they’re just feeding off of the weak be ause Cleveland is an outstanding 22-5 against above .500 teams.