NBA wRap: Resurgent LeBron leads Cavs, Rockets rebound

CLEVELAND, USA – Today’s edition of the NBA wRap offer two more teams getting even as the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Houston Rockets level their respective series against the Chicago Bulls and the LA Clippers at one game apiece.

Cleveland Cavaliers 106 – 91 Chicago Bulls

Cleveland superstar LeBron James scored 33 points on Wednesday, May 6 (Thursday in Manila) to lead the Cavaliers to a 106-91 victory over Chicago that knotted their NBA playoff series at 1-1.

After connecting on just 9 of 22 shots in Monday’s 99-92 game-one defeat, James came out hot against the Bulls.

He scored 22 points in the first half as the Cavs bounced back to even the best-of-seven Eastern Conference second-round series before it shifts to Chicago for the next two games.

“We needed it,” James said. “Our backs were against the wall. We can’t go down 2-0 on our home floor.”

The Cavaliers controlled play except for a two-minute span in the third quarter when the Bulls scored 14 straight points.

James — who donned his trademark headband for the first time in almost two months — added 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals for the hosts.

He also played a different position than in game one, shifting to small forward with Tristan Thompson inserted into the starting lineup.

Dellavedova finds Thompson for the BIG alley-oop! #NBARapidReplay http://t.co/iJJdEHU6pl

— NBA (@NBA) May 7, 2015

 

“I think the important thing was he was very aggressive, in attack mode, engaged, leading the guys by example and vocally,” said Cavaliers coach David Blatt.

Kyrie Irving added 21 points for Cleveland, who are without big man Kevin Love for the series because of a shoulder injury.

Jimmy Butler scored 18 points to lead Chicago, with Derrick Rose contributing 14 points and 10 assists.

The Cavaliers had a 25-point lead before Chicago scored on 6 straight possessions for their 14-0 run in the third quarter, trimming Cleveland’s lead.

James ended the run with a layup and Cleveland stretched their lead to 16 points entering the fourth quarter.

“I just thought we came out a lot more ready,” Blatt said. “We had to be engaged and have a good defensive mindset. We had to set that tone.”

Houston Rockets 115 – 109 Los Angeles Clippers

In the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets also bounced back from a game-one defeat on their home floor, downing the Los Angeles Clippers 115-109 to level their series at one game apiece.

James Harden scored 32 points and Dwight Howard added 24 with 16 rebounds for the Rockets, whose 64 attempts from the free throw line were two shy of an NBA playoff record.

The Rockets’ superstars connected on one of the better plays of the game.

James Harden serves to Dwight Howard for the big alley-oop finish in the #AssistOfTheNight! http://t.co/4tKDFL4gjq

— NBA (@NBA) May 7, 2015

After knocking off Dallas in the first round in convincing style and having 5 days off, Houston had come out flat in the second-round series opener on Monday.

Game two was up for grabs until the waning moments.

A 10-2 run saw the Clippers pull within 111-107 with a minute remaining, and Corey Brewer air-balled a runner at the other end to give the Clippers life. But Austin Rivers, starting his second straight game for injured Clippers star Chris Paul, lost the ball out of bounds and Howard sank two free throws at the other end to help Houston hold on.

Rivers, for the second game in a row, manages break his own ankles. 

Rivers wasn’t the only one to stumble tonight as Shaq does the same on TNT’s Game Time set. 

Los Angeles star Blake Griffin followed up his game one triple-double with 34 points and 15 rebounds, but the free throw discrepancy was too much for the Clippers to overcome.

Blake Griffin goes WAY up for the alley-oop finish! #NBARapidReplay http://t.co/ZsWRd8VHgU

— NBA (@NBA) May 7, 2015

The Rockets finished 42-for-64 from the  line, led by Harden’s perfect 15-for-15, battling back from a 9-point halftime deficit.

“We had to lock in,” Harden said. “We just started playing much harder than them.” – Rappler.com