The Cleveland Cavaliers scored the game's first nine points and then cruised to a 99-89 home victory over the Miami Heat on Saturday.
The Eastern Conference leaders outscored the Heat 28-14 in the first quarter, forcing Miami to play catch-up for the remainder of the game. The victory was Cleveland's 28th in 29 home games this season.
LeBron James led the hosts with his 21st career triple-double, finishing with 14 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.
"Obviously, a big game from LeBron to have a triple-double, but I thought Mo Williams was terrific for us down the stretch, hitting some big shots time and time again when we needed baskets when they cut the lead to single digits," Cleveland coach Mike Brown told reporters.
Williams top-scored for Cleveland with 29 points (12 in the fourth quarter), and Delonte West had 19.
"He (Williams) made big play after big play after big play," Brown said. "It was great to see another guy like Mo being able to take over the game offensively to give a guy like LeBron, who used to do it quite a bit in the past for us, a rest."
In other National Basketball Association games, it was: Hawks 87, Pistons 83; Trail Blazers 95, Timberwolves 93; Bobcats 114, Knicks 105; Mavericks 119, Wizards 103; Bucks 127, Warriors 120; 76ers 110, Grizzlies 105; and Pacers 106, Clippers 105.
In Cleveland, Ohio, NBA scoring leader Dwyane Wade overcame a slow start to finish with 25 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds. He was ejected for the first time in his career after a second technical foul with 50 seconds to play.
The ejection came after Wade thought a foul should have been called on Cleveland's Anderson Varejao as Wade drove to the basket.
"In a game like that, a very important game to our team, tempers get hot," Wade said. "I deserved it."
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra also drew a technical on the play before Wade received his. Wade said he was unhappy with the officiating throughout the game. "We thought we got some bad calls."
Wade, averaging 29.5 points, had only four points in the first quarter and 10 at the half. He equaled his first-half output in the fourth when the Heat pulled within six.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily March 9, 2009)
