Rockets hold down LeBron, rout Cavs

[February 27, 2009]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Rockets held LeBron James without an assist for the first time in his career and limited Cleveland to its lowest point total of the season, beating the Cavaliers 93-74 on Thursday night.

Yao Ming scored 28 points and Ron Artest added 15 while harassing James on defense most of the night, leading the Rockets to their sixth consecutive victory and ninth straight at home.

James scored 21 points, but went 7-for-21 from the field with three turnovers. He left for good with 4:03 left, the first time in 493 NBA games (counting playoffs) he failed to record an assist.

The Cavaliers had season-low point totals in the first (11) and third (10) quarters, and their 34 percent shooting (27-for-80) was also a season worst.

Mo Williams also scored 21 for the Cavs, who had a five-game winning streak snapped. They also may have lost forward Ben Wallace, who left in the third quarter with a broken right leg.

Von Wafer scored 19 points and Luis Scola added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Rockets. Houston had 25 assists, its sixth straight game with 20 or more, and went 8-for-19 from 3-point range.

Shadowed by the equally strong Artest from the opening tip, James missed three of his first four shots, part of Cleveland's 2-for-10 start. The Cavs double-teamed Yao whenever he touched the ball, but Scola scored eight early points to help Houston build a lead.

James was called for a charge late in the opening quarter when he spun into Shane Battier on a drive. The Cavs went 3-for-17 from the field in the quarter and trailed 19-11.

James was resting on the bench at the start of the second period and Williams' 3-pointer from the top of the key ended a six-minute field goal drought for Cleveland.

Kyle Lowry scored on consecutive trips, then assisted on Yao's layup and Brent Barry's 3-pointer as Houston pushed the lead into double digits.

James kept missing shots in the second quarter and earned another offensive foul after bumping into Battier again. He sank a 3-pointer from the wing, his second basket in nine shots, before Artest drove for a left-handed dunk for a 37-29 Rockets lead.

Artest twisted his left ankle with 1:53 left in the first half, but stayed in the game. James drove past him for a layup on Cleveland's ensuing possession to cut the Rockets' lead to 39-36.

But the Cavs shot 31 percent (14-for-45) from the field in the first half and trailed 45-40 at the break.

James sank a jumper from the top of the key 40 seconds into the third quarter, then missed his next two shots. Yao flipped in a hook, then dunked and got slapped by James for his fourth foul.

The Rockets had assists on their first five baskets of the second half and Aaron Brooks' 3-pointer put Houston up 56-46. James tried a no-look, over-his-head pass to Anderson Varejao later in the period, but the ball sailed out of bounds.

The Cavs shot 5-for-17 from the field and coughed up five turnovers in the third quarter to trail 68-50.

James rested on the bench for the start of the fourth period and Cleveland quickly trimmed the deficit to 11. Houston reserve guard Von Wafer drove for a basket, then sank a 3-pointer to answer Cleveland's small spurt.

James returned with 7:21 left, but the Rockets never lost control. Yao blocked James on a dunk and Wafer swished a 3-pointer at the other end for an 85-68 lead.

Notes: Cavs G Delonte West had four points and three turnovers after missing Tuesday's game against Memphis with soreness in his right wrist. On Wednesday, West visited a doctor in Houston who confirmed that his wrist fracture was healing properly. ... Rockets F Carl Landry missed his fourth straight game with a sprained right ankle. ... The Rockets have held five of their last six opponents below 90 points. ... The Cavs are 18-4 against the West this season.

[Associated Press; By CHRIS DUNCAN]

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