James' triple-double carries Cavs in Memphis

[January 14, 2009]  MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- LeBron James had 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his second triple-double of the season, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 102-87 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.

James scored only nine points in the opening half, then had 17 in the third quarter and completed his triple-double with a behind-the-back pass to J.J. Hickson for a layup in the fourth.

Delonte West added 19 points and Mo Williams 16 for the Cavs. Anderson Varejao was held to seven points and four rebounds after averaging 16 points and eight boards the past four games in place of the injured Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

Kyle Lowry led the Grizzlies with a career-high 25 points, including 15 from the free throw line, and reserve Hakim Warrick had 16 points and seven rebounds. Rookie guard O.J. Mayo was limited to six points, a season-low.

The Grizzlies also got 13 points in 13 minutes from Darius Miles, who signed a 10-day contract Saturday and is one game away from reaching the 10 appearances that would put the remaining $18 million of his salary back on Portland's payroll.

Cleveland trailed for only a minute in the first half and stretched a 10-point lead at the end of the third quarter to as many as 20 points in the fourth. The Cavs shot 53 percent, including 57 percent from 3-point range, in their 30th victory of the season.

Memphis dropped its fourth straight and lost for the 12th time in 14 games.

The Grizzlies started slowly, missing their first five shots to fall behind 7-0. After having not led at any point during back-to-back losses entering the game, Memphis recovered to lead briefly, 13-12. It was the Grizzlies' only lead before the half.

With James allowing his teammates to take most of the shots in the first half, the Cavaliers never built more than a nine-point lead. The Grizzlies made a run late in the second quarter as Lowry and Warrick fueled an 11-4 spurt that closed the gap to 47-44 at the half.

Notes: The Cavaliers became the fourth team to reach 30 wins, joining Boston, Orlando and the Los Angeles Lakers. ... Memphis native Lorenzen Wright, who played at the University of Memphis, made his first start of the season for Cleveland. Wright, playing in his 11th game, started for Ben Wallace, who sat out because of intestinal flu. ... James received a technical foul in the first for hanging on the rim and slapping the backboard.

[Associated Press]

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