Murray's 3-pointer lifts Bobcats past Cavs 91-88

[January 04, 2010]  CLEVELAND (AP) -- Ronald Murray hit a 3-pointer with 56 seconds left to put Charlotte up for good, and the Bobcats surprised the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 91-88 victory on Sunday night.

The loss snapped the Cavaliers' seven-game win streak and an 11-game winning streak at home

Murray's basket from the top of the key broke an 83-all tie, sparking the Bobcats to their second impressive road win in as many days after a 107-97 win over Miami on Saturday night. Charlotte is only 3-14 away from home.

Stephen Jackson led Charlotte with 22 points, Gerald Wallace added 19 and Raymond Felton had 17.

LeBron James, who missed a potential tying 3-pointer from the left corner as time expired, scored 29 points for the Cavs and Mo Williams added 27. Shaquille O'Neal was the only other Cavaliers player in double figures with 10.

The victory was the Bobcats' first at Quicken Loans Arena, where they had lost 10 straight. Charlotte has won two of three against Cleveland this season, including a 94-87 win at home on Nov. 27.

The Cavaliers hadn't lost at home since Nov. 5, when they dropped an 86-85 decision to Chicago.

Leading 70-69 after three quarters, the Bobcats opened the fourth with a 7-1 run capped by D.J. Augustin's 3-pointer, which gave Charlotte a 77-70 lead. Cleveland battled back and James split a pair of free throws to tie the game at 83 with 1:16 left.

Jackson, coming off a season-best 35 points against the Heat, hit two free throws with 2.5 seconds left to give Charlotte a three-point lead.

The Cavaliers built a nine-point lead in the second quarter, but the Bobcats chipped away and eventually took a one-point lead late in the period on Jackson's 3-pointer. A basket by Williams, who scored 15 points in the half, including three 3-pointers, gave Cleveland a 46-45 lead at the break.

James, who picked up his third foul early in the third quarter, scored 13 points in the period. He played the entire second half, despite the fact the Cavaliers played Saturday in New Jersey. James was 13 of 21 from the field with seven rebounds and six assists.

The Bobcats overcame a 19-point deficit in the first quarter on Saturday and scored 34 points in the fourth quarter, snapping a seven-game road losing streak.

[Associated Press]

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