Final Dime: Cavaliers 97, Sixers 91

Jamario Moon throws down in Saturday night's win. David Liam Kyle NBAE/Getty Images

After allowing just 13 fourth-quarter points to the Pacers on Friday, Cleveland held the Sixers to just ten points in the final period on Saturday – fending off a feisty Philly squad to win their second straight, 97-91. The Wine and Gold have now taken and 10 of their last 12 contests.

As the Pacers had on Friday, the Sixers took a lead into the fourth quarter, but once again, Cleveland clamped down in the final 12 minutes – holding the Sixers to just 17 percent shooting. Sixers star, Andre Iguodala, found the Cavaliers’ defense particularly stifling, as LeBron James and Jamario Moon combined to hold him to 1-for-7 in the period – 6-for-22 overall.

“We can score with some of the best teams but we make our mark defensively,” said James. “When you have guys that want to play defense and buy into the system, it makes it a lot easier on the offensive end.”

LeBron led four Cavalier starters in double-figures, flirting with a triple-double en route to 32 points, nine assists and seven boards.

James’ frontcourt mates – J.J. Hickson and Zydrunas Ilgauskas – each went 6-for-10 from the floor, netting 14 and 13 points respectively. Z added eight boards, four assists and a pair of blocked shots.

Mo Williams rounded out the Cavaliers in double-figures, netting six of his 18 points in the fourth quarter to go with eight boards, five assists and three steals.

“Mo had a big night, not only knocking down shots for us, but leading that group that got us back in the game and took the lead,” praised Coach Mike Brown.

Saturday’s affair was an efficient one. The Cavaliers made just 21 trips to the line; Philadelphia, 16. Cleveland committed just 11 turnovers with the Sixers committing just ten miscues.

The Cavaliers close out their recent stretch of four-games-in-five-nights at 3-1 despite not having Shaquille O’Neal for all of it and Anderson Varejao for half of it. Cleveland hits the road again this week, with a Central Division matchup in Detroit on Wednesday night and a visit to Tobacco Road on Friday.

2. Zydrunas Ilgauskas draws closer to becoming the all-time leader in games played as a Cavalier. On Saturday, Big Z passed Bingo Smith for the No. 2 spot with game No. 720 (671 starts). Cavs GM Danny Ferry is the franchise’s all-time leader with 723.

3. With his 14-points, five-rebound effort on Saturday, over the last six games, J.J. Hickson is averaging 15.7 ppg on .704 shooting, with adding 5.4 rebounds over that stretch.

4. The Cavaliers get off to a strong start more than any team in the NBA. Through 14 games, they’re averaging 30.6 points in the opening quarter. They notched 36 in the first quarter against Philly.

5. Through 14 games, here’s how LeBron James’ scoring breaks down over four quarter. He averages 9.5 points in the first, 5.7 in the second, 7.7 in the third and 6.4 in the fourth.

6. Following the game, LeBron – a huge Buckeyes fan – left the locker room clad in the white throwback jersey that OSU donned in their 21-10 win over Michigan. Number 23, of course.

7. The Cavaliers have three players in the NBA’s top 15 in three-point shooting. Anthony Parker came into Saturday’s game at No. 2 (28-50, .560). Mo Williams (27-57, .474) is tied for 10th and Daniel Gibson (24-51, .471) is 11th. On Saturday, Parker was 0-of-3, Williams was 3-of-5 and Boobie was 1-of-4.

8. The Cavaliers are tops in the league in allowing points in the paint at 33.2 ppg – especially impressive considering they’ve played their last five games without Shaquille O’Neal.

9. After attempting 39 three-pointers last season – two more than he’d attempted in his first ten years combined – Big Z tried and hit his first bomb of the season, halfway through the first quarter with the shot clock winding down.

10. The Cavaliers record on the second half of a back-to-back over the past two seasons is now 20-5. Cleveland is now 5-2 on the road and 5-2 at home.