Final Dime: Cavaliers 109, Suns 91

Delonte West notched a dozen points in Monday's win. Barry Gossage NBAE/Getty Images

In their last 21 home games dating back to March 12 of last year, the Suns have lost exactly two contests at U.S. Airways Arena – and the Wine and Gold has been the squad that did them in.

After having their five-game streak snapped on Sunday night in Dallas, the Cavaliers bounced back with one of their finest efforts of the season – snapping Phoenix’ undefeated home streak and blowing past the high-octane Suns – 109-91 – on Monday night in Valley of the Sun.

“Our effort was at a pretty high level for most of the night on the defensive end,” praised Coach Brown. “When we do that, we get good results.”

LeBron James set the tone early, notching 12 of his game-high 29 points in the first quarter. The young King was all business from the opening tip and threw down a pair of massive first-quarter dunks to put the Suns on their heels. James finished 11-for-21 from the floor, with six boards, four assists and a pair of steals.

“We’re a veteran ball club and we know how important back-to-back games are and bounce-back games are,” said James. “We don’t let one loss linger around our team and we never have. We just come out and take every game like its own.”

What LeBron started in the first half, Mo Williams finished in the second – scoring 16 of his 24 points after intermission, including a huge three-pointer with 6:29 to play after the Suns had cut Cleveland’s lead to six.

Mo was an even 7-of-14 from the floor, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. The All-Star guard added six boards, five assists and a game-high three steals.

The Suns led by one after one quarter, but the Cavaliers closed the first half on a 7-1 run. Both clubs battled through the third, but the Wine and Gold simply ran away with the game down the stretch – outscoring Phoenix, 27-16, in the fourth.

Delonte West and Anderson Varejao were both big off the bench.

Delonte had an excellent all-around floor game – hounding Steve Nash on the defensive end and stuffing the stat sheet offensively, going 5-for-7 from the floor for 12 points to go with a team-high six assists, three boards, three steals and a blocked shot.

Varejao turned in yet another strong performance on both ends – notching 13 points, four boards and a pair of blocks while simultaneously frustrating Phoenix’ Amare Stoudemire.

The Cavaliers get a day off on Wednesday before heading to California to round out the road trip with a Wednesday night battle in Sacramento before wrapping things up on Christmas Day in Tinseltown.

2. Cleveland is now 8-3 against the Western Conference this year, including 34-7 over the last two. The Cavaliers are also at their best against the best. Including Monday’s win, they’re now 12-3 (.800) against teams over .500.

3. The Cavaliers have now taken four straight against the Suns.

4. Monday’s matchup featured the league’s two top three-point shooting teams. Phoenix came in shooting .432 from beyond the arc; Cleveland at .421. On Monday, the Cavaliers got the better of the NBA’s top team, going 5-for-12 (42 percent) from long-distance. Phoenix went just 4-for-19 (21 percent).

5. Monday night featured the two top scoring teams first quarter. The Cavs average 28.9 points in the opening period; the Suns, 27.9. They both topped those marks on Monday – with the Suns leading 30-29 after one.

6. No pair of teammates has ever finished 1-2 in three-point shooting, but the Cavs’ combo of Anthony Parker (46-92 - .500) and Boobie Gibson (38-77 - .494) are trying to become the first team since John Stockton and Byron Russell in 2000-01 to be the top two at December 31.

7. For the first time in their last 37 home games, the Suns were held under 100 points.

8. The Cavaliers and Suns have the longest streaks of holding teams to under 50 percent shooting, but only one club’s mark was intact after Monday. Phoenix hadn’t allowed a team to do it in 17 games before the Cavs shot 53 percent. Cleveland hasn’t allowed it in 18 contests.

9. Monday’s game featured a pair of duos who’ve benefitted from one another. Among active duos, Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire top the list, with Nash assisting Stoudemire 960 times. LeBron to Z is fifth on the list at 585.

10. Cleveland is the first team to beat the Suns at home in ten tries this year. Phoenix has beaten the two other Division leaders in the East – Boston and Orlando – but couldn’t top the Cavaliers in two tries this season.