Cavs beat Bobcats in West’s season debut
October 31, 2009
CLEVELAND (AP)—Delonte West(notes) scored 13 points in his delayed season debut, MoWilliams(notes) added 24 and LeBron James(notes) 14 as the Cleveland Cavaliers, back at fullstrength, rolled to a 90-79 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday night.
Williams scored 12 in the fourth quarter—all on 3-pointers—and Jamesadded nine assists and seven rebounds for the Cavs, now 2-2 after an 0-2 start.
West’s turbulent offseason finally brought him back to the floor. Aftermissing all eight preseason games and Cleveland’s first three of the regularseason to deal with personal issues, the troubled and valuable West was clearedby team doctors, ending more than a month of drama.
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBro… AP – Oct 31, 10:11 pm EDT Cleveland Cavaliers' Zydru… AP – Oct 31, 9:12 pm EDT
Cleveland Cavaliers' Delon… AP – Oct 31, 9:09 pm EDT
Charlotte Bobcats' Gerald … AP – Oct 31, 9:04 pm EDT
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He went 5 of 7 from the field in 24 minutes.
Vladimir Radmanovic(notes) scored 12 and D.J. Augustin(notes) 11 to lead Charlotte, whichhas never won in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers trailed 46-45 early in the third before going on a 21-8 run—much of it with center Shaquille O’Neal(notes) on the bench—to open a 14-point leadentering the fourth. West was a factor in helping the Cavs distance themselvesfrom the Bobcats, who were understandably exhausted after playing two overtimeson Friday night in a win over New York.
James scored six straight points as Cleveland opened a 57-51 lead and Westfollowed with his first basket of the season. Getting the ball on the rightside, he gave a shoulder fake to Gerald Henderson(notes) and dropped a step-back jumperfor his first basket this season.
Before the third quarter closed, West made two free throws and a 3-pointeras the Cavs pushed their lead to 66-54.
The Cavs are still getting used to playing with the 14-time All-Star O’Neal,who made his first free throws of the season after 10 consecutive misses. He hadeight points and five rebounds in 26 minutes. Zydrunas Ilgauskas(notes), now coming offthe bench with O’Neal around, went 5 for 5 from the floor.
The Bobcats clawed back within 10 in the fourth, but Williams madeconsecutive 3-pointers to make it 80-64 and the Cavs coasted.
Coach Mike Brown subbed for West with 1:33 left and the likable guard got ahuge cheer and was welcomed back to the bench by his teammates who know betterthan anyone what he means to the Cavs and their chances at winning an NBA titlethis season.
West entered the game with 4:22 left in the first quarter and received astanding ovation from the Quicken Loans Arena crowd.
He made an almost immediate contribution, hustling to save a ball that wasgoing out of bounce and flipping it to James, who then fed Anderson Varejao(notes) fora dunk. West started the second quarter and came out with 6:25 left beforehalftime.
Cavs general manager Danny Ferry has been working closely with team doctorsand a support team around West. He said the decision to play West on Saturdaywas a consensus among all parties.
“Steps were followed and this is the next step of his process,” Ferrysaid. “We’re taking it one day at a time, but he’s doing well.”
The 26-year-old West, who has been treated in the past for bipolar disorder,was arrested in September for carrying three concealed weapons when he waspulled over by Maryland police near his home. He reported to training camp ontime but missed the Cavs’ first four practices without an excuse. He returnedbut then left the team for a week to deal with his personal matters.
Last week, West’s wife filed a domestic violence report against him.
But that was all in the past—for at least one night.
James went nearly the entire first half without a field goal. He didn’tscore his first basket—a 20-foot jumper—until there was only 1:21 leftbefore halftime. More troubling than James’ slow start was that the Cavs shot 63percent (20 of 32) from the field in the first half and only led 45-41 at thebreak.
NOTES: Charlotte is 0-10 in Cleveland and the Bobcats have lost sevenstraight overall to the Cavs. … The Bobcats remain without Gs Raja Bell(notes)(sprained wrist) and Flip Murray(notes) (shin), who have yet to play this season. CoachLarry Brown said Murray may play Monday at home against New Jersey and Murraycould return Friday against Atlanta.
