Cavaliers Simply Cannot Match Heat Down The Stretch, Lose 117-90

For nearly three quarters, the Cleveland Cavaliers showed the fight of team that won 127 games the last two seasons. Unfortunately, much of the talent for those teams was playing for the opponent and the Cavaliers sunk back into the form that has led to 21 straight losses. After cutting a 19-point lead to 70-67 midway through the 3rd quarter, Miami finished the game on a 47-23 run to beat the Cavaliers 117-90.

Antawn Jamison scored 21 points to go along with 10 rebounds while Manny Harris scored 20 points to pace the Cavaliers. J.J. Hickson had 14 points and nine rebounds and Ramon Sessions added 11 points and seven assists.

Miami was led by Dwyane Wade who scored 34 points – 26 in the first half – while LeBron James chipped in 24 points while dishing 8 assists. Former Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 12 points while grabbing 14 rebounds.

The Heat were hot most of the night, shooting near 50% while the Cavaliers struggled to hit 40% for the game. The Heat out-rebounded the Cavaliers 49-39 and doubled up the Cavaliers from deep.

The 21 losses in a row are a franchise record, and the number equals the loss total the Cavaliers had all of last year when they finished with the best record in the NBA at 61-21.

Antawn Jamison Scores 17 To Lead Cavs After 24 Minutes

The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t making things easy on the Miami Heat tonight in Miami. After watching the Heat score 35 points in the first quarter en route to a 35-20 lead, the Wine and Gold fought back, started to rebound, and most importantly, started to score, cutting the lead to nine at halftime – 66-57.

Antawn Jamison led the Cavaliers with 17 points while Manny Harris had 11. Ramon Sessions is also stuffing the stat sheet, scoring 7 points to go with 3 rebounds and 4 assists.

Dwyane Wade had a huge first half for the Heat, scoring 26 points on 11-15 shooting. At one point, Wade scored 11 straight points for Miami. LeBron James has 15 points and 6 assists. No one else has more than 6 points for the home team.

The Cavaliers, of course, are playing without Mo Williams who remained out with a hip injury and Daniel Gibson who injured his leg against the Magic last night.

LeBron James Has 11 points, Dwyane Wade 10 points in First Quarter

The Cleveland Cavaliers are on their way to their 21st straight loss – at least after 12 minutes in Miami. LeBron James scored 11 points – he was 7-8 from the free throw line – and Dwyane Wade scored 10 points to go with 4 rebounds as the Miami Heat jumped to a 35-20 lead over the Cavaliers.

Antawn Jamison scored 10 points for Cleveland, going 6-6 from the stripe himself while Christian Eyenga added 5 points. The Cavaliers shot just 25%(5-20) in the first quarter compared to 48% for the Heat. Miami also beat Cleveland on the glass 19-8 in the first 12 minutes.

Cavaliers Head To Miami For 3rd Meeting With LeBron James, Heat

The Cleveland Cavaliers have won just one game since they face LeBron James and the Miami Heat the first time in early December.  At the time, the Cavaliers were the 8th seed in the East and were trying to prove they were competitive despite LeBron's departure.  What's happened since - a home-court beatdown by James, 20 straight losses, devastating injuries - has tested the mettle of everyone involved with the Cavaliers - fans and players alike.

Tonight, the Cavaliers will try to claw back - for nothing more than personal pride.  After losing their 20th straight game last night to the Orlando Magic, Cleveland heads to Miami to take on the Heat.

LeBron James and the Heat have won two straight and three of four games since a four- game slide and are coming off a tight 108-103 win over Kevin Durant and the impressive Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in the OKC. Durant led all scorers with 33 points, but it was Eddie House who stole the show with a go-ahead three-pointer with 22.2 seconds remaining in the game. It was his only field goal of the game.

"Any time Eddie raises and shoots, you think it's going in," said Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who had 32 points and nine rebounds. "He's one of those guys that look for the moment."

James finished with 23 points and 13 assists, while Chris Bosh returned from a four-game absence because of a sprained ankle to register 20 points and seven boards. Wade had been battling a case of migraine headaches as well.

The Heat, who managed to beat the Thunder despite giving up 34 points on 20 turnovers, will put their 17-5 ledger as the host on the line Monday.

Cleveland has lost a single-season franchise worst 20 straight games and its 23 consecutive road losses is another team record. It suffered a 103-87 loss in Orlando on Sunday, as Manny Harris notched 20 points and Samardo Samuels netted 16 in defeat.

"We can't allow ourselves to get behind 16 or 17 points and expect to come back," Cleveland coach Byron Scott said. "It was an uphill battle all night long."

Ryan Hollins had 11 points and guard Daniel Gibson left the game with a sore left quadriceps and could miss tonight's game. Cleveland, which is 3-24 on the road, hasn't tasted victory since beating New York in overtime on Dec. 18. The Cavs' last win away from Quicken Loans Arena was on Nov. 9 versus New Jersey. The NBA record for most consecutive defeats in one season is 23 shared by both Vancouver (1995-96) and Denver (1997-98).

Miami has beaten the Cavaliers twice this season and recorded a 101-95 triumph in the previous bout on Dec. 15 at home. Cleveland is still 9-3 in the past 12 meetings, thanks in large part to James' time in the Forest City, but has dropped 11 of 15 matchups as the guest in this series.