Revenge is sweet. Just ask the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a season that will be known more for a record losing streak – and a record loss – the Cavs provided their fans something to cheer on Wednesday night when the Wine and Gold got a bit of payback on the Los Angeles Lakers, beating Kobe Bryant’s crew 104-99.
Ramon Sessions led the Cavaliers with 32 points and eight assists amid swirling trade rumors involving the guard. If I’m the Cavs, the price for Sessions just went up. Session played 36 minutes off the bench after starter Mo Williams could only play three minutes before leaving the game. It was the last meeting with the Lakers that Williams injured his hip – missing a month before returning last week.
Antawn Jamison scored 19 points to go with 10 rebounds and J.J. Hickson had 13 points and 15 rebounds for the Cavaliers.
Pau Gasol led the Lakers with 30 points and 20 rebounds while Kobe Bryant matched both of his jersey numbers – he was 8/24 from the floor – to score 17 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Former Cavs first-round pick Shannon Brown added 15 points off the bench for the Lakers.
The Cavs held a 74-71 lead heading into the 4th quarter – a time the home team usually folds and finds a way to lose. Tonight that wasn’t the case. Cleveland led by 11 – 95-84 – with just under three minutes to go before the Lakers put together a furious rally to cut the lead to 101-99 with 11 seconds to go.
Fortunately for Cleveland, they kept hitting their free throws – the Cavs were 8/10 down the stretch – to keep the Lakers at bay.
It was the 3rd loss in a row for the Lakers while the Cavaliers won for the 2nd time in three games.