LeBron scores 41 as Cavs beat Bulls

LeBron James scored 41 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Chicago Bulls 106-97 at the United Center.  It was the second in a “home and home” scheduling sequence that saw Cleveland also beat the Bulls 48 hours earlier at home with LeBron also scoring 41 points in that contest.

The Cavs and Lebron wish they could play Chicago every night—after the two games with the Bulls their franchise player is averaging 41 points 11 rebounds and 5 assists per game against them.  Not that his abuse of Chicago is anything new—in fact, Saturday’s game was seventh consecutive meeting where LeBron has scored 30 or more points.  James was also the high rebounder in the most recent matchup with 13.  Ben Gordon paced the Bulls with 29 points, and Tyrus Thomas was their leading rebounder with 8 boards.

Chicago played the Cavs tough for three quarters, carrying a 77-74 advantage into the final stanza of Saturday’s game.  In the fourth, however, LeBron scored the first eight points as Cleveland went on a 15-0 run to take the lead for good.  The Bulls did manage to cut the lead to a single basket with just over two minutes remaining, but could get no closer.  Sounding every bit the superstar, James insisted that his fourth quarter dominance was all but inevitable:

"The fourth quarter is where I make my name. That's the quarter where it's time to close the game out. I know I'm not going to do that every night, I'm not going to be perfect every night. But I try to put my team in position to win ballgames at the end of the game. I was able to do that for them tonight."

"When you come into somebody's building and make big shots like that to quiet the crowd, those bring smiles to my face. That's just how I've been playing lately. I've just been trying to keep a smile on my face and dominate at the same time."

After a 1-2 start to the season, Cleveland has won four straight games.  Chicago is 3-4 on the year, and the loss to the Cavs was their first at home.  The Cavs now have three straight at the Quicken Loans Arena to try and extend their streak, with Milwaukee on Tuesday and Denver on Thursday.  Their home stand concludes with a formidable challenge against the Utah Jazz.  The Bulls will also enjoy a three game home stand this week against Atlanta, Dallas and Indiana.