LOS ANGELES — Cleveland superstar LeBron James poured in 31 points and Larry Nance, Jr. added 22 in his first start for the Cavaliers on Monday in a 112-90 triumph over the Detroit Pistons.
Nance, who arrived in Cleveland in a Feb. 8 trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, started at center in place of Tristan Thompson, who sprained an ankle against Denver on Saturday.
He and James combined to score Cleveland’s first 20 points, and their combined 34 points in the first half helped stake the Cavs to a 54-49 halftime lead.
Cleveland kept the pressure on in the third quarter, outscoring Detroit, 36-21. That included 13 points from James in less than five minutes to open the second half.
He departed after three quarters having handed out seven assists and seven rebounds.
Nance pulled down 15 rebounds and helped limit Pistons center Andre Drummond to 15 points.
Blake Griffin led Detroit with 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists, but the Pistons dropped their third straight and have now lost nine of their last 11.
They are ninth in the Eastern Conference, five games out of playoff position with the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks in seventh and eighth. — AFP
