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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) The Cleveland Cavaliers'
disappointment in Lamond Murray has faded.
Murray scored 19 points in a reserve role and Jimmy Jackson
added 15 as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 101-94
Sunday night, snapping a six-game road losing streak.
Last week, Cleveland coach Randy Wittman benched Murray for a
game because he was disappointed in the forward's performance.
Wittman was behind Murray after Sunday's game.
"Lamond pretty much carried us out there," Wittman said. "We
really needed this game. I don't care if it was a road game or a
home game. We just needed a win."
Chris Gatling and Clarence Weatherspoon each added 13 points for
Cleveland, which last won a road game at Golden State on Jan. 15.
"Sometimes, you just need the shots to go to win games,"
Jackson said. "We haven't been getting that, so it felt good to
finish this one off and get a win."
Jerry Stackhouse scored 35 points, Joe Smith 18 and Ben Wallace
had six points, 10 rebounds and a career-high eight blocked shots
for Detroit, which lost for the fourth time in five games.
"I'd trade those eight blocks for eight more rebounds that
would have helped a lot more," Wallace said. "I think we are
playing not to lose. We need to play to win, and not be so
passive."
Cleveland led 52-49 at the half, and the teams traded the lead
though the third period before settling for a 76-76 tie at the end
of the quarter.
Murray scored the first four points of the fourth as Cleveland
assumed the lead, but Detroit tied the game at 82 with 8:32 left.
Cleveland moved out to a 93-82 lead as Detroit failed to score
for nearly four minutes. Wesley Person highlighted Cleveland's
11-point run with two 3-pointers.
One of Person's 3s came after Smith missed a dunk.
"I caught the ball and pump-faked, only to realize that no one
had been on me," Smith said. "That gave someone a chance to get
back. Regardless if I got fouled or not, it's my fault. I
hesitated, and it cost me."
Detroit closed within three points with eight straight free
throws, but Wallace missed two attempts with 2:53 left that could
have made it a one-point game.
After another Cavalier miss, a jumper by Smith pulled Detroit
within 93-92.
Jackson hit a 3-pointer with 1:25 left and Smith countered with
a pair of free throws.
A defensive mistake by Detroit allowed Murray an uncontested
fastbreak dunk that gave the Cavaliers a 98-94 lead with less than
one minute remaining.
"I'm not sure what happened on that one," Stackhouse said.
"They made a substitution (Murray for Bimbo Coles), and I think
whoever was supposed to be guarding Murray was still looking for
the guy on the bench."
Murray was surprised by the ease of his game-clinching slam.
"I checked in, and (the Pistons) never matched up on defense,
so I was wide open," Murray said. "All I heard was the crowd moan
when they saw me. That pretty much did it. When you are making a
comeback, you can't fall asleep like that."
Game notes
Pistons rookie Mateen Cleaves missed the game to be with
his family after his brother was buried on Saturday. Herbert
Cleaves was shot and killed in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 18. ... The
Cavaliers placed Chucky Brown (ankle sprain) on the injured list
before Sunday's game and activated Matt Harpring. Harpring had been
out since mid-January after ankle surgery. ... The Pistons had a
five-point possession in the third quarter. A clear-path foul gave
Stackhouse one free throw, with the Pistons retaining the ball.
Chucky Atkins hit a 3-pointer, and Stackhouse added a free throw
after Robert Traylor's technical.
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NBA Scoreboard
Cleveland Clubhouse
Detroit Clubhouse
RECAPS
New York 88 Sacramento 86
Indiana 110 Minnesota 100
Phoenix 90 Utah 80
LA Lakers 106 Orlando 100
Milwaukee 122 Golden State 95
Cleveland 101 Detroit 94
New Jersey 101 Washington 91
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