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Cavaliers 96, Bulls 83: LeBron Scores 24, Cavs Hold Off Late Chicago Charge
Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - LeBron James scored 24 points and got plenty of help in a well-rounded opening performance, as the Cleveland Cavaliers began their quest for an NBA Championship with a 96-83 win over Chicago in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
James added six rebounds, five assists and four blocks and was buoyed by double-double outings from Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison. Williams scored 19 points and handed out 10 assists, while Jamison grabbed 10 boards and recorded 15 points.
Shaquille O'Neal checked in with a dozen points and Anderson Varejao posted a game-high 15 rebounds and added eight points for the Cavs, who were the NBA's best team during the regular season at 61-21. Cleveland was even better at home, going 35-6 at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Cavs had the league’s best record entering last year’s playoffs as well, but tasted bitter defeat in a six-game series loss to Orlando in the conference finals.
Derrick Rose had 28 points and 10 assists but accounted for seven turnovers. Luol Deng made just 5-of-15 attempts from the field to finish behind Rose with 12 points for the eighth-seeded Bulls, who ended the regular season on a three-game winning streak to narrowly beat out Toronto for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth.
As a seven seed last year, Chicago took the then-defending champion Celtics to a Game 7 in the first round before falling.
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