James scored 26 points in the first half but it was his defense in the fourth quarter and overtime against rookie Tyreke Evans that proved to be the difference. The Kings missed all seven shots and turned the ball over twice in OT.
Evans finished with 28 points, but made only one of eight shots in the fourth and overtime as the Cavaliers put James on him in a sign of respect. Omri Casspi and Jason Thompson each scored 18 and Spencer Hawes had 17 points and 12 rebounds for Sacramento.
Anthony Parker hit a jumper on Cleveland’s first possession of overtime that proved to be all the Cavs would need. Ilgauskas’s first 3-pointer made it 111-104 with just over 2 minutes left. He hit another 3 with less than a minute remaining to put the game away and added the third with 14 seconds left for good measure. Ilgauskas has made all four of his 3-point attempts this season.
Two days after rallying from 35 points down to win in Chicago in the biggest comeback in the NBA in 13 seasons, the Kings stayed close with the more heralded Cavaliers the entire game.
Neither team was ever able to open up a double-digit lead in regulation and Sacramento had a chance to win it but Evans couldn’t get a shot off in the final seconds of regulation.
Evans had tied it at 104 with an acrobatic drive past James with 38.7 seconds remaining. But that was all Evans would get against James down the stretch. He often tried to take the ball right at James with little success. After one nifty move, he ended shooting an air ball from in close.
Magic 102, Rockets 87 - Dwight Howard had 20 rebounds and 13 points, and host Orlando Magic rolled to an easy win over Houston.
Howard outmuscled a Rockets team lacking size and strength in the middle with Yao Ming injured. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year blocked four shots and showed how dominant he can be even on a night he didn’t have his best offensive game.
Jameer Nelson added 15 points in his first start since Nov. 16, helping the Magic win for the fifth time in six games ahead of a big Christmas Day matchup against the Boston Celtics.
Carl Landry had 20 points and Aaron Brooks finished with 17 for the Rockets, who could do little with Howard roaming the paint.
