Cavaliers win sixth straight game

Cleveland plays its final preseason game today.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- LeBron James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas led a third-quarter comeback as the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from a 12-point deficit to beat the Atlanta Hawks 99-94 Thursday night.
Ilgauskas had 22 points and 10 rebounds and James and Jeff McInnis scored 16 each for the Cavaliers, who won their sixth in a row to improve to 6-1 going into their final preseason game tonight at Toronto.
Drew Gooden, whose $4.06 million contract option for the 2005-06 season was picked up hours before the game, added 12 points and 12 rebounds.
"We've played every game but one out of town and, after a while, you're ready to start the real stuff," Ilgauskas said. "I am ready, I am. It's better to be on the winning side, and we're developing a lot of confidence in these games."
Al Harrington and Jason Collier scored 15 points each for the Hawks, but they still lost their seventh straight to finish with a 1-7 preseason record under first-year coach Mike Woodson.
Back and forth
The Hawks used a 12-1 run to go ahead 33-21 in the second quarter with most of the Cavs' starters on the bench, but James and Ilgauskas returned to start the second half and Cleveland quickly went on a 13-0 run. Ilgauskas had 10 points and James nine in the third quarter.
"I'm not finding my game in the first half for some reason, but in the second half I've been able to turn it up," said James, who is averaging 17 points.
That was fine with Cavaliers coach Paul Silas, who will likely play his regulars nearly as long Friday as they will when the games start counting next Wednesday, when the Cavs open at home against Indiana.
James' 20-footer put Cleveland ahead 53-51 with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter, and the Cavaliers never trailed again while holding off several Atlanta comeback attempts in the fourth.
James and McInnis each hit long 3-pointers just before the 24-second clock ran out in the fourth quarter to help keep Cleveland in the lead. McInnis' shot made it 92-87 with 1:45 remaining, and Ilgauskas made a jumper from the top of the key the next time down to make it 94-87 with 1:13 to play.
"Teams are playing their best players now at the end of the game, so it won't be that much different during the season," Ilgauskas said.