Cavs win 94-82 for 2-0 lead in series

Detroit rallied from a 29-point deficit to seven in the fourth quarter.

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Detroit Pistons couldn’t contain LeBron James again. And this time, they didn’t stop his teammates until it was too late.

James, showing no regard for a defensive plan Detroit spent three days preparing for him, scored 29 points and Mo Williams added 21 as the Cleveland Cavaliers withstood a stirring comeback for a 94-82 win on Tuesday night to open a 2-0 lead over the Pistons in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Delonte West scored 20 and Zydrunas Ilgauskas 12 for the top-seeded Cavs, who built a 29-point lead in the fourth but lost their edge and let the Pistons get within seven in the closing minutes before finally putting Detroit away.

James added 13 rebounds, six assists and an unforgettable, wind-mill dunk before pulling on his warmups and sitting the first 4:45 of the fourth quarter.

But as Cleveland’s star was resting up for Game 3 on Friday night at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich., the Pistons, showing more fight than they had in two games, closed within 14 and forced Cavs coach Mike Brown to put James and Cleveland’s other starters back in.

Detroit eventually closed within seven on Antonio McDyess’ jumper with 3:51 left, but James restored order down the stretch.

Richard Hamilton scored 17 and Rodney Stuckey 14 for the Pistons, who are going home down 0-2 but with hope after their fourth quarter.

Despite the win, the Cavs, who took 43 free throws to 16 for Detroit, aren’t feeling so good.

“We’re getting out of here with a sour taste in our mouths,” Williams said.

Holding a steady 15-point lead in the third, the Cavs pushed it to 64-46 on a 3-pointer by Williams.

James, who scored 38 points in the opener, then got behind Detroit’s defense for a breakaway dunk. As he approached the basket, James rose in the lane and circled the ball in front of him before rocking it through the rim. He strutted back on defense as 20,562 fans began to celebrate what appeared to be another Quicken Loans Arena rout.

But down 79-50 in the first minute of the fourth, the Pistons reserves got Detroit back in it.

They beat Cleveland’s backups to loose balls, and before long, a seemingly insurmountable lead by the Cavaliers was gone in a 27-5 run.

After McDyess’ basket made it 84-77, James, West and Williams each made two free throws apiece to put Cleveland ahead 90-77.

James then grabbed a rebound, and in one motion fired a pass down the floor to Williams, whose layup officially ended the Pistons’ rally.

Detroit coach Michael Curry wanted his team to be more aggressive with James. The plan was to run defenders at him on the perimeter to keep Cleveland’s star from getting into the foul lane, where he destroyed Detroit in Game 1 with short jumpers, layups and easy baskets.