LeBron leads as Cavaliers rally to beat LA Clippers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers were dead serious down the stretch against the Los Angeles Clippers. A little levity along the way didn’t hurt, either.

LeBron James scored 13 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, and the Eastern Conference leaders survived a 3-point attempt at the final buzzer by Baron Davis for a 102-101 victory on Saturday night.

“We just got in attack mode,” James said. “I decided to be a little more aggressive on the offensive end, either making a play for myself or making a play for my teammates. We also had to get stops on the defensive end, which we were able to do. We just turned it up another notch.”

The Cavs were coming off a 97-96 loss on a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Utah rookie Sundiata Gaines on Thursday — which offset a 20-point fourth quarter by James.

“For the second night in a row, he put us on his back. And this time he carried the team to a win,” coach Mike Brown said.

Mo Williams had 18 points and reserve guard Delonte West, who didn’t participate in the morning shootaround because of stomach issues, played 29 minutes and finished with 14 points.

About four minutes into the second quarter, West had some impromptu fun with a heckling fan who calls himself “Clipper Darrell” and shows up at every home game wearing a shiny and gaudy blue-and-red costume. When West went to the free throw line for the first time, Darrell went into his trademark insult: “U-G-L-Y, you ain’t got no alibi. You UGLY! You UGLY!”

West broke into a big smile and clapped his hands rhythmically — with the ball still in his hands — and the Cavaliers’ bench broke up laughing as he made the first and missed the second. This strange interlude played out again 34 seconds later — only this time, West made both, and his teammates leaped out of their seats and celebrated as though they had just won on a buzzer-beater.

When asked if West should have acknowledged Darrell and allowed his concentration to be broken, James said: “Absolutely. What’s wrong with that? It’s not a problem at all. It’s all part of the game.

“That’s one thing about our team — we enjoy playing the game of basketball,” James added. “The chemistry that we have on the court and off the court is the reason why we’re so successful.”