Friday, October 22, 2010
Assocated Press
COLUMBUS
Ramon Sessions scored 26 points, Anthony Parker added 18 and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 83-77 on Thursday night in their final exhibition game.
A former Milwaukee draft pick, Sessions started at point guard in place of Mo Williams, who left to be with his family following the death of his father-in-law.
Chris Douglas-Roberts had 16 points for the Bucks, and former Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden added 11 points, six rebounds and three blocks at Ohio State’s Value City Arena.
After leading 42-40 at the half, the Cavaliers trailed for much of the fourth quarter, but closed out the game on a 25-14 run thanks to critical turnovers by the Bucks in the final 4 minutes.
Cleveland forwards Antawn Jamison and Anderson Varejao were back in the lineup for the second straight game, but guard Daniel Gibson was out with a mild neck strain and is day-to-day.
Cavaliers radio broadcaster Joe Tait will undergo a procedure on his heart and is expected to be out at least until January.
Resting at home and receiving treatment for pneumonia since his release last week from a Houston hospital, the 73-year-old Tait had a series of tests at The Cleveland Clinic that revealed aortic stenosis, which is a narrowing of the aortic valve. He will have the valve replaced once he has further recovered from the pneumonia.
Set retire after this season, Tait has been the Cavaliers’ radio announcer for all but two years since the team began play in 1970, missing the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons.
During Tait’s absence, WTAM sports director Mike Snyder will handle the Cavaliers’ play-by-play.