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Find out the scoop on the CAVS from award-winning sports writer Bob Finnan.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Cavs vs. Kings, Game 30

CAVS (22-8) 117, SACRAMENTO KINGS (13-15) 104, OT
at Arco Arena
TV: Fox Sports Ohio
RADIO: WTAM

WHAT HAPPENED: It was a wildly, entertaining game. The Cavs blanked the Kings in overtime, 13-0. The Cavs head into the Los Angeles Lakers game on Christmas Day having won seven of their last eight games.

The game was won on the defensive end when All-Star forward LeBron James shifted over to Kings rookie Tyreke Evans with about nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. He completely shut him down, or as Fox Sports Ohio's Fred McLeod would say, "He stepped on his garden hose!"

Evans managed just one field goal down the stretch, but it tied the game at 104 and sent it into OT.

He's a major talent and the leading candidate for the Rookie of the Year award. After seeing both Evans and Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings, the Kings' guard is a hands-down choice. Evans finished with 28 points.

James recorded his second triple-double of the season and 26th of his 26th of his career with 34 points, a game-high 16 rebounds and 10 assists.

INJURY UPDATE: Cavs guard Mo Williams banged knees with Evans in the first half and was taken to the locker room. He had a bruised knee. He came back to the game and finished with 27 points. The key will be how it feels on Thursday.

NOTES: The Cavs are 1-1 in OT this season.

-- The Kings' Paul Westphal should earn some Coach of the Year votes. The Kings are formidable, especially at home where they are 10-4.

-- Only four players in the NBA are averaging at least 20 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists. They are Evans, James, Heat guard Dwyane Wade and Hawks guard Joe Johnson.

-- The Cavs have won their last seven games against the Kings, including their last four at Arco Arena.

-- The Cavs are 20-2 when they shoot at least 45 percent from the field, 14-0 when they shoot at least 42 percent from the behind the arc and 17-1 when they reach the century mark.

-- The Cavs are the first team to pitch a shutout in overtime since the Indiana Pacers blanked the Vancouver Grizzlies on Dec. 1, 2000. The Cavs have never shut out a team in OT.

STARTERS
SF LeBron James vs. Andres Nocioni
PF J.J. Hickson vs. Jason Thompson
C Shaquille O'Neal vs. Spencer Hawes
SG Anthony Parker vs. Omri Casspi
PG Mo Williams vs. Tyreke Evans
INJURY REPORT
Cavs - F Leon Powe (left knee surgery) is out.
Kings - F/C Sean May (strained right hamstring) is questionable; G Kevin Martin (left wrist fracture), G/F Francisco Garcia (right forearm, wrist surgery) are out.
OFFICIALS
Bill Spooner, Mark Ayotte, Rodney Mott

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