Cavs erase 25-point deficit

Cleveland rallies for improbable 104-100 victory

? In four days, they have beaten the defending NBA champions, won at Madison Square Garden and rallied from 25 points down for a victory.

Suddenly, there seems to be nothing these Cleveland Cavaliers can’t do.

“This is sweet,” guard Jeff McInnis said. “I’ve never come back from so far down before.”

LeBron James scored 21 points, fellow rookie Jason Kapono added a season-high 19 and the Cavaliers rallied from a 25-point deficit Monday night for a 104-100 victory over New Orleans.

Carlos Boozer had 24 points, and McInnis added 14 and nine assists for the Cavs, who have won three straight — at home against San Antonio and New Orleans and at New York — since Friday.

After starting the season 6-19, enduring turmoil and two major trades, Cleveland is within 11/2 games of the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

“I’ve never been around a group that has jelled,” first-year coach Paul Silas said. “This was sweet. We want to keep this thing going.”

James also had a basket, steal and rebound in the final 1:19 as Cleveland completed one of the biggest comebacks in its 35-year history.

Neither the Cavs nor the Elias Sports Bureau could determine if it was the Cavs’ largest comeback, but there’s no disputing it was one of their most improbable.

“When we were behind by 25, no one in their right mind thought we would come back,” said Kapono, who went 5-for-5 on three-pointers after not playing in Sunday’s win at New York.

Only once before had the Hornets blown a 25-point lead. They also did it March 1, 1996, at Minnesota.

Cleveland's LeBron James, right, races to the basket past New Orleans' Stacey Augmon. James scored 21 in the Cavaliers' 104-100 victory Monday in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers were down 49-24 with 6:34 left in the second quarter, but trimmed it to 14 by halftime and four by the end of the third before finally taking the lead at 83-82 on McInnis’ short jumper with 7:42 to play.

Davis led the Hornets with 34 points and Jamal Mashburn had 23, but after a strong start, the two standouts struggled from the field. They opened a combined 13-for-13 from the floor but went 7-for-32 the rest of the way.

“They just kept on playing,” Mashburn said. “They kept attacking and we didn’t. That’s the bottom line.”

Pistons 76, 76ers 66

Philadelphia — Richard Hamilton scored 15 points and Tayshaun Prince added 14, leading Detroit over Philadelphia. Ben Wallace had 12 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks, and Rasheed Wallace added 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons, who had lost eight of nine and four straight on the road. Kenny Thomas had 10 points and 18 rebounds for Philadelphia, which was without Allen Iverson because of a shoulder injury. Iverson, tied for the NBA’s scoring lead, was replaced by Aaron McKie, who had two points.

Trail Blazers 89, Heat 81

Miami — Zach Randolph had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and Derek Anderson added 20 points to lead Portland past Miami. The Trail Blazers opened the fourth quarter with a 14-0 run and won their fourth straight, snapping Miami’s four-game winning streak. Damon Stoudamire added 18 points to help Portland even its record at 28-28. Lamar Odom led the Heat with 25 points.

Grizzlies 109, Nuggets 106

Memphis, Tenn. — James Posey scored 20 points, including 13 during a fourth-quarter rally, and Memphis defeated Denver in a matchup of two of the NBA’s most improved teams. Shane Battier’s block of Carmelo Anthony’s putback attempt with seven seconds left prevented Denver from taking the lead. Posey grabbed the blocked shot, was fouled and converted the free throws to seal Memphis’ fifth straight victory. Pau Gasol led Memphis with 25 points, and Bonzi Wells finished with 17. Battier and Jason Williams had 10 each, and Williams added eight assists.